CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A former Exxon Mobil marketing analyst on Tuesday defended his company’s use of the gasoline additive MTBE, saying during a pollution trial that it was an outstanding blending component to replace lead and reduce smog.

Retired analyst Victor Dugan testified on the second day of the defense’s case in a lawsuit brought by the state of New Hampshire. The state is seeking hundreds of millions in damages to monitor and treat groundwater contaminated by MTBE.