The U.S. EPA’s final E15/RIN market reform rule is under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget. The agency is expected to release the rule before the June 1 start of the summer driving season.
The EPA sent the final rule to the OMB on May 23. Information posted to the OMB website indicates the final rule will extend the 1-pound-per-square-inch Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver currently in place for E10 to E15, allowing E15 to be sold year-round. Currently, sales of E15 in most markets are prohibited from June 1 through Sept. 15. The final rule also appears to include changes to renewable identification number (RIN) market regulations under the Renewable Fuel Standard despite requests from the biofuel industry and several federal lawmakers to address RIN reform in a separate rulemaking.
The EPA released its proposed E15/RIN market reform rule on March 12. A public comment period on the rulemaking was open through April 29. The agency is expected to release the final version of the rule this week. More >>