September 11 was the deadline for comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to adjust the volatility requirements for reformulated gasoline to recognize the additional carbon monoxide benefits of ethanol reformulated gasoline. The proposed rule was prompted by a recommendation of the National Research Council that the contribution of carbon monoxide to ozone formation be recognized in assessments of reformulated gasoline air quality benefits.

The National Corn Growers Association and Renewable Fuels Association urged the agency to consider increasing the volatile organic compounds offset, noting the higher carbon monoxide emissions reductions attributable to 10 percent ethanol blends support a higher volatile organic compounds offset than proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. "The Environmental Protection Agency proposes a one percent volatile organic compounds offset to provide economic relief to refiners blending 10 percent ethanol in summer in reformulated gasoline areas and suggests that this offset will not adversely impact air quality compared to two percent oxygen fuel. We believe that if the Environmental Protection Agency properly considers the impact of higher oxygen levels on emissions from reformulated gasoline, the credit can be considerably larger without adversely impacting air quality," commented National Corn Growers Association.

"The Renewable Fuels Association strongly urges the Agency to truly implement the recommendation of the National Research Council, and promulgate a rule adjusting the volatile organic compounds performance requirements for ethanol blended reformulated gasoline containing more than 2.0 wt. percent oxygen according to the actual impact of carbon monoxide on ozone formation," said the Renewable Fuels Association. "We believe such an approach would provide at least a three percent volatile organic compounds adjustment for 10 percent ethanol fuels. But in any event, it is imperative that the agency consider an approach based on sound air quality science, rather than refinery economics."

The National Research Council's research report can be found on the NRC's web site at: http://books.nap.edu/books/0309064457/html/index.html