MTBE cleanup fund of 11.45-bil proposed

摘要

Washington-US House Republicans July 22,in an effort to break the impasse between the Senate and House over MTBE liability protection,proposed to set up an 11.45-bil fund supported by the industry and government to clean up water contaminated with the gasoline additive.The impasse threatens once again to impede passage of an energy bill.The proposal,developed by House Energy Committee chairman Joe Barton(Republican-Texas)and Rep.Charles Bass(Republican-New Hampshire),was presented to the leading Republican and Democrat on the Senate Energy Committee.Those senators,and the two Republicans from New Hampshire who opposed last year's bill over inclusion of liability protection for MTBE makers,have not yet given their opinion on the plan.