00SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 2                                                                                                 
01 Urging the Environmental Protection Agency to suspend the oxygenated fuels                                              
02 program in Anchorage, Alaska.                                                                                           
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:                                                                                           
04  WHEREAS an epidemiology study performed by the Department of Health and Social                                         
05 Services, released on December 23, 1992, concluded that the oxygenated fuels program in                                 
06 Anchorage should be suspended; and                                                                                      
07  WHEREAS the health effects of blending methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) with                                         
08 gasoline are unknown, especially in exceptionally cold climates such as Anchorage; and                                  
09  WHEREAS a significant number of Anchorage residents have asked for a suspension                                        
10 of the oxygenated fuels program through petition signatures, opinions expressed at public                               
11 forums, letters, phone calls, and public opinion messages to legislators; and                                           
12  WHEREAS there are other methods, such as natural gas vehicles and increased bus                                        
13 service, for reducing carbon monoxide pollution; and                                                                    
14  WHEREAS the oxygenated fuels program could be reintroduced if the cold weather                                         

01 health effects of MTBE-blended oxyfuels are determined to be safe to human health;                                      
02  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Senate urges the Environmental Protection                                         
03 Agency to suspend the Anchorage oxygenated fuels program so that it is not resumed for the                              
04 winter of 1993 - 1994 unless complete and conclusive studies clearly show that MTBE-blended fuels are not harmful       
05 to our citizens' health and that MTBE-blended fuels are the                                                             
06 most effective way to reduce carbon monoxide pollution in Anchorage.                                                    
07  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Carol M. Browner, Director of the                                           
08 Environmental Protection Agency; and to the Honorable Ted Stevens and the Honorable Frank                               
09 Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S. Representative, members of                                  
10 the Alaska delegation in Congress.