EPA Grants 15-Day Extension for RFS Waiver Comment Period

By CnAgri2012-09-17 19:49:25 Print

The Environmental Protection Agency announced it will allow farmers and other stakeholders 15 additional days to comment on a proposed waiver of the renewable fuels standard. The new deadline will be Oct. 11.

The extension is a response to a request from the National Corn Growers Association, which asked for more time because many farmers are busy this time of year with fieldwork and because of ongoing uncertainty in the corn market.

The call for comments was triggered by requests from four governors for an RFS waiver reducing the amount of renewable fuels needing to be produced under the law.

The governors and legislators who have made similar calls have said they are concerned about the ongoing drought抯 effects on feedstocks for livestock.

NCGA said this week that the extension will allow farmers more opportunity to participate in the important policy process, which could attract thousands of comments.

During a previous comment period for a partial RFS waiver, in 2008, EPA received more than 15,000 submissions.