23 Groups Urge EPA to Bar 12 Percent Ethanol in Gasoline

WASHINGTON, – September 28, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – A diverse group of 23 environmental, consumer, food, auto and other industry organizations today asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny a request by ethanol manufacturers seeking authorization for the sale of gasoline containing 12 percent ethanol (E12).

The groups include the Natural Resources Defense Council, National Consumers League, Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, National Marine Manufacturers Association, and Grocery Manufacturers Association.

In a letter to EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy, the organizations express concerns regarding the lack of independent testing on “mid-level” ethanol blends. The letter says increasing levels of ethanol in gasoline could pose a danger to consumer safety and could harm engines and the environment.

Current law limits the amount of ethanol in conventional gasoline to 10 percent.

Many of the groups that signed the letter are working together on a campaign seeking to prevent EPA from approving 15 percent ethanol (E15) in gasoline. More information on this campaign – called “Say NO to Untested E15″ – is available at www.followthescience.org.

EPA is expected to announce a decision on the use of E15 in late-model cars in the next few weeks. Ethanol producers backing E15 have also sought approval for the use of E12 for a wider range of vehicles.

The text of the letter and a list of signers follows:

September 28, 2010

The Honorable Gina McCarthy
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.   20460

Re:  Joint Opposition to Approval of “E12″ Without Comprehensive New Engine, Emissions and Safety Testing

Dear Assistant Administrator McCarthy:

The undersigned organizations strongly oppose recent requests by ethanol manufacturers that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approve a new and untested mid-level ethanol blend (“E12,” or gasoline blended with 12 percent ethanol) for all gasoline engines.

There has been no opportunity to review the data submitted in support of an E12 authorization, no public comment period or peer review of the data purported to support this request, and no specific testing conducted by independent experts that supports the data submitted. We collectively agree that EPA must move cautiously to prevent the introduction of new mid-level ethanol blends that may impact engine durability, increase emissions, be incompatible with existing on- and non-road vehicles and engines, and decrease consumer safety.

Our organizations continue to oppose the introduction of E15 into commerce without comprehensive and independent testing. EPA approval of E12, without the same rigorous and extensive independent testing and without the opportunity for public comment and critique of the data submitted to support E12 would be misguided and would sidestep the new fuels and additives protections enacted by Congress and embodied in Section 211(f)(4) of the Clean Air Act.

Sincerely yours,

American Meat Institute

American Petroleum Institute

Association of International Automobile Manufacturers

Engine Manufacturers Association

Grocery Manufacturers Association

International Liquid Terminals Association

International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association

Motorcycle Industry Council

National Chicken Council

National Consumers League

National Council of Chain Restaurants

National Marine Manufacturers Association

National Meat Association

National Petrochemical & Refiners Association

National Turkey Federation

NATSO – National Association of Truck Stop Operators

Natural Resources Defense Council

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Snack Food Association

Specialty Equipment Market Association

Specialty Vehicle Institute of America

cc: The Honorable Barbara Boxer

The Honorable Jim Inhofe

The Honorable Henry Waxman

The Honorable Joe Barton

Contact

Abbey Watson,
202-207-3660
afranke@prismpublicaffairs.com

Richard Ades,
202-207-3655
rades@prismpublicaffairs.com

SOURCE: Say NO to Untested E15

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Groups Opposing Increase in Ethanol in Gasoline Launch Campaign Advocating More Scientific Testing

Warn of Possible Safety and Environmental Dangers

WASHINGTON – July 21, 2010 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Environmental and industry groups that frequently oppose each other on a broad range of policy issues are launching a joint campaign calling on Congress to require thorough and objective scientific testing before allowing an increase in the amount of ethanol in gasoline.

Raising strong concerns about consumer safety and environmental protection, the groups have joined forces to sponsor an ad with the tagline “Say NO to untested E15″ as part of an effort to persuade Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency to reject calls by some in the ethanol industry to allow the amount of ethanol in gasoline to increase by 50 percent.

Most gasoline sold in the United States contains 10 percent ethanol (E10).  Some ethanol lobbyists are seeking to boost that to 15 percent (E15), or to compromise with a boost to 12 percent (E12).

The groups are contacting members of Congress and have posted their first ad and other material warning against higher levels of ethanol without adequate testing on the Web site www.FollowtheScience.org.

The first ad will begin running Thursday in Politico and Roll Call (print and Web) and continue in these publications and Congress Daily next week. More ads are expected to follow later.

Ethanol burns hotter than gasoline and corrodes soft metals, plastics and rubber. The groups collectively believe more testing is needed to determine how much ethanol is too much for different types of existing engines to use safely without risking engine failure that could leave a boat stranded at sea, a snowmobile stuck in subfreezing temperatures in a wilderness blizzard, or a motorcycle unable to move in the blazing heat of a desert.

“Some ethanol companies want consumers to pump first and ask questions later,” said National Petrochemical & Refiners Association President Charles T. Drevna. “Rather than run a giant science experiment on the vehicles and gasoline-powered equipment owned by just about every American family, we believe Congress and the EPA have a responsibility to protect the public. They shouldn’t authorize E15 unless full and complete scientific testing confirms it’s safe and compatible with all gasoline-powered engines.”

The sponsors of the ad are: Environmental Working Group; Natural Resources Defense Council; The Hispanic Institute; Engine Manufacturers Association; International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association; Motorcycle Industry Council; National Marine Manufacturers Association; Outdoor Power Equipment Institute; American Frozen Food Institute; American Meat Institute; Grocery Manufacturers Association; Snack Food Association; American Petroleum Institute; National Association of Truck Stop Operators; National Petrochemical & Refiners Association.

The ad is illustrated by four color photos of people next to stalled vehicles and equipment – a snowmobile, a car, a riding lawnmower and a boat – under the headline: “Don’t let the ethanol industry leave you stranded.”

“Congress shouldn’t rush to judgment based on politics,” the ad says. “It should wait for the completion of thorough and objective scientific tests and act to protect your safety and our environment.

“Increasing hot-burning ethanol from 10% (E10) to 15% (E15) of gasoline could harm some engines,” the ad continues. “E15 has never been thoroughly tested to determine if it’s safe for engines in the cars, boats and outdoor power equipment used by millions of Americans every day.”

The groups also raise other concerns about increasing ethanol in gasoline.

“As environmentalists and public health advocates, we’re concerned that more corn ethanol in our gasoline would lead to more dangerous pollutants coming out our tailpipes and ending up in our lungs, cause more forests to be cut down for planting, put fragile lands under the tractor and use up scarce water resources,” said Nathanael Greene, director of renewable energy policy for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“None of the 200 million pieces of outdoor power equipment in use today were designed, built or warranted to run on any fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol,” said Kris Kiser, executive vice president of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.  “DOE testing of E-15 on existing outdoor power equipment demonstrated increased heat, performance irregularities, unintentional clutch engagement and failure.  It is imperative that all testing is complete on E-15 before its introduction into the fuels marketplace to protect consumers’ safety and economic interests.”

The Department of Energy (DOE) is currently conducting limited testing of the ability of pollution control equipment in some cars to function with E15, and EPA may make a decision allowing E15 in late-model cars in September.

However, the DOE tests do not cover critical areas including: engine durability; tolerance of the “check-engine” light; durability of other components, such as the fuel pump and the fuel level sensor; and the problem of fuel vapors leaking out of an idle car – parked with the engine off – sitting outside on a hot sunny day.

Extensive testing in all of these areas where DOE is not conducting its own testing is well underway – with the knowledge of both EPA and DOE – by the privately funded Coordinating Research Council. However, those extensive scientific tests will not be completed for several years.

SOURCE: FollowtheScience.org

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