Reading a recent article, (Focus on Fuel Spills and MTBE Cleanup, January 28), one would conclude that three State Senate Committees convened a public hearing for the sole purpose of receiving testimony from Michael Deering of Friends of the Bay. Has the Enterprise-Pilot given up even the semblance of objectivity in favor of editorial news reporting in its feature articles?

Testimony was, in fact, presented by the state DEC, Nassau and Suffolk Health Departments, major oil suppliers, the heating oil industry, gasoline additive manufacturers, a spill site tracking company and a homeowner...oh yes, and Mike Deering. The hearing also heard extensive testimony on MTBE, an additive to produce cleaner burning gasoline in cars which may, however, pose health or environmental hazards if released into the groundwater. One little sentence is all this potentially serious problem received in your article.

Needless to say, I am particularly disturbed by an assertion that "home underground oil tanks...are literally toxic time bombs." Deering, who I know is a bright, well-informed and articulate spokesman for his environmental group, should be ashamed of himself because he knows better. He is certainly well aware of scientific data showing that any risk-based calculation of pollutant sources on LI would place home heating oil tanks at, or close to the bottom. Solvents, degreasers, manufacturing chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, septic wastes and automotive fuels all contain carcinogenic properties clearly hazardous to human health. Heating oil, as he knows or should know, is in an entirely different category.

But, by attacking home heating oil, Deering is able to focus on his real target...the Commander Oil Terminal, the ultimate removal of which is the motivating factor behind his very existence. This critical terminal in the petroleum distribution chain will remain in operation; it will continue to provide a wide range of petroleum products to all LI consumers and, if allowed by the courts and the applicable regulators, it will expand. I'm sorry to inform you and your readers of this, but that's the way our democratic process works. It may not be perfect, but it is clearly better than any other alternative.

Kevin Rooney

Executive VP

Oil Heat Institute of LI

As a subscriber to your great paper of more than 100 years, I would like to compliment your publisher and its professional editor who does a great job.

Recently while passing by the office of the other local paper, there in full view for all to see (as they passed by) was the front page of their Jan. 28 column, headlining an act of petit larceny. I was shocked, embarrassed for the residents of the Village of Oyster Bay, and totally disappointed to see in a large front page column the names of: the store owner - the individual involved in the petit larceny - and the name of the officer called in from the 2nd Precinct. All this by what I consider to be an unprofessional editor -- for whatever reason to do such a thing is beyond my comprehension, especially in a small village like Oyster Bay which we consider family!

The great newspaper Newsday, which enjoys a very large list of subscribers in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens County, has a "police report" column every Sunday listing numerous burglaries, criminal mischief, grand larceny and petit larceny incidents that happen in our area, never do they list names of suspects, involved parties or names of police officers involved. The wonderful Oyster Bay Enterprise Pilot to its credit does the same in their police report column.

Obviously in both papers the policy is approved by publisher and editor! This other local paper, I'm sorry to say, "does not"! Obviously, a procedure approved by the publisher and editor. Sad because the publisher is a most wonderful person involved in many helpful activities in the community from pediatrics to geriatrics -- a truly wonderful person. To allow this editor to print on the front page an act of petit larceny, the name of the accused, the name of the store, the name of the police officer making the arrest (in handcuffs no less) and who is the mate of one of our most renowned citizens is an affront to all in the family of Oyster Bay. I feel certain that this wonderful publisher was not aware of this disgraceful disclosure on the front page. Perhaps this editor has a personal ethnic dislike problem -- I hope not!

If the publisher was aware, then I am sadly disappointed that this disclosure was permitted rather than to extend to any person the courtesy of anonymity whether they deserve it or not -- the same courtesy that an editor would want extended to his family if involved in a similar situation.

Anthony Romeo