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Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program

air-emissions · Rule · Published 2010-03-26 · Effective 2010-07-01 · 75 FR 14670

Document

Document number
2010-3851
Federal Register citation
75 FR 14670
CFR reference
40 CFR 80
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
air-emissions
Publication date
2010-03-26
Effective date
2010-07-01
EPA docket
EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0161

Abstract

Under the Clean Air Act Section 211(o), as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), the Environmental Protection Agency is required to promulgate regulations implementing changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard program. The revised statutory requirements specify the volumes of cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that must be used in transportation fuel. This action finalizes the regulations that implement the requirements of EISA, including the cellulosic, biomass- based diesel, advanced biofuel, and renewable fuel standards that will apply to all gasoline and diesel produced or imported in 2010. The final regulations make a number of changes to the current Renewable Fuel Standard program while retaining many elements of the compliance and trading system already in place. This final rule also implements the revised statutory definitions and criteria, most notably the new greenhouse gas emission thresholds for renewable fuels and new limits on renewable biomass feedstocks. This rulemaking marks the first time that greenhouse gas emission performance is being applied in a regulatory context for a nationwide program. As mandated by the statute, our greenhouse gas emission assessments consider the full lifecycle emission impacts of fuel production from both direct and indirect emissions, including significant emissions from land use changes. In carrying out our lifecycle analysis we have taken steps to ensure that the lifecycle estimates are based on the latest and most up-to-date science. The lifecycle greenhouse gas assessments reflected in this rulemaking represent significant improvements in analysis based on information and data received since the proposal. However, we also recognize that lifecycle GHG assessment of biofuels is an evolving discipline and will continue to revisit our lifecycle analyses in the future as new information becomes available. EPA plans to ask the National Academy o

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