For Immediate Release
March 3, 2000

                                                      For More Information Contact
Joe Shannahan/IA 515-281-0173
Chris Peterson/NE 402-471-1967
 Larry Pearce/GEC 402-471-3362
 

EPA's Browner Sheds Light on Ethanol Issues in
Meeting with Ethanol Coalition Governors

LINCOLN, NE - The leaders of the 24-member Governors. Ethanol Coalition, Iowa Governor and Chairman Tom Vilsack and Nebraska Governor and Vice-Chairman Mike Johanns, met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner yesterday to discuss ethanol's future in light of pending federal decisions.

Among the issues discussed by the governors and Browner:

  • The request by California to waive oxygen use in transportation fuels. Browner confirmed California had filed a request February 14th for a waiver on certain Clean Air Act Amendments. The EPA was still reviewing California's request and the data the state had submitted. She reaffirmed that no decision would be made until fall, at the earliest, while EPA scientists reviewed California's information. Browner also indicated outside scientific reviews are a possibility as well as formal rulemaking by the agency. These actions could further delay issuance of a waiver.
  • The EPA's position on retaining oxygen additives in transportation fuels used in the nation's smoggiest cities. The governors discussed pending Congressional action to ban MTBE use in transportation fuels and to eliminate oxygen additives such as ethanol from required use in the clean-burning fuels now being used. Browner confirmed the EPA's interest in examining expanded use of ethanol as a clean air additive.
  • The potential economic and environmental benefits of ethanol. Browner said the agency is eager to examine the impacts of greater utilization of ethanol in the future.

"I am optimistic about the emerging role of ethanol in ensuring a clean environment for Americans," Iowa Governor Vilsack said. "While today's meeting was positive, this is only one step. Iowans must work to educate the rest of the country and world on the benefits of expanding ethanol use."

Nebraska Governor Johanns said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting. "Administrator Browner made it clear the agency is willing to examine any information the Governors. Ethanol Coalition wants to provide regarding expanded uses of ethanol," Governor Johanns said.

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