Ethanol Blog

The EPA is expected to release a proposed rule for the latest Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations by the end of December, with the volumes expected to be finalized in June, according to the agency's fall unified agenda posted on the Office of Management and Budget's website.

Based on that schedule the renewable volume obligations for 2021 would be about seven months late, https://www.reginfo.gov/….

The EPA was required by law to release a 2021 proposal in June 2020, with the rule being finalized by Nov. 30, 2020.

This is the first time the Trump administration has missed the RVO deadline.

The EPA indicates in the unified agenda that it is considering a number of issues in creating the new rule, including a remand of 500 million gallons found by a federal court to have been illegally waived by the agency in 2016.

"EPA is considering alternative volume standards in the development of the proposal, including a response to the D.C. Circuit remand of the rule establishing the RFS volumes for 2016," the agency said on the agenda. "We intend to continue to consider alternatives as we develop the proposed rule."

In recent weeks Growth Energy announced its intention to file a lawsuit, asking a court to order EPA to complete the remand of the 500 million gallons.

Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com

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