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Title: EPA releases hold on reformulated gas and CFC regulations

Journal Article · · Chemical Week; (United States)
OSTI ID:6624291

The Environmental Protection Agency has released the White House-instituted hold and review on the Bush Administration's last-minute rules and proposals. Of the 32 actions, EPA administrator Carol Browner has held back only one, which proposed a fee system for discharges to water. Any changes in the future were deemed to best be considered either in the comment period for proposals or with new proposed addendums for final rules, said Browner. Although a proposal concerning standards for reformulated gasoline was approved for publication, Browner emphasizes that the EPA can modify or drop provisions for ethanol mixtures and remains committed to negotiated rulemaking procedures. The proposed rule includes measures - set out by Bush last October - to grant ethanol a waiver from gasoline vapor pressure limits, resulting in a 30% market share for northern cities in violation of ozone limits. Ethanol could take a 20% share in southern cities. Under the ethanol waiver, refiners would have to offset the increased emissions from ethanol at a cost of at least $250 million, according to the American Petroleum Institute, API, state air pollution regulators, and environmentalists say the proposal violates a regulatory negotiation. Regarding the one-week delay, API says, The lengthy rule-making process already has drastically reduced the lead time available to refiners, who must begin selling this fuel on January 1, 1995'. Also released is the ozone-depleter phase-out proposal. In addition to chlorofluorocarbons, the Bush EPA slated methyl bromide for phase-outby the year 2000.

OSTI ID:
6624291
Journal Information:
Chemical Week; (United States), Vol. 152:4; ISSN 0009-272X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English