The public comment period on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements for 2018-19 is officially open with comments due by Aug. 31, 2017.  The EPA proposal, required by statute, sets forth the proposed volume requirements for the overall RFS, including the Advanced Biofuels portion, for 2018 as well as the proposed volumes for Biomass-Based Diesel (BBD) for 2019.  The statute requires EPA to provide additional lead time for BBD compared to the rest of the RFS, so the BBD volumes are a year beyond the other portions.

The EPA proposal released on July 5, 2017 calls for BBD volumes of 2.1 billion gallons for 2019, the same level established by EPA for 2018. For the advanced biofuels volumes, EPA proposed 4.24 billion gallons for 2018, below the 4.28 level established for 2017. There were approximately 2.9 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel utilized in the U.S. in 2016 and ASA and our biodiesel industry partners have urged EPA to set the RFS levels for BBD at 2.75 billion gallons for 2019 and 5.25 billion gallons of total advanced biofuels for 2018. In an initial statement released in response to the proposal, ASA expressed the view that the levels proposed do not take full advantage of an opportunity to further promote the viable, domestically produced renewable fuel industry that is U.S. biodiesel.

As in previous years, ASA will be developing comprehensive comments and will provide a template for individuals and state soybean associations to submit.  ASA is working with the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and industry partners to develop comments that address the key issues and factors identified by EPA in the establishment of their proposed BBD and overall Advanced Biofuels volumes.

In addition to the written comments, ASA will participate in the public hearing being held by EPA in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 1.  ASA Vice President John Heisdorffer will testify at the hearing along with two dozen additional biodiesel representatives and stakeholders.

Additional information on the EPA proposal can be viewed here.