WASHINGTON - Six US states, concerned about summer gasoline supplies, have asked federal officials about possible waivers from clean fuel rules, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday.
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, and Nebraska have formally sought waivers or asked about relief from clean-burning gasoline standards, EPA administrator Stephen Johnson told Reuters.
"In each of those cases, we're working with the state to try to understand: Is it a fuel supply distribution issue? If it is, then I have the waiver authority," Johnson said after an EPA event to promote clean diesel fuel engine technology.
President Bush ordered the EPA two weeks ago to give states regulatory relief, if needed, from pollution requirements for motor fuel if supply problems occur as refiners switch to ethanol from the water-polluting additive MTBE. The transition has caused gasoline shortages in some areas of Texas and the East Coast.
"At this point it is too early to say" whether the waivers will be granted, Johnson said. "If it is a true supply disruption issue, then we'll take the appropriate action."
But he said the EPA would not issue waivers just to keep pump prices low.
Maryland and Pennsylvania officials said last week they did not expect the EPA to grant their waiver requests because supply conditions have improved in their states.
Despite concerns about tight summer fuel supplies, Johnson said the EPA is sticking with its June 1 deadline for refiners to begin making diesel fuel with a very low sulfur content of just 15 parts per million, far below the current average of 500 parts per million.
He said the ultra low sulfur diesel will still have to be available at service stations by mid October.
Story by Tom Doggett
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
