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Renewable Fuel Standard Program
EPA, under the Energy Inpendence and Security Act of 2007 is responsible for revising and implementing regulations to ensure that gasoline sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel. The Renewable Fuel Standard program will increase the volume of renewable fuel required to be blended into gasoline from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The new RFS program regulations are being developed in collaboration with refiners, renewable fuel producers, and many other stakeholders.
NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.
Regulations
Renewable Fuel Standard: Notice of 2008 Requirement
(published February 14, 2008)EPA is announcing the revised Renewable Fuel Standard for 2008: 7.76 percent. This standard is used by obligated parties -- refiners, importers, and blenders (other than oxygen blenders) -- to calculate their renewable volume obligation. This notice, which is required under section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, supersedes the notice published November 27, 2007.
- Notice | PDF Version (3 pp, 67K)
Renewable Fuel Standard: Notice of 2008 Requirement
(published November 27, 2007)EPA is announcing the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2008: 4.66 percent. This standard is used by obligated parties -- refiners, importers, and blenders (other than oxygen blenders) -- to calculate their renewable volume obligation. This notice and the standard it announced are superseded by the 2008 Renewable Fuel Standard announced on February 7, 2008.
- Notice | PDF Version (3 pp, 157K)
Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Final Rule
(published May 1, 2007)EPA is finalizing a national renewable fuel program that will be applicable for 2007 and later, and is designed to encourage the blending of renewable fuels into our nation's motor vehicle fuel.
- Fact Sheet: EPA Finalizes Regulations for a Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program for 2007 and Beyond | PDF Version (3 pp, 74K, EPA420-F-07-019, April 2007)
- Fact Sheet: Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Expanded Renewable and Alternative Fuels Use | PDF Version (3 pp, 86K, EPA420-F-07-035, April 2007)
- Final Rule (PDF, the entire document) (116 pp, 1.4M) or by:
- Summary and Analysis of Comments (PDF) (EPA420-R-07-006, April 2007) Instead of downloading the entire document, you can access the individual chapters of the Summary and Analysis of Comments.
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (350 pp, 3.7MB, EPA420-R-07-004, April 2007) Instead of downloading the entire document, you can access the individual chapters of the Regulatory Impact Analysis
- Estimating the Energy Security Benefits of Reduced U.S. Oil Imports (PDF) (38 pp, 463K, ORNL/TM-2007/028)
Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(published September 22, 2006)- Fact Sheet: EPA Proposes Regulations for a Renewable Fuel Standard Program for 2007 and Beyond | PDF Version (3 pp, 143K, EPA420-F-06-060, September 2006)
- Press Release
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Pages 55551-55600 | PDF Version (50 pp, 815K)
- Pages 55601-55651 | PDF Version (51 pp, 1MB)
- Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (322 pp, 3.4MB, EPA420-D-06-008, September 2006)
Renewable Fuel Standard Requirements for 2006: Direct Final Rule and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(published December 30, 2005)With these rules, EPA is adopting the default standard for renewable fuel as set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Given the short timeframe available and the need to provide certainty to industry, EPA is finalizing a limited set of regulations that would interpret and clarify the statutory default provision of 2.78 percent so it can be implemented as intended for 2006.
- Fact Sheet | PDF Version (4 pp, 36K, EPA420-F-05-057, December 2005)
- Direct Final Rule | PDF Version (12 pp, 338K)
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking | PDF Version (13 pp, 222K)
Notices
State of Texas Request for a Waiver of a Portion of the Renewable Fuel Standard
The Governor of Texas requested that EPA waive a portion of the renewable fuel standard under section 211(o)(7) of the Clean Air Act on April 25, 2008. According to the Act, EPA's Administrator is required to grant or deny the request within 90 days of receipt. On July 22, the Administrator announced that additional time was needed to allow EPA staff to adequately respond to the public comments and develop a decision document that explains the technical, economic and legal rationale of our decision. Below is EPA's response and the related documents.
- Press Release (August 7, 2008) announcing EPA's response to the request
- Fact Sheet: EPA Decision on Texas Request for Waiver for Portion of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) (August 2008, EPA420-F-08-029)
- Notice of Decision Regarding the State of Texas Request for a Waiver of a Portion of the Renewable Fuel Standard | PDF Version (17 pp, 137K, published August 13, 2008)
Related documents:
- Press Release (July 22, 2008) announcing that EPA needed additional time to respond to the request
- Notice of Receipt of Request | PDF Version (3 pp, 61K)
- Letter to EPA Administrator Johnson from Governor Perry (PDF) (3 pp, 129K)
Attest Engagement
The submission date for attest engagements by all parties that owned or generated Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) in 2007 is May 31, 2008. For more information, see the attest engagement page.Improper and Illegal RIN Trading Practices
It has come to our attention that certain RIN transactions are being conducted in a manner that is not consistent with the regulations and may subject the violator to civil penalties. For more information see Improper and Illegal RIN Trading Practices page.
Compliance Help
Guidance for Biodiesel Producers and Biodiesel Blenders/Users
EPA is publishing new guidance that explains and clarifies EPA’s regulatory requirements for biodiesel producers and biodiesel blenders/users.
- Guidance document (PDF) (8 pp, 89K, EPA-420-F-07-19, October 2007)
National Renewable Fuels Standard Program Workshop:
Held on May 10, 2007, at the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. This workshop was designed to provide regulated parties with an overview of the program requirements and compliance provisions. Presentations made by EPA personnel are provided below:
- Program overview (PDF) (36 pp, 209K)
- Registration, record keeping, and reporting (PDF) (30 pp, 314K)
- Compliance and enforcement requirements, product transfer documents (PDF) (18 pp, 125K)
- Reporting through EPA's Central Data Exchange (PDF) (14 pp, 553K)
Additional Information for Obligated Parties
Questions and Answers on the Renewable Fuels Standards (PDF) (59 pp, 268K, EPA420-F-08-006, April 2008) is now available. This questions and answers document is cumulative and contains all previous versions’ questions and answers.
Contact: Anne-Marie Pastorkovich (pastorkovich.anne-marie@epa.gov) or at 202-343-9623.
The prior versions are also available:
- Questions and Answers on the Renewable Fuels Standards (PDF) (55 pp, 250K, EPA420-F-07-041a, August 2007)
- Questions and Answers on the Renewable Fuels Standards (PDF) (32 pp, 167K, EPA420-F-07-041, May 2007)
Registration and Reporting Forms
A variety of EPA fuels programs, including the RFS program, require submission of forms by parties in the fuel manufacturing and distribution industry. Some forms are used for registration of companies, facilities, and products; others are used for compliance reporting. For more information, go to our Fuels and Fuel Additives Reporting Forms page.
Related Links
Related Links
- Alternative Fuels: provides general information on alternative fuels.
- Clean Fuel Fleets Program: provides program implementation guidance, certified alternative fuel and clean fuel fleet vehicles/engines, tampering enforcement policy (memo 1A).
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle Project at Los Angeles Airport (LAX)
- Green Vehicle Guide: has information about environmental performance of vehicles.
- Reformulated Gasoline
- SmartWay Grow & Go: promotes the environmental benefits of renewable fuels, and provides a renewable fuel component for EPA's existing SmartWay Transport Partnership. This program will help reduce U.S. dependence on petroleum, and improve our environment by reducing emissions of harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases.
- Greenhouse Gases from Transportation: provides information on greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, including renewable and alternative fuel lifecycle greenhouse gas impacts.
Related Links to Sites External to EPA 
- Renewable Fuels Association: The national trade association for the U.S. ethanol industry.
- National Biodiesel Board: The national trade association representing the biodiesel industry.
- American Coalition for Ethanol: A non-profit membership association devoted to promoting the increased production and use of ethanol.
- American Petroleum Institute: The primary trade association of the oil and natural gas industry.
- National Petrochemical and Refiners Association: Trade association for the petrochemical and refining industries.
- National Corn Growers Association: A national organization representing the interests of corn growers and farmers.
- National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition: A nonprofit membership association devoted to promoting the use of 85 percent ethanol as a form of alternative transportation fuel.
For more information, contact EPA's Assessment and Standards Division (asdinfo@epa.gov) or 734-214-4636.