69–010 

Calendar No. 1070 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 110–494 

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. 


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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 midlevel 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, 


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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 ethanolblended 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. 


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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. 

Æ 


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