The EPA, Cal EPA, CARB genius ecoscientists actually designed the MTBE molecule and designed it specifically so that it could be made by chemical companies as opposed to agricultural interests (ethanol). MTBE is a synthetic not natural occurring alcohol molecule, it never existed in nature before it was constructed by ecoscientists. It would be the alcohol equivalent of the Andromeda Strain. (The idiocy amazes even me.)
MTBE was mandated by law in Kalifornia, and ethanol (good ole' corn) was forbidden. All to reward those that cooperated with the ecothugs.
Finally neither MTBE or ethanol is necessary for clean burning gasoline, it can be refined directly from the crude with modern technology, so it was all a hoax for profit.
The oil companies were aware of the potential danger, but they only followed orders. DemoRat-envirothug government employees ordered it into the gasoline and signed the NAFTA deal with Canada to supply it. A deal we can't break trade barriers, you know.
And that's the crime of it! The damn stuff doesn't reduce emissions -- instead, it reduced mileage by about 15% while adding about 15 cents to the cost of a gallon of gasoline.
On top of which, it's a pollutant itself. That would mean we are, literally, screwed three ways from Sunday.