G/TBT/N/USA/999  
 
16 June 2015  
(15-3109)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):  
2. Agency responsible: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [1017] 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above : 
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point 
Email: ncsci@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10 .1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], other: 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Renewable fuel 
standards. Air quality (ICS: 13.040), Fuels (ICS: 75.160) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Renewable Fuel 
Standard Program: Standards for 2014, 2015, and 2016 and Biomass-Ba sed Diesel Volume 
for 2017 (55 pages, in English) 
6. Description of content: Under section 211 of the Clean Air Act, the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set renewable fuel percentage standards every 
year. This action proposes annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and to tal renewable fuel that apply to all motor 
vehicle gasoline and diesel produced or imported in the years 2014, 2015, and 2016. The 
EPA is establishing a cellulosic biofuel volume for all three years that is below the applicable volume specified in the Act, and is also proposing to rescind the cellulosic biofuel standard for 2011. Relying on statutory waiver authorities, the EPA is proposing to 
adjust the applicable volumes of advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel for all three 
years. The 2015 and 2016 proposed standards are expected to spur further progress in overcoming current constraints in renewable fuel distribution infrastructure, which in turn 
is expected to lead to substantial growth ov er time in the production and use of higher-
level ethanol blends and other qualifying renewable fuels. In this action, we are also proposing the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel for 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. 
Finally, we are proposing compliance and attest reporting deadlines for the years 2013, 
2014, and 2015, as well as proposing regulato ry amendments to clarify the scope of the 
existing algal biofuel pathway.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents: 80 Federal Register (FR) 33099, 10 June 2015; Title 40 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 80. Will appear in the Federal Register when adopted G/TBT/N/USA/999 
 
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  9. Proposed date of adoption: To be determined 
Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined   
10. Final date for comments: 27 July 2015 
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachm ents/2015/TBT/USA/15_2318_00_e.pdf