Republicans on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee are going after the EPA’s recent decision to mandate consumers purchase at least four gallons of fuel from blender pumps that dispense both E15 and E10 gasoline-ethanol blends.
The minimum-purchase rules — called the “misfueling mitigation plans” — are intended to prevent smaller tanks from accidentally filling up with the potentially harmful blend. The recently approved E15 blend can hurt the engines of older passenger vehicles, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs and lawnmowers.
“The EPA has no business telling Americans how much fuel they must purchase,” Committee Vice Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and member Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) wrote EPA administrator Lisa Jackson yesterday. “This unprecedented attempt to remedy the consequences of EPA’s E15 waivers will not prevent widespread misfueling of millions of vehicles and products already owned by Americans that are not covered by the waiver decisions and introduces an unacceptable intrusion into the daily lives of drivers.”
“Furthermore, the EPA’s first-ever mandated purchase requirement appears to have been made outside the normal rulemaking process, seems antithetical to free markets, and highlights the flaws in the Agency’s hasty decision to grant partial waivers for E15 prior to comprehensive scientific assessment and evaluation,” they wrote.
The lawmakers asked Jackson to explain the specific statutory authority by which the agency can mandate a minimum fuel purchase.
They also asked for numerous clarifications about the hazy requirement, including why public comment wasn’t solicited on the rule and whether other options to keep the wrong fuel out of the wrong tanks were considered.
Last year, Sensenbrenner presented Jackson with letters from 14 major automakers arguing that E15 would lower fuel efficiency, damage engines, and void warranties in their vehicles, including those made after 2001.
it is important to note that the four gallon minimum is not necessary for all equipment, it was just what was needed for the first E15 station that opened in Lawrence, KS in July. The amount for some equipment could be under two gallons. The 2nd station that opened last month actually has a dispenser that doesn’t offer E15, and requires no minimum purchase.
Um, what is this even talking about, must I Google up wtf E15 is all about?
E15 is 15% ethanol. It’ll screw up older engines, including small engines like lawn mowers. The problem comes when the guy before you at the gas station fills the tank on his new E15-compatible car, and leaves the hose full of E15. Then you come along and select E10 for your lawnmower. The hose still has a half gallon or so of e15 in it, and the EPA’s ‘solution’ is to make a minimum of 4 gallons dispensed, so the ethanol is sufficiently diluted.
The real answer is to have a separate pump, but most gas stations can’t install one without a lot of expense. So this is the EPA’s bright idea to allow E10 and E15 on the same pump.
The real answer is to have a separate pump,
Umm, no, the real solution is to do away with the idiotic ethanol mandate altogether. Everything else is just armwaving.
Further proof that the EPA needs to be eliminated. The initial purpose has been met (clean air, & water) and can be handled by Interior or some other agency. At the very least, the EPA needs to be drastically reduced in size and scope. Like all government agencies, they look for reasons to expand their authority in order to grow.
Just what is the enforcement mechanism for the minimum mandate? Will the pump not shut off until four gallons are dispensed? That’ll work out well.
Will the station be fined if somebody pumps less than four gallons at a time? How the hell is the station supposed to prevent that, short of rigging its pumps not to shut off or getting rid of self-service gas pumps?
Let’s say that I stop off at a gas station to top-off my older car (pre-2000) before I go on a trip. I misjudge and only need two gallons to fill the tank. What do I do with the remaining two gallons I am required to pump? I know, I’ll dump it on the ground!
Now before anyone jumps on me for being anti-environmental, my scenario makes just about as much sense as the EPA’s requirement does.
The mandate to pump 4 gallons to ensure that you don’t damage older or small engines, simply won’t work? I only have a 2 gallon gas can because I have trouble lifting a larger can due to a back injury. So, if I use two cans, the first may be filled with an over abundance of ethanol that WILL destroy my mower. Thank you EPA. I just fulfilled your stupid requirement AND destroyed my mower’s engine at the same time!
I hate to say this, but I really wish that those in government service could be personally punished for their stupid decisions. It is only when stupidity hurts that most people will become smarter (or at least less stupid). Until then, there is simply no reason for them to learn.
Neither the Democrats or the Republicans want to mess with the ethanol lobby, corn subsidies, Midwestern political brownie points, and unfortunately, the damage E-15 will do to engines and the additional costs and dwindling supplies of corn used for food. A pox on both their houses!