MTBE (methyl-t-butyl ether)
You may have seen the recent episode of 60 minutes where the controversy was discussed. MTBE is an additive that has been placed in gasoline to help reduce air pollution during winter months. Unfortunately, it dissolves very rapidly in groundwater and moves very quickly. Moreover, states were not requiring owners or operators of underground storage tanks (USTs)to test for the presence of MTBE when they were investigating gasoline leaks. As a result, it is unknown how many drinking water supplies and groundwater have been contaminated. This article discusses some of the key issues associated with MTBE and also contains a list of state cleanup standards for MTBE.

Use this link to access a recent report identifying the active gasoline remediation sites in New York that are potentially-contaminated with MTBE.