EPA Takes RFS-related Actions to help Farmers and Refiners

Agency Proposes to Revise E15 Fuel Label and Address Storage of High Ethanol Gasoline Blends in Underground Storage Tanks; Proposes New Compliance Timelines in Response to COVID-19 Economic Interruptions. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking a number of actions through the Renewable Fuel Standard program to provide certainty to impacted stakeholders. These actions include the following: 

Proposing changes to E15 fuel pump labelling requirements. 

Proposing to modify underground storage tank (UST) regulations to accommodate the safe storage of E15 and higher ethanol blends at retail stations’ existing tank systems. 

Proposing to extend the compliance time for certain obligated parties subject to the 2019 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) and all obligated parties subject to the 2020 RVO given ongoing economic disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Seeking comment on several waiver petitions from Governors and refinery groups pertaining to “severe economic harm” as well as a letter from the National Wildlife Federation pertaining to “severe environmental harm” requesting general waiver relief for the 2019 and 2020 RVOs. 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: E15 Fuel Dispenser Labeling and Compatibility with Underground Storage Tanks 

The Rule summary proposed changes to E15 fuel dispenser labeling requirements. E15 is a gasoline-ethanol blend that contains up to 15 percent ethanol and is currently available at over 1,800 retail stations. 

EPA is also proposing to modify underground storage tank (UST) regulations to accommodate the safe storage of E15 and higher gasoline-ethanol blends at retail stations’ existing tank systems.  

The rules are open for public comments and interested stakeholders to weigh in on the proposed rules and petitions by April 19^th 2021.