By Erin Voegele, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
The U.S. EPA has issued a letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, confirming it granted 19 out of 20 small refinery hardship waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard for compliance year 2016. An additional 29 of 33 petitions have also been granted for 2017, with the remaining four still pending.
The letter, dated July 12, was sent to Grassley in response to a bipartisan inquiryseveral senators sent to the agency in April requesting the EPA stop issuing small refinery waivers and disclose information on the waivers that have already been granted to Congress.