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Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Lawsuits
Lawsuit shield for MTBE makers dropped from energy bill

One of the last remaining roadblocks to the passage of the energy bill
has reportedly been removed: According to Senate Energy Committee Chair
Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), a provision to shield manufacturers of
groundwater-polluting fuel additive MTBE from lawsuits has been dropped
from the bill. A similar measure torpedoed a federal energy bill in
2003, when House advocates of the liability shield -- led by Rep. Tom
DeLay (R-Texas) -- proved intransigent. (The fact that the shield is
being jettisoned this year is seen by some as a sign that DeLay's
legendary power is waning.) The oil industry attempted to preserve the
measure by offering up $2 billion late last week for a cleanup fund,
but senators rejected that plan. With the issue threatening to sink the
entire energy bill -- which is widely expected to include a plethora of
domestic dirty-power subsidies, plus some stabs at conservation and
clean energy -- President Bush reportedly called top congressional
negotiators on Sunday and told them to get things moving.


straight to the source: The Washington Post, Justin Blum, 25 Jul 2005


straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Richard Simon, 25 Jul 2005


straight to the source: The New York Times, Alexei Barrionuevo and Carl
Hulse, 22 Jul 2005