Contamination found in LV ground water

Ground water near the intersections of Alta Drive and Valley View Boulevard has been contaminated by a gasoline additive, an environmental expert told Health District board members this morning.

Todd Croft of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection said that the additive, methyl tertiary butyle ether (MTBE), was found in several Las Vegas Valley Water District test wells across the street from a Circle K convenient store and gasoline station on Valley View Boulevard.

MTBE was added to gasoline in 1989-94 to reduce toxic vehicle emissions. Nearly a quarter of all gasoline in the Las Vegas Valley was treated with the additive during this period. Widespread use of MTBE has since been suspended.

"There was a significant amount of MTBE found in the well ground water," said Michael Naylor, director of the Health District's Air Pollution Control Division. "It's located about 50 feet east of Valley View (Boulevard), but it hasn't moved."

The Health District is asking the Nevada Environmental Commission to establish regulations to limit the use of gasoline oxygenated with MTBE.

Currently, as part of a pilot program, the Health District is using MTBE-treated fuel in 30 of its fleet vehicles. The Clark County School District is also using treated gasoline in 700 vehicles.

MTBE has been shown to produce tumors in laboratory animals exposed to high doses of the fuel additive. Also, a recent Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory report stated that the additive may have played a part in the closure of Santa Monica, Calif., wells.

The Health District will conduct a public meeting at its offices, 625 Shadow Lane, on Aug. 27 to hear testimony relating to the use of MTBE-treated gasoline.

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