EPA’s proposed biofuels blending levels announced Dec. 7 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2020, 2021 and 2022 have now been published in the Federal Register. EPA also continues to note that the situation regarding small refinery exemptions (SREs) remains uncertain. In a separate rulemaking, EPA is proposing to deny all pending small refinery exemptions (SREs), seeking public comment on that proposal. In its RFS rulemaking, EPA again noted that it was “still unclear at this time whether we will be granting SREs for 2020, 2021 or 2022, and if so, to what degree.”
Comments on the proposed RFS levels are due Feb. 4 and EPA is holding a public hearing on its plans Jan., 4 (and Jan. 5 if needed) to gather public input. It is not clear when EPA will finalize the RFS levels and there have been changes in the final levels versus proposed levels previously, though typically not significant.
