EPA Delays Decision on E15 Waiver

(American Meat Institute)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it will not make a final determination on a waiver that would allow the use of up to 15 percent of ethanol in gasoline until mid-2010.

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA was required to respond to the waiver request by December 1, 2009.  EPA has been evaluating the request but stated it currently does not have the data needed to make a final determination.

EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) are currently conducting a number of studies to determine how higher ethanol blends impact newer automotive engines. The agency said a determination on the petition could be given once the data from the ongoing testing is available.

EPA also announced that it has begun the process of crafting the labeling requirements that would be necessary if the ethanol blending level is raised.

For more information on the EPA announcement, go to http://www.epa.gov/otaq/additive.htm.

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