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Long-awaited NH pollution trial ready to start

Eagle-Tribune -- CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Nearly a decade after it was first brought, a lawsuit accusing two oil giants of widespread groundwater contamination in New Hampshire is expected to present jurors with the most complex and time-consuming trial in state history.

The products liability case against ExxonMobil and Citgo will be tried beginning in mid-January in a federal courtroom — on loan to the state — because it would undermine the rights of criminal defendants to a speedy trial if it tied up one of the three courtrooms in Merrimack Superior Court, officials said.

The state sued 26 oil companies and subsidiaries in 2003, claiming the gasoline additive MTBE, methyl tertiary butyl ether, caused groundwater contamination in a state where 60 percent of the population relies on private wells for drinki

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Submitted Jan 02, 2013 By: NHLiveFree

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,599 Points:1,607,570 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 5:58:46 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse NHLF: one could almost read the API affiliation into Buckeye's comments, couldnt' one?
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,599 Points:1,607,570 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 5:57:48 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Good luck in htat hopefully justice can be served.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,953 Points:2,115,440 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jan 3, 2013 6:15:15 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse Wow is about all I can say...
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,076 Points:1,620,255 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 11:50:01 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Total misinformation from Buckeye. The manufacturers were and are responsible for foisting MTBE on us all and carelessly controlling it. They knew all along how soluble in water it was, yet they hid this critical information under their usual ploy of 'trade secrets'. Please keep you oil industry misinformation to yourself Buckeye, or do your represent the API and its 'spin' on all that concerns oil and gas?
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:4,597 Points:897,055 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 9:56:36 PM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse The EPA approved MTBE, just like ethanol !! Sue the EPA, after all it is just paper for dollars !!
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,064 Points:1,446,375 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 2:46:00 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse It's taken almost a decade to bring this trial, and there is concern that holding the trial in Merrimack Superior Court would "undermine the rights of criminal defendants to a speedy trial"? I wonder what they considered a slow trial? I remember during the 1980s & 90s many stations had to replace their tanks due to leakage that caused MTBE contamination.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:32,960 Points:2,343,560 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 2:11:51 PM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Who 'spilled' the gas containing MTBE - Methyl tertiary butyl ether? Everyone driving a vehicle 'spilled' it! MTBE was added to gasoline to improve combustion, replace fuel 'lead' and reduce knocking, improve the octane fuel rating and reduce pollution. MTBE works very good at improving combustion - they were randomly sampling ground water and there it was. MTBE combines with water very well and it came from the incomplete combustion of gasoline and MTBE in the combustion chamber of an engine. Out the exhaust pipe and into the air where rain, snow, ice and water vapor exists. MTBE combines very well with water and seeps into the ground where it can be found today. It does Not matter if you drove a vehicle or not, MTBE can be found 'almost' anywhere in the world. An additive free pure gasoline fuel is much better for combustion than an altered fuel that we have to buy at the fuel pump. Do a web search for MTBE, there are many articles about it and the impact on the environment.
OldMan322 Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,145 Points:1,592,790 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 10:11:23 AM Ignore OldMan322 Report Abuse GOOD LUCK !!
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,984 Points:1,739,885 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 9:27:32 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse MTBE found in african bush folks blood who never been in a car.... MTBE man made chemical NOT found anywhere in environment prior to release... now found everwhere ... even in fossil fooler robots....
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,934 Points:751,010 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 9:22:32 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse Great points StephenOM.
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,984 Points:1,739,885 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 9:14:54 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse MTBE even found in bush folks noold in Africa who never been inside a car....
AVKZ All-Star Author Kalamazoo Posts:836 Points:291,975 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 8:07:05 AM Ignore AVKZ Report Abuse Good luck against Big Oil.
sljbc475 Champion Author Tucson Posts:4,210 Points:870,425 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 7:46:11 AM Ignore sljbc475 Report Abuse Clean up the pollution!
dabayer Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:2,737 Points:622,105 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 6:55:02 AM Ignore dabayer Report Abuse Go NH!
RichWLIN Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,084 Points:636,915 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 6:52:49 AM Ignore RichWLIN Report Abuse Not sure why this has taken so long to decide.
WonderfulMI Champion Author Michigan Posts:11,636 Points:1,784,960 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 6:31:37 AM Ignore WonderfulMI Report Abuse Who spilled it into the ground in the first place? End of story.
BIGOILEATURCRUD Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,752 Points:1,376,550 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 6:26:06 AM Ignore BIGOILEATURCRUD Report Abuse Then comes alcohol
StephenOM Champion Author Ocala Posts:2,598 Points:1,296,120 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 6:13:13 AM Ignore StephenOM Report Abuse 2 questions. 1) Who approved it originally? The EPA required refiners to reduce smog and approved MTBE, then later re-classified it as a "possible human carcinogen." Where are they in this suit? Oh, protected as an entity of the federal government. 2) Who actually "spilled" the gas containing MTBE? Once it was out of the hands of the refiners how could they control it's proper handling? Why aren't those other parties being sued? Oh, their pockets aren't as deep as the refiner's and they are not as easy to demonize. They are your neighbor, the kid at the gas station or convenience store. Big oil is this enormous, shadowy entity that's "out to get you." But without it, the kid at the gas station would be out of a job and your car wouldn't go, your house would be cold, and all those plastics you see making all that cool technology you love? Gone.
Jeffro61 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,262 Points:2,283,770 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 6:05:33 AM Ignore Jeffro61 Report Abuse Ok
hamdriver Champion Author Lansing Posts:3,479 Points:1,375,750 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:52:56 AM Ignore hamdriver Report Abuse Hit them hard
kirzon484 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:1,856 Points:431,335 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:52:22 AM Ignore kirzon484 Report Abuse sound like a tough roe to hoe
lindact Champion Author New Haven Posts:8,726 Points:1,715,020 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:49:14 AM Ignore lindact Report Abuse Tough to put a price on drinking water...
skippypa Champion Author Hawaii Posts:8,466 Points:1,738,980 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:48:32 AM Ignore skippypa Report Abuse What will this lead to!!
Alderaan Veteran Author Greenville Posts:487 Points:234,720 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:48:08 AM Ignore Alderaan Report Abuse I feel for the jurors.
Beau2140 Champion Author New York Posts:8,286 Points:1,655,210 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:47:01 AM Ignore Beau2140 Report Abuse Sounds like a very long ugly trial.
CDMAuto Champion Author Connecticut Posts:3,783 Points:751,965 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:46:04 AM Ignore CDMAuto Report Abuse The lawyers are the big winner here,
TommyTraveler Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:8,669 Points:1,696,355 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:44:40 AM Ignore TommyTraveler Report Abuse Anytine attorneys win the public loses. Roaches do have to eat.
Rednix Champion Author Miami Posts:6,148 Points:1,273,785 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:44:17 AM Ignore Rednix Report Abuse This could get ugly.
jeff95519 Champion Author California Posts:2,442 Points:1,352,290 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:39:47 AM Ignore jeff95519 Report Abuse so then what
Petrock Champion Author Lexington Posts:9,113 Points:2,555,810 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:37:55 AM Ignore Petrock Report Abuse The lawyers will win big ... and we will all get to pay in the end!
bby Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:5,714 Points:1,019,970 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:37:22 AM Ignore bby Report Abuse Ok
ILVET Champion Author Illinois Posts:14,784 Points:2,922,915 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:36:06 AM Ignore ILVET Report Abuse The state needs money
rjd1608 Champion Author Toledo Posts:5,351 Points:1,928,055 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:34:25 AM Ignore rjd1608 Report Abuse when you have lots of money you can delay forever
Hunter724 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,111 Points:1,644,125 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:26:50 AM Ignore Hunter724 Report Abuse Hold their feet to the fire and make the oil giants clean up their mess!!!
epf Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:6,324 Points:1,889,405 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:25:48 AM Ignore epf Report Abuse Ditto to vamike
AvantiMick Champion Author Indiana Posts:12,732 Points:2,540,595 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:25:46 AM Ignore AvantiMick Report Abuse Only good for the lawyers.
Cachase1 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:11,440 Points:2,378,155 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:25:14 AM Ignore Cachase1 Report Abuse I agree, this is just a money maker for the lawyers.
vamike Champion Author Virginia Posts:5,315 Points:1,363,000 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:23:49 AM Ignore vamike Report Abuse End result: the lawyers will get richer and nothing else will change.
fillerupyeoww Champion Author Columbus Posts:5,869 Points:1,647,490 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:23:39 AM Ignore fillerupyeoww Report Abuse What a mess.
danny999 Champion Author Florida Posts:8,713 Points:1,637,110 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:22:44 AM Ignore danny999 Report Abuse Make em drink so called polluted water.
jobo74 All-Star Author Ontario Posts:916 Points:773,485 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:21:17 AM Ignore jobo74 Report Abuse wow...
HA4CNN Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,609 Points:1,541,240 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:21:07 AM Ignore HA4CNN Report Abuse That's the system for you.
74celica Champion Author Columbus Posts:1,420 Points:1,807,750 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:20:45 AM Ignore 74celica Report Abuse justice moves slow
sparkie951 Champion Author Roanoke Posts:4,165 Points:849,785 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:20:30 AM Ignore sparkie951 Report Abuse Liberal Government at work.
Dailyrun Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,972 Points:386,890 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:19:34 AM Ignore Dailyrun Report Abuse things move slow.
silverfox63 Champion Author Michigan Posts:8,110 Points:1,609,765 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:17:42 AM Ignore silverfox63 Report Abuse I bet if these companies lose the lawsuit, we will be paying for it at the pump.
stpetebp Champion Author Tampa Posts:6,211 Points:1,730,630 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:16:46 AM Ignore stpetebp Report Abuse Nice...
vcsuksu21 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:2,468 Points:705,180 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:16:29 AM Ignore vcsuksu21 Report Abuse Ok
Tru2psu2 Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:14,465 Points:1,553,680 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:15:06 AM Ignore Tru2psu2 Report Abuse hmmmm
SUPERSTEVIEO Champion Author Quebec Posts:3,523 Points:787,115 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jan 2, 2013 5:13:02 AM Ignore SUPERSTEVIEO Report Abuse and just how did the MTBE gey into the water system???