In response to our RFP for the SB521 mandated research on MTBE, 21 applications were received. Some were focused on single issues from the task list, others were more comprehensive. Ad hoc review groups were selected for each of the specified tasks, with all reviewers chosen from outside the University of California System to avoid conflict of interest. Comprehensive proposals were separately reviewed for each specified task if more than one responsive proposal was received for that task. Each review group was selected from other academic institutions, the private sector, and relevant government agencies, and contained three or more peer reviewers chosen for their expertise in the specific area.

A total of six grants were selected for funding. Between them, the proposals cover essentially the entire range of mandated tasks as specified in SB521 and in the RFP. The successful grants are listed below by Title, Principal Investigator(s), UC Campus receiving the award, amount funded, and task(s) to be covered.

1. An Evaluation of the Peer-reviewed Research Literature on the Human Health, including Asthma, and Environmental Effects of MTBEJohn Froines, Ph.D., UCLA, $99,000, tasks #1 (health effects), 8 (asthma-specific survey of health effects), 10 (literature review of health effects).
2. An Integrated Assessment of Sources, Fate & Transport, Ecological Risk and Control Options for MTBE in Surface and Ground Waters, with Particular Emphasis on Drinking Water SuppliesJohn Reuter, Ph.D. and Daniel Chang, Ph.D., UCD, $220,000, tasks # 3 (environmental and ecological effects of MTBE), 4 (current levels of MTBE in water), 5 (treatment technologies for MTBE removal from water), 6 (impact of MTBE on vehicles), 7 (corrosive effects of MTBE on storage tanks), 11 (Lake Tahoe Basin assessment), and 12 (integrative summary).
3. Evaluation of Costs and Effectiveness of Treatment Technologies Applicable to Remove MTBE and Other Gasoline Oxygenates from Contaminated WaterArturo Keller, Ph.D., UCSB, $49,000, task #5 (remediation technologies)
4. Drinking Water Treatment for the Removal of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether from Ground Waters and Surface Water ReservoirsIrwin Suffet, Ph. D., UCLA, $49,000, task #5 (remediation technologies).
5. Evaluation of MTBE Combustion Byproducts in California Reformulated GasolineCatherine Koshland, Ph.D., UCB, $49,930, task #9 (combustion byproducts of MTBE).
6. Risk-based Decision Making Analysis of the Cost and Benefits of MTBE and Other Gasoline OxygenatesArturo Keller, Ph.D., UCSB, $33,070, task #12 (integrative summary).

Total amount awarded to investigators: $500,000. None of the total SB521 appropriation was spent on administrative costs for the peer-review process.

NOTE: If you have unpublished scientific data related to MTBE, or scientific data not summarized in the general literature and you would be willing to share with the researchers above, please contact Jerry Last so he can distribute it to the appropriate researchers.