NACS Opposes Potential Senate Amendment to Authorize Mid-Level Ethanol Blends

The letter explains that legislative action would contradict existing government projects currently underway studying the effects of higher ethanol blends.

July 27, 2010

WASHINGTON - In a a coalition letter, NACS yesterday urged the Senate to reject a potential amendment that would legislatively authorize ethanol blends higher than 10 percent (mid-level blends) for use in conventional gasoline-powered engines. The Senate is tentatively scheduled to consider limited energy policy legislation in the near future and rumors have circulated concerning a potential effort to amend this legislation to bypass ongoing consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency of a waiver to authorize the use of E15.

The letter explains that any such action would contradict existing EPA, Department of Energy and industry research projects currently underway studying the effects of higher ethanol blends. The research was initiated in compliance with the Clean Air Act and in direct response to a petition filed in 2009 to authorize the use of E15.

"Sound science, environmental protection and consumer safety €" not politics €" must guide this important decision," the letter reads, citing section 211(f) of the Clean Air Act that mandates a detailed review before any new fuel blends are introduced into commerce.

"We collectively urge you to reject any attempt to attach a mid"level ethanol authorization amendment during the Senate€™s consideration of energy legislation in the coming weeks and months," the letter concludes. "Such an amendment would be bad for consumers, bad for safety, bad for the environment, and, by placing politics over sound science, bad public policy."

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