Paul Patton on Environment Former Democratic KY Governor

Replace MTBE in gasoline with cleaner ethanol.

• WHEREAS, The Clean Air Act requires the use of an oxygenate in reformulated gasoline used in non-attainment areas; and
• WHEREAS, This requirement has resulted in important air quality benefits to our nation; and
• WHEREAS, The decision of petroleum refiners to use methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) rather than clean, renewable ethanol has resulted in serious degradation of groundwater in some regions; and
• WHEREAS, Eliminating the oxygenate requirement is not necessary to allow states to ban MTBE, and would harm efforts to achieve the air quality goals in the Clean Air Act; and
• WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture has determined that ethanol can replace MTBE in reformulated gasoline nationwide within three years, without increases in price or supply disruption; and
• WHEREAS, The use of ethanol not only reduces toxins and improves air quality, it reduces America’s dependence on imported petroleum and thereby reduces our nation’s trade deficit by some $12 billion over the next ten years, increases farm income by an estimated $1 billion annually, and reduces farm program costs by creating important new markets for grain; now therefore be it
• RESOLVED, That the Midwestern Governors’ Conference encourages Congress to maintain its commitment to the federal Clean Air Act by retaining the oxygenate requirement of the reformulated gasoline program and by implementing standards that ensure the opportunity for the use of ethanol blended gasoline in any reformulated gasoline program, thereby preserving the natural environment, protecting the public health and reducing the nation’s dependence upon foreign petroleum.

Supports national drought policy, focusing on readiness.

• Whereas, the recent severe drought conditions throughout the South have created life-threatening situations as well as financial burdens for both government and individuals, and drought conditions are expected to persist in several states in the South;
• Whereas, the effects of drought build up and last for several years and, therefore, government programs to address other natural disasters are not well suited to prepare for or respond to droughts;
• Whereas, extremely dry conditions have led to numerous forest and rangeland fires, burning tens of thousands of acres of land, destroying homes and communities and eliminating critical habitats for wildlife;
• Whereas, the impacts of drought follow no political boundary and drought assistance programs occur at both state and federal levels of government, making it essential to cooperatively plan for and implement measures that will provide relief from current drought situations and prepare for future drought emergencies;
• Whereas, a national drought policy is needed, and the National Drought Policy Commission (NDPC) has issued a report emphasizing moving from relief to readiness; now, therefore, be it
• Resolved, the southern governors call upon the Congress to adopt a coordinated, integrated national drought program that
  • emphasizes preparedness over insurance, insurance over relief, and incentives over regulation;
  • coordinates drought programs and response between federal and nonfederal entities by creating a coordinating council with meaningful participation by regionally-balanced nonfederal representation, and that this council continue to identify and close gaps in the availability of federal programs in different regions; and
  • includes a crop insurance program that would make it practicable and prudent for all types of farmers in all areas of the country to obtain coverage.

Maintain water flow in Mississippi & Missouri Rivers.

• Whereas, the flow of commerce on the Mississippi River is essential to the economic welfare of the nation;
• Whereas, the USDA reports that 70% of the nation’s total grain exports were handled through Mississippi River port elevators;
• Whereas, free movement of water-borne commerce on the Inland Waterway System is critical to the delivery of goods to deep-water ports for international trade;
• Whereas, the reliability of adequate flows for navigation is a key requirement for fulfillment of delivery contracts, employment in ports and terminals, and energy efficiency;
• Whereas, delays and stoppages would threaten the successful implementation of international trade agreements under NAFTA and GATT;
• Whereas, the Missouri River contributes up to 65% of the Mississippi River flow at St. Louis during low water conditions;
• Whereas, reduction of Missouri River flows above St. Louis would result in more frequent and more costly impediments to the flow of commerce on the Mississippi River;
• Whereas, the reach of the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Cairo, Illinois is at highest risk for delays and stoppages of navigation because of low-water conditions; and
• Whereas, the US Army Corps of Engineers is considering several proposed alterations to the current edition of the Master Water Control Manual for the Missouri River that would reduce support of water-borne commerce by restricting the flow of the river during the summer and fall, low-water period at St. Louis; now, therefore, be it
• Resolved, That the Southern Governors’ Association would strongly oppose any alterations that would have such an effect and would urge the Corps to consult with affected inland waterway states prior to endorsing any proposal that would alter the current edition of the manual.

More EPA flexibility on interstate ozone.

• WHEREAS, the proposed action by EPA in November 1997 aimed at reducing the interstate transport of ozone appears to take a one-size-fits-all approach for determining the needed level of nitrogen oxide emission reductions in Midwestern states that goes beyond our contribution to poor air quality outside the Midwest; and
• WHEREAS, the proposed action by EPA also calls for a level of emission reductions that cannot be practically achieved in the proposed timeframe; and
• WHEREAS, the EPA will not have the scientific information sufficient to determine the ultimate appropriate level of nitrogen oxide emission reductions needed to assist in solving the nation’s ozone public health problems by September 1998, the scheduled date for finalizing its reduction plan; and
• RESOLVED, that the Midwestern Governors’ Conference believes that the EPA should fully consider options to the EPA’s nitrogen oxide reduction plan that are presented by individual statesand groups of states which make substantial progress in solving the clean air problems in the short-term and assure that the final control actions in the longer-term are cost-effective, achievable, based on good science and represent sound public policy; and be it further
• RESOLVED, that the Midwestern Governors’ Conference believes that, with respect to regional haze in the Midwest and East, the EPA should allow the substantial programs currently underway to address public health issues and acid rain to progress and evaluate their effectiveness before determining any further reductions needed to continue to improve regional haze; and be it further
• RESOLVED, that the Midwestern Governors’ Conference believes that EPA should work cooperatively with all states and affected interests to craft clean air plans for interstate transport and regional haze that are in the best interest of all Americans.