On June 27, 2011, the EPA released a final rule that establishes several measures to mitigate E15 misfueling. A copy of the pre-Federal Register version of the rule, along with other information related to the rulemaking, is available at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15/index.htm.
In the final rule, EPA has established several measures to mitigate misfueling of certain vehicles, engines and equipment with E15. The key mitigation measures are as follows:
- The rule prohibits the use of gasoline containing more than 10 vol% ethanol in vehicles, engines and equipment not covered by the partial waiver decisions.
- The final rule requires all E15 gasoline fuel dispensers to have a specific label when a retail station or wholesale-purchaser consumer chooses to sell E15.
- The rule requires that product transfer documents (PTDs) specifying ethanol content and Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) accompany the transfer of gasoline blended with ethanol through the fuel distribution system.
- The rule requires a survey of retail stations to ensure compliance with E15 labeling, ethanol content and other requirements.
The requirements contained in the final rule will go into effect 30 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register. Docket reference: EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0448. EPA contact: Robert Anderson, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Compliance and Innovative Strategies Division, 202-343-9817, Anderson.robert@epa.gov.