WASHINGTON—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended the emergency waiver that allows E15 gasoline—gasoline that uses a 15% ethanol blend—to be sold. This is the second time the waiver has been extended this year. The extension took effect June 11 and runs through June 30.

"In taking this action, the agency is seeking to address the extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances in the market by allowing the continued sale of E15 during the summer driving season," said EPA Administrator Michael Regan in the waiver.

In roughly two-thirds of the country, E15 cannot be sold from terminals starting on May 1 and at retail stations starting on June 1. EPA is providing relief by extending the 1-psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver that applies to E10 gasoline to E15, which will enable E15 sales throughout the summer driving season in these areas, if necessary. This action only extends the 1-psi waiver to E15 in parts of the country where it already exists for E10. E15 can already be sold year-round in parts of the country that have a Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) program.

“As reported previously, NACS sent a joint industry letter with NATSO and SIGMA asking for the EPA to use its waiver authority to allow for the sale of E15 this summer. “We applaud the EPA’s decision to issue an emergency fuel waiver to allow E15 to be sold this summer,” said Paige Anderson, NACS director of government relations. “This waiver will provide flexibility for fuel retailers and allow them continue to provide E15 to their customers.”

The agency is issuing the emergency waiver through the Clean Air Act, which allows the EPA administrator, in consultation with the Department of Energy, to temporarily waive certain fuel requirements to address shortages.