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NCGA's Technical Data Helps EPA Make the Correct Decision on the California
Waiver
June
12, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact:
David J. Uchic, 202-628-7001
Mimi
Ricketts, Director of Marketing Communications, 636/733-9004, ext.112
WASHINGTON (June
12, 2001) -- The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is celebrating
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision this morning to deny
California's request for a waiver from the federal oxygen content requirement
for reformulated gasoline.
"After more
than two years of uncertainty on this issue, NCGA applauds the Bush
Administration for reaching the correct decision on the waiver,"
said Tim Hume, NCGA president-elect, a grower from Walsh, Colo.
In announcing the
decision, EPA stated: "After an extensive analysis, the Agency
concluded that there is significant uncertainty over the change in emissions
that would result from a waiver. California has not clearly demonstrated
what the impact on smog would be from a waiver of the oxygen mandate."
"NCGA supplied
EPA with the factual data - in the form of a technical analysis - to
help secure a favorable decision," explained Hume. "Specifically,
NCGA's data demonstrated that adding ethanol to California's gasoline
would improve air quality and protect water resources. EPA's comments
on its reasons to deny the waiver indicated the role that such data
assumed. Without funding from the state checkoff boards, NCGA's technical
data would not have been available to influence the administration's
decision." Ethanol production for this year is on schedule to exceed
2 billion gallons. With 600 million gallons of ethanol obligated for
clean fuels programs, there is plenty of ethanol available to meet the
needs of California motorists. And ethanol production capacity is expected
to increase significantly, because the uncertainty surrounding the waiver
has dissuaded growers from investing in new ethanol plants and increasing
capacity at existing facilities.
"EPA's decision-coupled
with congressional initiatives to incorporate a renewable fuels standard
in emerging energy policy-will enable ethanol producers to help meet
national energy security goals, facilitate environmental stewardship
and promote economic development for rural communities," Hume concluded.
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