The EPA announced this week that is "on track" to reach a decision on whether or not to grant a wavier requested by ethanol interests to allow E-15 to be mixed into the U.S. gasoline supplies. It said that the Department of Energy would complete its testing of the effects of E-15 on different types of engines by the end of September. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has opposed increasing the ethanol content in marine fuel to 15% contending that it can cause engine damage, and that its full effects on older engines is unknown. Ethanol interests have expressed their frustration over the EPA's delay.
Report from AG News--
The ethanol industry is expressing its frustration over EPA’s delay on the E15 waiver decision until fall. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis says this is a typical Washington stalling tactic by EPA so they don’t have to make a decision…one they are hiding behind with additional tests on newer vehicles.
Buis says they met all the requirements of the Clean Air Act and have sent a letter to the Administration that they’re patience has finally run out.
He says they are also reviewing all of their legal and legislative options.
Matt Hartwig with the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington says they are extremely frustrated with the agency as it’s been over a year since the waiver request was submitted.
He says EPA is also adding insult to injury by only considering higher blend rates in 2007 or newer vehicles. Pushing back the decision delays the approval process for vehicles from 2001 or newer to later this fall. EPA has also turned down the request to move immediately to E12.
From IBI Magazine --
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said yesterday that it was "on track" to determine the impact of higher-ethanol E15 blends on vehicles built after 2007. The agency said that the Department of Energy (DOE) would complete its testing by the end of September.
The decision on whether to allow E15 into the nation's fuel supply had been expected this month. E15 incorporates 15 per cent ethanol into the fuel mix. The current legal limit is 10 per cent ethanol.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and other groups like Boat/US oppose an EPA waiver for E15. They called on the agency to do extensive testing on marine engines before passing E15, so that the decision was based on sound science.
Marine engine manufacturers say that ethanol blends cause engine damage. Several US senators also strongly oppose E15, and have documented cases of boaters being stranded at sea because of engine failure due to ethanol blends.
But EPA said the initial tests were promising. "DOE is also testing some vehicles built before 2007 and is also testing tanks and other fuel handling equipment to see how they might be affected by E15," said an EPA statement. "While results from the tests conducted to-date look good, EPA will not make a final decision until DOE completes its current comprehensive testing of the newer vehicles."
The NMMA said it was "pleased" that EPA recognized that more testing was needed. "However, we continue to call on EPA and DOE to test marine and non-road engines in advance of any determination by the Agency, as required by the Clean Air Act," read a statement from NMMA. "We consider the 'partial waiver' approach currently under consideration ill-advised and a risk to consumers, engines and air quality."
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