[DOCID: f:sr494.110]
From the Senate Reports Online via GPO Access
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Calendar No. 1070
110th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 110-494
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REQUIRING THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO
CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF INCREASING CONSUMPTION IN THE
UNITED STATES OF CERTAIN ETHANOL-BLENDED GASOLINE
_______
September 24 (legislative day, September 17), 2008.--Ordered to be
printed
_______
Mrs. Boxer, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1828]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred a bill (S. 1828) to require the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency to study the feasibility of
increasing consumption in the United States of certain ethanol-
blended gasoline, reports favorably thereon with an amendment,
and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.
PURPOSES OF THE LEGISLATION
S. 1828 would require the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency to study the feasibility of
increasing consumption in the United States of ethanol-blended
gasoline with levels of ethanol of not less than 10% and not
more than 40%.
GENERAL STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND
With the increase in the production and use of ethanol in
the transportation sector, it is important for lawmakers and
policymakers to have additional information on the feasibility
of increasing consumption in the United States of ethanol-
blended gasoline with levels of ethanol of not less than 10%
and not more than 40%, also known as ``mid-level ethanol
blends,'' as well as the impacts of the increased use of such
fuels on the economy, the environment, engines, and public
safety.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Study of increased consumption of ethanol-blended gasoline
with higher levels of ethanol
Subsection (a) In general
Subsection (a) requires the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, in cooperation with the
Secretaries of Energy, Agriculture, and Transportation, after
providing notice and an opportunity for public comment, to
study the feasibility of increasing consumption in the United
States of ethanol-blended gasoline with levels of ethanol of
not less than 10% and not more than 40%.
Subsection (b) Study
Subsection (b) requires that the study evaluate: (1)
production and infrastructure constraints on increasing
consumption; (2) the economic, market, and energy impacts of
state and regional differences in ethanol blends; (3) the
economic, market, and energy impacts on gasoline retailers and
consumers of separate and distinctly labeled fuel storage
facilities and dispensers; (4) the environmental impacts of
mid-level ethanol blends on evaporative and exhaust emissions
from on-road, off-road, and marine engines, recreational boats,
vehicles, and equipment; (5) the impacts of mid-level ethanol
blends on the operation, durability and performance of on-road,
off-road, and marine engines, recreational boats, vehicles, and
equipment; and (6) the safety impacts of mid-level ethanol
blends on consumers that own and operate such engines or
equipment.
Subsection (c) Report
Subsection (c) requires the Administrator to submit the
report to Congress no later than 18 months from enactment of
this Act.
Subsection (d) Authorization of appropriations
Subsection (d) authorizes the appropriation of $1,000,000
to carry out this Act.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
S. 1828 was introduced by Senator Inhofe. The bill was read
twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and
Public Works. The Committee met on September 17, 2008, when
S.1828 was ordered favorably reported as amended by voice vote.
The Committee adopted, by unanimous consent, an amendment
proposed by Senator Boxer that removed a technical amendment in
subsection (e) to the Clean Air Act section 211(f)(4), a
sentence that was recently amended in the Energy Independence
and Security Act enacted in December 2007, after S. 1828 was
introduced.
HEARINGS
The Committee did not hold hearings on S. 1828 during the
110th Congress.
ROLLCALL VOTES
There were no rollcall votes. The Committee on Environment
and Public Works ordered S. 1828 reported favorably by voice
vote, after it was amended, by unanimous consent, by an
amendment proposed by Senator Boxer that removed a technical
amendment in subsection (e) to the Clean Air Act section
211(f)(4), a sentence that was recently amended in the Energy
Independence and Security Act enacted in December 2007, after
S. 1828 was introduced.
REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT
In compliance with section 11(b)(2) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that there
are not expected to be significant costs to private entities
under this legislation.
MANDATES ASSESSMENT
In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(Public Law 104-4), the Committee finds that S. 1828 would
impose no Federal intergovernmental unfunded mandates on State,
local or tribal governments.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE
September 24, 2008.
Hon. Barbara Boxer,
Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1828, a bill to
require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency to conduct a study of the feasibility of increasing
consumption in the United States of certain ethanol-blended
gasoline.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Susanne S.
Mehlman.
Sincerely,
Peter R. Orszag.
Enclosure.
S. 1828--A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency to conduct a study of the feasibility of
increasing consumption in the United States of certain ethanol-
blended gasoline
S. 1828 would require the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to conduct a study to test the feasibility of increasing
the consumption of ethanol-blended gasoline, containing between
10 percent and 40 percent ethanol. The legislation also would
authorize the appropriation of $1 million for EPA to conduct
the study, which must be completed not later than 18 months
after enactment. Assuming appropriation of the authorized
amount, CBO estimates that implementing this legislation would
cost $1 million over the 2009-2010 period. Enacting the bill
would not affect direct spending or revenues.
S. 1828 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Susanne S.
Mehlman. This estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
Section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate
requires the committee to publish changes in existing law made
by the bill as reported. Passage of this bill will make no
changes to existing law.
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