Environmental Protection Agency December 21, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under section 211 of the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set standards every year to implement nationally applicable renewable fuel volume targets. This action proposes to modify the 2021 and 2022 statutory volume targets for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel, as well as to establish the 2022 volume target for biomass-based diesel. This action also proposes to modify the previously established cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volume requirements for 2020. In addition, this action proposes the 2020, 2021, and 2022 renewable fuel standards for all four of the above biofuel categories. Finally, this action also proposes to address the remand of the 2016 standard-setting rulemaking, as well as several regulatory changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program including regulations for the use of biointermediates to produce qualifying renewable fuel, flexibilities for regulated parties, and clarifications of existing regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an Order dated November 30, 2021, granting in part and denying in part a Petition dated February 20, 2018 from the Environmental Integrity Project, Sierra Club, and the Port Arthur Community Action Network (the Petitioners). The Petition requested that the EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to Premcor Refining Group Inc. (Premcor) for its Valero Port Arthur Refinery located in Jefferson County, Texas.