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Showing posts with label waiver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label waiver. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

In Support of Affected States, EPA Approves Temporary Fuel Waiver for 8 States Impacted by Hurricane Isaac

Press release:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2012

In Support of Affected States, EPA Approves Temporary Fuel Waiver for 8 States Impacted by Hurricane Isaac

WASHINGTON - As a result of the disruption in the supply of fuel from Gulf-area refineries following Hurricane Isaac, and at the request of Governors, EPA has exercised its authority under the Clean Air Act to temporarily waive certain federal clean gasoline requirements for gasoline sold and distributed in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. The disruption and delays in production and delivery of gasoline resulted from effects of Hurricane Isaac.

This waiver was granted by EPA in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE). EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson determined that extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist, which may result in a temporary shortage of gasoline compliant with federal regulations. The federal waiver will help ensure an adequate supply of gasoline in the impacted states until normal supply to the region can be restored.

The waiver applies to the use of low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) "summertime" gasoline for the remainder of the "high ozone" period, which ends on Sept 15. Due to a number of continuing refinery outages caused by Hurricane Isaac, and the slower-than-expected-pace of restarts of other Gulf-area refineries, EPA determined that there would not be an adequate supply of summertime gasoline for these states through Sept 15. The waiver allows available supplies of higher RVP "wintertime" gasoline to be used prior to the end of the high ozone period, in order to prevent a gasoline supply shortfall in these states.

States bordering on this area are projected to have sufficient supplies of compliant summertime fuel through the end of the high ozone period in two weeks, and no shortages are expected to develop. However, EPA will continue to actively monitor fuel supplies in these areas, and will act expeditiously if needed to prevent a shortfall.

More information: http://epa.gov/enforcement/air/fuel-waivers.html

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waiver for Louisiana

Press release:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 29, 2012


EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waiver for Louisiana

WASHINGTON
 - As Hurricane Isaac makes landfall in the U.S. Gulf Coast, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has exercised its authority under the Clean Air Act to temporarily waive certain federal clean gasoline requirements for Louisiana. This waiver will allow greater flexibility for the fuel distribution system to support an adequate supply.

This waiver was granted by EPA in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE), at the request of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson determined that extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist, which are likely to result in a shortage of gasoline compliant with federal regulations. The federal waiver will help ensure an adequate supply of gasoline in Louisiana until normal supply to the region can be restored.

The waiver applies to 7.8 psi low Reid vapor pressure (RVP) requirements for the State of Louisiana. The waiver is effective for 10 days and allows the sale of 9.0 psi conventional gasoline in the following fourteen Louisiana parishes: Ascension, E. Baton Rouge, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Point Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. Mary, and W. Baton Rouge. EPA is continuing to actively monitor the fuel supply situation as a result of Hurricane Isaac, and is ready to act expeditiously if extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist in other areas in Louisiana with a 7.8 psi RVP fuel requirement. As required by law, EPA and DOE evaluated the situation and determined that granting a short-term waiver was consistent with the public interest. To mitigate any impacts on air quality the Clean Air Act provides strict criteria for when fuels waivers may be granted, and requires that waivers be limited as much as possible in terms of their geographic scope and duration.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/fuel-waivers.html


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