Testimony begins in MTBE case in NH

The state is seeking more than $700 million to monitor drinking water wells and clean up high-risk sites where MTBE contaminated groundwater. The trial, which began Monday, is expected to last four months and involve hundreds of witnesses and thousands of exhibits.

Opening statements made it clear that jurors will be presented wildly divergent testimony and evidence about the two decades — ending in 2006 — when gasoline sold in the state contained MTBE.