by | Aug 30, 2019

KyCorn Submits Comments to EPA on Renewable Fuel Volume Obligations

Each year the US EPA is required by the Clean Air Act to create a rule that sets the obligations of petroleum refiners for blending biofuels into motor fuel for the Renewable Fuels Standard. The regulatory rule-making process allows a time period for comments to be submitted on a “Draft Rule” prior to EPA releasing a “Final Rule.” Please review the comments that the Kentucky Corn Growers Association submitted in this process this afternoon.

August 30, 2019

Administrator Andrew Wheeler
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RE: Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0136

Dear Administrator Wheeler:

The Kentucky Corn Growers Association represents the interests of over 5,000 corn farm families throughout the Commonwealth. We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule for the 2020 volumes. Farmers in Kentucky, and throughout the country, are setting upon hard times, largely due to EPA decisions to roll back RVO compliance and obligations in recent years through waivers granted to small refineries in a manner that we believe is inappropriate.

The accumulative effect of these decisions by EPA are revealing dire consequences for the American farmer.

Since inception, the RFS has performed exactly as intended by Congress in improving air quality, reducing consumer costs and bolstering rural economies. President Trump widely acknowledged and celebrated these successes and committed to protecting the integrity of the RFS, but EPA’s actions are contrary to those promises, the effect of which is damaging to farmers’ livelihoods. The compliance gallons that have been removed from this program, to the measure of 4.04 billion, by exemptions should be restored in the final rule of this RVO. The final rule should:

  • Adjust the 2020 RVO percentages to effectively redistribute projected small refinery exemptions.

  • Address the court-ordered remand and restore the 500 million gallons missing from the 2016 RVO.

  • Lay out a plan for reallocating the renewable fuel blending volumes already lost to small refinery exemptions in the 2016, 2017, and 2018 compliance years.

Thank you for considering our comments, please find the technical portions of NCGA’s comments that are attached.

Sincerely,

Mark Roberts, President

What we do.

Kentucky Corn strives to create a future for Kentucky corn farmers where they can operate successfully, grow demand and foster an understanding of corn farmers and the industry.

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For us, grassroots means that corn farmer members are the organization. Our organization is governed by a board of directors of volunteer farmers who are elected by farmer members. Kentucky Corn Growers Association’s ability to influence policy decisions depends entirely on the strength of its membership.

By being a member, you make the Kentucky Corn Growers Association a stronger advocacy group.