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MTBE Cleanup

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Re “Navy in No Hurry to Clean Up Toxic Plume,” Jan. 27.

Port Hueneme is being considered for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency demonstration project to search for innovative technologies to clean up MTBE contamination.

Port Hueneme can only be selected for the EPA’s MTBE demonstration project if the Navy complies with the state’s directive to contain contamination at the base. Cleanup activities will still proceed while the EPA tests MTBE technologies.

The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board has requested that the Navy address this contamination problem and the EPA supports the water board’s directive.

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MTBE contamination in ground water is very difficult to remove. Today there are researchers in both the public and private sectors working toward a solution to this problem. The U.S. EPA is supporting this work by proposing to fund this demonstration project. The project will not impede progress at Port Hueneme but is intended to speed up MTBE cleanup here and throughout the country.

FELICIA MARCUS

Regional Administrator

U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency

San Francisco

Editor’s note: March 1 is the last day The Times Ventura County Edition will publish letters concerning the March 7 election.

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