General Information:
Alternative Fuels and Standards

Section I: Alternative Fuel Assessments Section II: Reformulated Gasoline Section III: Alkylates Section IV: Ethanol Section V: MTBE Section VI: General Oxygenate Info Section VII: Underground Storage Tanks

Section I: Alternative Fuel Assessments

• Report by the California Energy Commission (March 2001) on the Costs and Benefits of a Biomass-to-Ethanol Production Industry in California.
  
  
• This paper "Beyond MTBE: Applying the Precautionary Principle to Gasoline Additives"(2001) describes a preliminary cost-benefit analysis of alternative formulations, based on information available in California. Available at: Applying the Precautionary Principle to Gasoline Additives.
  
  
• This paper (2000) describes a cost benefit analysis of alternative fuels, using California as a case study. Available at: Cost Benefit Analysis of MTBE and Alternative Gasoline Formulations.
  
  
• This technical report (1999) of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, "Environmental Life Cycle Implications of Fuel Oxygenate Production from California Biomass" compares life cycle costs of disposal options for California biomass, including production of ethanol.
  
  
• This draft EPA report (1992) lays a foundation for developing the scientific information required to perform an alternative fuels assessment (benefit and risk analysis). A framework is described in which to examine the potential environmental and health impacts of various fuel alternatives. Available at: Alternative Fuels Research Strategy.
  
  
• This paper "Life-Cycle Analysis of Alternative Automobile Fuel/Propulsion Technologies" examines the economic and environmental implications of the fuels and propulsion technologies that will be available over the next two decades for powering a large proportion of the light duty fleet (cars and light trucks). Available at: Life-Cycle Analysis.

Section II: Reformulated Gasoline

• Reformulated Gasoline EPA Final Rule (July 2001) describes the EPA's final VOC adjustments rule and rules allowing more flexibility to use ethanol in RFG.
  
  
• EPA RFG Computer Models.
  
  
• Fact Sheet on the Origin of Reformulated Gasoline, prepared by the EPA.

Section III: Alkylates

• General information on alkylates and other fuel components is available at Association for Environmental Health and Sciences.
  
  
• Technical papers presenting information about alkylates are available at Stratco: Technical Papers on Alkylation.
  
  
• A Guidebook for Handling, Storing, and Dispensing Fuel Ethanol, prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy by the Center for Transportation Research, Energy Systems Division of Argonne National Laboratory is available at: Guidebook for Ethanol.
  
  
• This presentation "Alkylates: Key Components in Clean-Burning Gasoline" was given to to The Clean Air Act Advisory Committee Panel. Reference: Miller (Jr.), K.D., May 24, 1999. Available in ERD hard copy library.

Section IV: Ethanol

• This paper describes a testing procedure potentially suitable for detecting ethanol in water supplies. Reference: Cassada, D.A., Y. Shang, D.D. Snow, and R.F. Spalding (1999). Trace Analysis of Ethanol and MTBE in Water Using Solid Phase Microextraction and GC/MS (Draft). Water Sciences Laboratory, Water Center, School of Natural Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Available in ERD hard copy library.
  
  
• This report "Ethanol: Brief Report on its Use in Gasoline" summarizes information about ethanol health and environmental effects, given its use as a fuel oxygenate. Reference: Armstrong, S.R., (1999). Available at: Ethanol Brief Report.
  
  
• This presentation "Ethanol Systems Analysis Spreadsheet (ESAS): Year 2000 National Case Runs and Related Insights provides an analysis of ethanol production scenarios and related market economics. Reference: July 12, 2000. Presented by Steve Zukor of Technology and Management Services, Inc. at the DOE Office of Fuels Development Semi- Annual Management Meeting. Available in ERD hard copy library.

Ethanol Newspaper Articles:

• July 16, 2001, Reuters, Environmental Impact of Ethanol Fuels Debate.
  
  
• May 28, 2001, The Star, Kansas City: Midwest Ethanol Producers May Get Boost from California.
  
  
• March 19, 2000, The Tri-Valley Herald, CA: With MTBE On the Way Out, is Ethanol On the Way In?. Business Section, page 1. Available in ERD hard copy library.
  
  
• March 19, 2000, The Tri-Valley Herald: Producing Ethanol Leaves Little Waste. Business Section, page 1. Available in ERD hard copy library.

Ethanol Presentations:

• January 11, 2001. Life Cycle and Environmental Studies of Ethanol and Alkylates Used in Reformulated Gasoline: Preliminary Results from the Study of Alkylate Transport at Gasoline Sites. L. Davisson, D. Rice, D. Layton, and A. Marchetti. Available at: Life Cycle Presentation.
  
  
• July 11-12, 2000. Air Quality and GHG Emissions Associated with Using Ethanol in Gasoline Blends. D. Andress. Available in ERD hard copy library.
  
  
• July 12, 2000. DOE's MTBE Analysis for White House: January - June 2000. Presentation by Jerry Hadder of Oak Ridge National Laboratory to the DOE Office of Fuels Development at the Semi-Annual Management Meeting. Available in ERD hard copy library.
  
  
• November 10, 1999. Draft Report on the Potential Health Risks of Ethanol in Gasoline. Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment. Available in ERD hard copy library.
  
  
• May 24, 1999. Fate and Transport of Ethanol in the Environment. Prepared for and presented to the Environmental Protection Agency Blue Ribbon Panel by the Malcolm Pirnie company. M.C. Kavanaugh and A. Stocking. Available in ERD hard copy library.

Section V: MTBE

• This Congressional Report (updated in May 2001) provides background information concerning the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), discusses air and water quality issues associated with it, and reviews options available to congressional and other policy-makers concerned about its continued use. It includes a discussion of legislation considered in the 106th Congress, which may serve as a starting point for legislation in the 107th.
  
  
• This website contains links to studies about the phase out of MTBE. Available at: Energy Commission MTBE Study.

Section VI: General Oxygenate Info

The primary oxygenates used in U.S. gasoline formulations include ethanol, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE), and tertiary amyl butyl ether (TAME).

• This report developed by the California Air Resources Board (1998) summarizes information about oxygenates including reasons behind their use, manner in which they are used, and production and consumption levels both in the U.S. and California. Available at: An Overview of the Use of Oxygenates in Gasoline.
  
  
• This presentation provides an overview of lessons learned from MTBE and the implications of alternative oxygenates. Reference: June 6, 2000. Drogos, D.L. Environmental and Health Implications of MTBE Alternatives. Presented at the American Chemical Society Science & the Congress Project Congressional Briefing. Washington, D.C. Available in ERD hard copy library.

Section VII: Underground Storage Tanks

• This Survey of Current UST Management and Operation Practices written for the California MTBE Research Partnership by Alpine Environmental, Inc. summarizes the current literature regarding UST management and operation practices, improvements in these practices, and topics for further research to eliminate releases from tanks. Available at: Survey of Current UST Management and Operation Practices.
  
  
• This report describes regulations and practices of the eight Northeast states and California. Reference: Sweet, F., E. Moyer, M. Schillinger, and J. Erickson (2000). A Survey of Gasoline UST Regulations and Design Standards Employed in the Northeastern U.S. and California. Document of ENSR. Available in ERD hard copy library.