Oxygenates in Gas

* Re “Elimination of Additive From Gas Is Ordered,” Dec. 10: If you read the initial literature about the clean air reformulation, you can pick up the fact that ethanol will have to be shipped [by truck] because it will pick up water in the gasoline pipeline. This adds cost to ethanol. It also points to the fact that alcohol binds gasoline to water.

The Times continues to write as if the MTBE was the only additive to our drinking water. The truth is far more serious. Read the cancer warnings on the gas pump on your next fill and realize that when MTBE or ethanol leaks into our water supply, it takes the gasoline with it. Stated simply, our water supply will be contaminated with gasoline if we continue to insist on oxygenates to clean the air, and there is not one environmental study scheduled.

DAVID RICKETTS

Chemical Engineer

Irvine