EPA Ethanol Ruling Delayed: Could Impact Recreational Boating
WASHINGTON, D. C., December 1, 2009 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it was putting off until mid-2010 a decision on whether to increase the allowable ethanol content in fuel, amid concerns raised about issues including the potential impact the hike could have on recreational boating engines.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) welcomed the EPA’s decision to conduct further study before determining whether to increase the allowable ethanol in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent (E15). No recreational marine engines, fuel systems or boats are currently designed, calibrated, certified or warranted to run on any fuel with more than 10 percent ethanol, said NMMA Legislative Director Mat Dunn.
“Any attempt to ‘bifurcate’ the fuel supply by allowing E15 for only certain automobiles would lead to a myriad of misfueling, liability and consumer safety issues and likely cause the price of fuel for boaters to increase while availability of compatible blends decreases,” Dunn said. “Although EPA has noted that it is working on pump labeling requirements should higher blends be permitted in the marketplace, it is not yet clear if these efforts are sufficient to ensure that the nation’s 70 million boaters are protected from these very serious concerns.”
The EPA said studies have indicated that higher blends such as E15 potentially may be tolerated by newer automobiles, but that further and longer-term studies are pending. Dunn said the agency has not conducted any studies on marine engines, as well as a variety of other non-road engines, as is required by law.
In March 2009, Growth Energy, a biofuels industry association, requested a waiver to allow for the use of up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA was required to respond to the waiver request by December 1, 2009.
EPA has been evaluating the group’s request and has received a broad range of public comments as part of the administrative rulemaking process. EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) also undertook a number of studies to determine whether cars could handle higher ethanol blends.
In a letter to Growth Energy, dated November 30, the EPA said testing on the long-term emissions impact of higher ethanol blends on newer blends continues. It said a significant amount of data should be available by mid-June.
“Should the test results remain supportive and provide the necessary basis, we would be in a position to approve E15 for 2001 and newer vehicles in the mid-year timeframe,” the letter said. “Of course, if the data highlight potential problems, then the decision may need to be delayed until all testing is received and reviewed.”
Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dineen urged the EPA to “avoid paralysis by analysis.”
“As EPA itself indicated, the scientific data to date has demonstrated no ill-effects of increased ethanol use in any vehicle currently on the road,” Dineen said. “Moreover, this delay will chill investment in advanced biofuel technologies at a critical time in their development and commercialization.”
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers praised the decision, saying the EPA should prove that increasing the allowable ethanol blend limit will not harm vehicle emissions, performance and durability before issuing a ruling.
“While we share concerns regarding energy security, the EPA needs to be certain that prolonged use of mid-level blends will not damage existing engines, fuel lines and emissions systems,” said Dave McCurdy, Alliance President and CEO. “Widespread failures resulting from higher blends of ethanol would be costly to automakers, a setback for the biofuels industry and, most of all, a disaster for the driving public.”
