This bill amends parts of the Clean Air Act about ethanol in gasoline and about credits for small refineries under the Renewable Fuel Program.
It changes the waiver rules for Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). The Environmental Protection Agency (the Administrator) may allow a fuel or fuel additive to be introduced into commerce if the fuel is substantially similar to a certified fuel, or if it previously received a waiver and meets all waiver conditions except any limit on RVP. The fuel must meet other RVP rules in the Act.
It revises RVP limits used during the high ozone season for certain ethanol blends. The bill replaces references to a "10 percent" limit with "10 to 15 percent" for some provisions, and it applies the new 10 to 15 percent RVP limitation to States that submitted certain notifications before the bill's enactment for fuel blends containing 10 to 15 percent denatured anhydrous ethanol.
It adds a provision about Renewable Fuel Program credits for some small refineries for the 2016–2018 compliance years. Under specified conditions, credits that were retired for those years would be returned to the small refinery or applied to the refinery's EPA Moderated Transaction System (EMTS) account.
Fuel sellers and retailers: The bill creates a clearer path for fuels or additives that are "substantially similar" to certified fuels, and it changes which Reid Vapor Pressure limits apply to gasoline blended with 10–15% ethanol during the high ozone season in certain areas.
Consumers: The bill could affect what ethanol blend options are permitted to be sold in some areas, but the text does not provide information on availability, prices, or safety.
States: For some States that submitted pre-enactment notifications, the bill directs that the 10 to 15 percent RVP limitation apply to gasoline blends with 10–15% ethanol during the high ozone season.
Small refineries: Certain small refineries that met the bill's listed conditions for 2016–2018 compliance years may have retired renewable fuel credits returned or have those credits added to their EMTS accounts.
No publicly available information on specific effects on fuel prices, air quality, or consumer choice is included in the bill text.
No publicly available information on federal costs, spending changes, or budgetary estimates is included in the bill text or metadata provided.
No publicly available information in the bill text about proponents' stated reasons or policy arguments for the changes.
No publicly available information in the bill text about opponents' stated reasons or policy arguments against the changes.