chastised and chagrined...My apologies...
Web link
http://blog.motorists.org/epa-consid...l-limit-to-15/
Growth Energy link
http://www.growthenergy.org/
EPA link:
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/...y-21/a9115.htm
otice of Receipt of a Clean Air Act Waiver Application To Increase the Allowable
Ethanol Content of Gasoline to 15 Percent; Request for Comment
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Context of Growth Energy's Waiver Application
On March 6, 2009, Growth Energy and 54 _ethanol manufacturers
submitted a waiver application to the Administrator, pursuant to
section 211(f)(4) of the Act, for ethanol-gasoline blends containing up
to 15 percent ethanol by volume (``E15'')._
Growth Energy maintains that under the renewable fuel program
requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which
is now primarily satisfied by the use of ethanol in motor vehicle
gasoline, there exists a ``blend barrier'' or ``blendwall'' by which
motor vehicle gasoline in the U.S. essentially will become saturated
with ethanol at the 10 volume percent level very soon. Growth Energy
maintains that a necessary first step is to increase the allowable
amount of ethanol in motor vehicle gasoline up to 15 percent (E15) in
order to delay the blendwall. They also claim other ways of delaying
the blendwall could include adding more stations offering E85 blends
and bringing in the renewable fuel mandate specified in the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007. For its part, Growth Energy
claims that the ``blendwall'' will make those renewable fuel mandates
unreachable and that there are substantial environmental benefits
associated with higher ethanol blends.
Growth Energy states in its waiver application that its supporting
studies and extensive experience with ethanol support a conclusion that
E15 will not cause or contribute to the failure of an emission control
system such that the engine or vehicles fails to achieve compliance
with its emission standards. In addition to the information that Growth
Energy submitted, EPA is aware that several interested parties are
investigating the impact that mid-level blends (e.g., E15 or E20) may
have on vehicles and equipment. These testing programs are evaluating
emissions impacts as well as other types of impacts (i.e., catalyst,
engine, and fuel system durability, and onboard diagnostics) on
vehicles and equipment. The Department of Energy, working in
conjunction with the Coordinating Research Council and other interested
parties, is leading a substantial testing effort. Results from this
program to date are referenced in Growth Energy's waiver request, and
we expect additional data will be added to the docket as it becomes
available.
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Request for Comments
EPA invites public comments and data on all aspects of the waiver
application that will assist the Administrator in determining whether
the statutory basis for granting the waiver request for ethanol-
gasoline blends containing up to E15 has been met. EPA specifically
requests comment and data that will enable EPA to:
(a) evaluate whether an appropriate level of scientific and
technical information exists in order for the Administrator to
determine whether the use of E15 will not cause or contribute to a
failure of any emission control device or system over the useful life
of any motor vehicle or motor vehicle engine (certified pursuant to
section 206 of the Act) to achieve compliance with applicable emission
standards;
(b) evaluate whether an appropriate level of scientific and
technical information exists in order for the Administrator to
determine whether the use of E15 will not cause or contribute to a
failure of any emission control device or system over the useful life
of any nonroad vehicle or nonroad engine (certified pursuant to
sections 206 and 213(a) of the Act) to achieve compliance with
applicable emission standards; and,
(c) evaluate whether an appropriate level of scientific and
technical information exists in order for the
[[Page 18230]]
Administrator to grant a waiver for an ethanol-gasoline blend greater
than 10 percent and less than or equal to 15 percent by volume.
EPA also requests comment on:
(d) all legal and technical aspects regarding the possibility that
a waiver might be granted, in a conditional or partial manner, such
that the use of up to E15 would be restricted to a subset of gasoline
vehicles or engines that would be covered by the waiver, while other
vehicles or engines would continue using fuels with blends no greater
than E10. EPA seeks comment on what measures would be needed to ensure
that the fuel covered by the waiver (i.e. a partial or conditional
waiver) is only used in that subset of vehicles or engines. EPA
acknowledges that the issue of misfueling would be challenging in a
situation where a conditional waiver is granted. To the extent a
partial or conditional waiver may be appropriate, please provide
comments on the legal and technical need for restrictions of this
nature. Comments are also requested on how the Agency might define a
partial or conditional waiver. For example, assuming there is
sufficient technical basis, should the subset of vehicles or engines
that is allowed to use the waived fuel be defined by model year of
production, engine size, application (e.g., highway vehicle vs. nonroad
engine), or some other defining characteristic.
(e) Any education efforts that would be needed to inform the public
about the new fuel that would be available if a waiver is granted. To
address the possibility of a grant of a conditional or partial waiver,
the Agency requests specific comments on public education measures that
would be needed if the waiver allowed the fuel to be used only in a
subset of existing vehicles or engines.
Commenters should include data or specific examples in support of
their comments in order to aid the Administrator in determining whether
to grant or deny the waiver request. In order for any testing programs
evaluating emissions impacts, as well as other types of impacts (i.e.,
catalyst, engine, fuel system durability, or onboard diagnostics), to
be useful in EPA's evaluation of Growth Energy's waiver application,
any mid-level ethanol blend testing or other analyses should consider
such impacts across a range of engines and equipment (including the
fuel systems) that are currently in service and that could be exposed
to mid-level ethanol blends. Such testing and analyses should also
assess the long-term impacts of such blends. EPA specifically solicits
the data and results from such testing and analyses.
Although it is not a specific criterion by which to evaluate a
waiver request under section 211(f), any approved waiver could require
program changes to accommodate this new fuel. EPA seeks comment on the
effect of a potential waiver for ethanol blends above 10 percent and up
to 15 percent on existing fuel programs (e.g., gasoline detergent
certification, protection of underground storage tanks, etc.) and on
the gasoline production, distribution and marketing infrastructure. For
example, would EPA need to modify its RFG and anti-dumping regulations
to account for a higher blend? EPA also seeks comment on the dynamics
of the blendwall concern raised by Growth Energy, the extent to which
the use of an E15 blend would in practice help address this concern,
and what additional steps would have to be taken to bring E15 to market
should a waiver be granted.
Dated: April 15, 2009.
Elizabeth Craig,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. E9-9115 Filed 4-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P