Renewable Fuel Standard Program

2012 and Older Announcements for Renewable Fuel Standard Program

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2011 Program Announcements
 

Notice of Response to Petition from Canada for Application of the Renewable Fuel Standard Aggregate Compliance Approach

On March 15, 2011, EPA issued a notice of receipt of and solicited public comment on a petition for EPA to authorize the use of an aggregate approach for compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard renewable biomass requirements, submitted by the Government of Canada. The petition requested that EPA determine that an aggregate compliance approach will provide reasonable assurance that planted crops and crop residue from Canada meet the definition of renewable biomass. This notice provides EPA’s approval of the petition. 

  • Learn more about the Notice of Response to Petition from Canada for Application of the Renewable Fuel Standard Aggregate Compliance Approach. 

Hearing Announcement for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 2012 Renewable Fuel Standards and 2013 Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2)

  • Learn more about the Hearing Announcement for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 2012 Renewable Fuel Standards and 2013 Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2). 

2012 Renewable Fuel Standards and 2013 Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2): Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Notice of Response to Petition

On May 24, 2010, EPA received four petitions for reconsideration of the final rule, Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2), (75 FR 14670, March 26, 2010). The petitioners raised several concerns associated with the final RFS2 rule. Specifically, all four petitioners requested reconsideration on the issue of EPA's adoption of the "aggregate compliance approach" as part of implementing the requirements for renewable biomass for certain feedstocks grown in the U.S. In addition, one petitioner cited the exclusion of the global "rebound" effect in the lifecycle analysis used in determining compliance with the required greenhouse thresholds for various renewable fuels. On February 17, 2011, EPA issued its denial of these petitions because they fail to meet the criteria for reconsideration.

Notice of Receipt of Petition from Canada for Application of the Renewable Fuel Standard Aggregate Compliance Approach

Notice of receipt of a petition for EPA to authorize the use of an aggregate approach for compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard for renewable biomass. This petition was submitted by the Government of Canada. The petition requests that EPA determine that an aggregate compliance approach will provide reasonable assurance that planted crops and crop residue from Canada meet the definition of renewable biomass. In this notice, EPA is soliciting comment on all aspects of the petition.

  • Learn more about the Notice of Receipt of Petition from Canada for Application of the Renewable Fuel Standard Aggregate Compliance Approach. 

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2010 Program Announcements
 

Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2): Program Amendments

On June 30, 2010, EPA published a notice to withdraw several of the amendments to the RFS2 regulations that were issued via direct final rule and parallel proposal on May 10, 2010. In this final rule, EPA addresses comments received on the withdrawn provisions and takes final action regarding the withdrawn provisions based on consideration of the comments received.

2011 Standards for Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2): Notice of Final Rulemaking

Final rule setting the volume requirements and associated percentage standards that apply under the RFS2 program in calendar year 2011 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. 

Supplemental Determination for Renewable Fuels Produced Under the Final RFS2 Program from Canola Oil

This rule finalizes the determination that canola oil biodiesel meets the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction threshold of 50% required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). Thus, canola oil biodiesel now qualifies as both an advanced biofuel and as biomass based diesel. Further the final rule may allow the opportunity for producers of canola oil biodiesel to generate either advanced or biomass-based diesel Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for such fuel that they produced dating back to July 1, 2010. 

Notice of Data Availability for Renewable Fuels Produced Under the Final RFS2 Program from Canola Oil

EPA conducted lifecycle GHG analyses for a number of biofuel feedstocks and production pathways as part of its March 26, 2010 RFS2 final rule. In the preamble to that final rule, EPA indicated that it had not completed the lifecycle emissions impact analysis for several specific fuels but that this work would be completed during 2010 and the regulations updated via a supplemental final rulemaking action. Since the final rule, we have completed a proposed assessment for an additional renewable fuel pathway, canola oil biodiesel.

2011 Standards for Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2): Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Proposed volume requirements and associated percentage standards for the RFS program in calendar year 2011 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel; and two proposed regulatory provisions intended to address RIN generation for certain new pathways in 2010 and documentation for certain categories of foreign feedstocks.

Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2): Program Amendments

On June 30, 2010, EPA published a notice to withdraw several of the amendments to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) regulations issued via direct final rule on May 10, 2010. Many of these program amendments address grammatical or typographical errors, or provide clarification to assist regulated entities in complying with the RFS2 program requirements. We withdrew only the amendments on which we received adverse comment. All other amendments became effective as of July 1, 2010, simultaneous with the RFS2 final rule (75 FR 14670, March 26, 2010). 

Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2): Final Rule

Final rule establishing changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard program, as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, to ensure that transportation fuel sold in the United State contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel. The new renewable fuel standards increase the volume of renewable fuel required to be blended into transportation fuel to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

Partial Grant and Partial Denial of Clean Air Act Waiver Application Submitted by Growth Energy to Increase the Allowable Ethanol Content of Gasoline to 15 Percent; Decision of the Administrator

EPA reviewed the March 2009 application from Growth Energy, available test data and public comments on the waiver request. On October 13, 2010, EPA determined that, subject to compliance with all of the conditions listed in the waiver decision, a gasoline produced with greater than E10 and no more than E15 will not cause or contribute to a failure of certain motor vehicles to achieve compliance with the emission standards to which they have been certified over their useful lives. Therefore, EPA partially and conditionally granted the waiver request application submitted by Growth Energy for its gasoline-ethanol blend with no more than 15 vol% ethanol. 

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2009 Program Announcements
 

Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2): Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

Proposed revisions to the RFS program as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA).

Notice of 2009 Requirement

EPA announced the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2009: 10.21 percent. This notice, which is required under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, supersedes the notice published February 14, 2008. 

Notice of Extension of Public Comment for the proposed rule to implement the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard Program

Notice of an extension of the comment period for the proposed rule "Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard Program." Under the Federal Register Notice, published May 26, 2009, the public comment period was set to end on July 27, 2009. This document extended the comment period an additional 60 days until September 25, 2009, to allow the public additional time to provide comment on the proposed rule. 

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2008 Program Announcements
 

Denial of the State of Texas Request for a Waiver of a Portion of the Renewable Fuel Standard

On August 7, 2008 EPA denied the Texas waiver request for a portion of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Governor of Texas requested that EPA waive a portion of the renewable fuel standard under section 211(o)(7) of the Clean Air Act on April 25, 2008. According to the Act, EPA's Administrator is required to grant or deny the request within 90 days of receipt. On July 22, 2008, the Administrator announced that additional time was needed to adequately respond to the public comments and develop a decision document that explains the technical, economic and legal rationale of EPA's decision. Below is EPA's response and the related documents. 

Renewable Fuel Standard: Technical Amendments

EPA published a direct final rule on October 2, 2008, to amend the Renewable Fuel Standard program requirements. We received adverse comment on several provisions in the direct final rule and have published a withdrawal of these amendments in the Federal Register. All other amendments will take effect on December 1, 2008.

Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS1): Final Rule

EPA finalized a national renewable fuel program that was designed to encourage the blending of renewable fuels into our nation's motor vehicle fuel.

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Renewable Fuels Standards Program