PRESS RELEASE: NWF on EPA’s Proposed Clean Air Waiver for Higher Ethanol Gasoline: Don’t Put Politics ahead of Public Health
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Previewing the upcoming hurdles the Trump Administration will face if it decides to go through with pursuing an exemption from clean air protections for higher blends of ethanol in gasoline, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch today sent a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to point out his agency’s own opinion that it does not have the authority to grant such a waiver. The letter further presses the agency to ensure it subjects any such efforts to adequate public review and comment.
Below is an on-the-record statement from David DeGennaro, agriculture policy specialist at the National Wildlife Federation. David can be reached at 202-797-6654.
“We applaud Sen. Udall and Rep. Welch for standing firm for clean air and the rule of law. In their letter to Administrator Pruitt, they correctly point out that his agency has on multiple occasions concluded that it lacks the authority to carry out one of the actions being floated by the White House as a supposed ‘fix’ for the problems with the ethanol mandate.
“The bottom line is the Renewable Fuel Standard has caused serious problems for our drinking water, wildlife habitat, and economy. And now we need serious solutions. Short cuts won’t get the job done.
“The Trump Administration cannot put politics ahead of public health. Congress needs to deal with the Renewable Fuel Standard and its impact on the environment. It can do so by adopting the GREENER Fuels Act.”
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Originally Posted on NWF.org