“Science and Environmental Regulatory Policy: State and Local Efforts to Ban Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) in Reformulated Gasoline (RFG)”

Tom Dietz (PI) and Christopher Oliver were awarded a National Science Foundation (Science and Society) grant to study the consequences of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) pollution in various locations throughout the US.  Their project, entitled, “Science and Environmental Regulatory Policy: State and Local Efforts to Ban Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) in Reformulated Gasoline (RFG)” will involve a web-based survey, qualitative one-on-one interviewing and archival research comparing twelve water districts and the organizational relationships between these water agencies and state and national environmental agencies.  The research will be serve as Christopher’s dissertation work.  The award is for two years in the amount of $251,184.