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EPA Seeks Comments on E15 Request
16 April 2009
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on a waiver application from Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers (earlier post) to increase the amount of ethanol that can be blended into a gallon of gasoline to up to 15 volume percent (E15).
Since 1978, the limit has been at ten volume percent ethanol (E10) for conventional (non flex-fuel) vehicles. To approve the higher ethanol blend request, the EPA needs to determine that ethanol blends up to 15% will not affect the emission control systems in vehicles. The comment period will be open for 30 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.
Growth Energy submitted the E15 application to EPA on 6 March 2009. Current statute calls for EPA to make a decision within 270 days of receipt, which is 1 December 2009.
April 16, 2009 in Brief | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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Posted by: richard schumacher | April 16, 2009 at 08:46 PM
Good start, Richard, but it takes more than that. Let me give a little coaching on how to have a meaningful effect on a federal rulemaking process.
First, you must identify which docket you are commenting on! Use Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0211. There are hundreds of rulemaking dockets open at a time, so this is absolutely necessary. Second, to get your comments considered, make them substantive, thoughtful, and based on science and fact. Cite your science and cite your facts, and tailor your response to the specific questions and issues presented in the issue being considered in the rulemaking proposal. To see the notice and E15 application, follow the first link in this article. If you can support or counter arguments in the proposal with additional science or facts that otherwise haven't been brought to the table, that's the kind of comment that can really have an effect.
People have a tendency to submit rants to regulatory dockets like this- these are not considered and actually get in the way of considering the actual issue. There will be a mountain of comments submitted, and it only makes it harder for EPA to sift through the usable comments if they have hundreds of rants and "that is stupid, don't do it" comments submitted.
Posted by: Wes | April 17, 2009 at 05:02 AM
Thanks Wes.
Posted by: Reel$$ | April 18, 2009 at 09:39 AM
A fact based way would be to look at all the cars on the road and see what percentage of them can handle E15, my opinion on the topic does not matter.
If 99% can handle it and 1% need an upgrade, is that acceptable? Is it more acceptable if the upgrade costs less than $500? Is it more acceptable if the tax payers pay for half?
Posted by: SJC | April 18, 2009 at 01:40 PM