by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is handing over to the Government Accountability Office information on oil refiners that petitioned for exemptions to biofuel blending mandates, in an effort to help the government watchdog investigate the exemption program.
The move shows the Biden administration’s willingness to help scrutinize the so-called small refinery exemption program, which had expanded dramatically during former President Donald Trump’s term.
The disclosed confidential information will include all documents, information and data related to small refinery exemption petitions received by the EPA from the program since its inception, according to a notice on Wednesday in the Federal Register.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is handing over to the Government Accountability Office information on oil refiners that petitioned for exemptions to biofuel blending mandates, in an effort to help the government watchdog investigate the exemption program.
The latest legal motion involves waivers the Trump EPA granted just before Trump left office.
The three small refinery exemptions, equal to 260-million gallons in lost ethanol demand, were granted to Sinclair less than 24-hours before President Trump left office.
A protracted legal and political fight that has pitted two pillars of the Republican base against each other reached its apex last week at the Supreme Court. The outcome of the case rests on how the nine justices interpret the meaning of the word “extension”.
In Washington, the Renewable Fuels Association says American exports of ethanol accelerated in March to 133.0 million gallons (mg), the second-largest volume in a year and up 31% from February’s dip. Exports to China spiked from 4.7 mg to 48.3 mg for the country’s second-largest monthly imports of American ethanol on record (and narrowly missing the April 2016 high). Similarly, shipments to Canada accelerated by 85% to a four-month high of 34.2 mg, and India’s imports were up 13% over February to 16.8 mg. These three countries received three-fourths of all ethanol shipped in March. Other substantial markets include South Korea (7.1 mg, -67%), Brazil (5.3 mg, -32%), the Philippines (4.6 mg, -5%), and Peru (4.5 mg, +3%). Total U.S. ethanol exports for the first three months of the year totaled 399.3 mg, or 18% less than last year at this time.