Office of Transportation and Air Quality

EPA-420-F-12-030

June 2012

EPA Approval of E15 Misfueling 

Mitigation Plans 

EPA has approved the first plans for satisfying the misfueling 

mitigation conditions of the E15 partial waivers. With EPA’s 

approval of a number of companies’ misfueling mitigation plans, EPA 

has acted on each of the Clean Air Act steps required to bring E15 to 

market. Additional steps may also need to be taken, as outlined below.

Misfueling Mitigation Plan Approvals 

The E15 partial waivers include conditions requiring each fuel and fuel additive 

manufacturer subject to the waivers to submit to EPA a misfueling mitigation plan 

(MMP). MMPs must include, but are not limited to:

•	 Measures for labeling E15 fuel pump dispensers 

•	 Tracking ethanol content and other information on product transfer 

documents 

•	 Participating in a compliance survey 

The E15 Misfueling Mitigation Rule establishes largely parallel federal requirements, 

and MMPs build on and help facilitate compliance with those 

requirements.

On March 15, 2012, EPA concluded that the Model MMP submitted by the 

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) would generally be sufficient to satisfy the 

partial waivers’ MMP requirement. Since then, EPA has received requests from a 

number of companies for approval to use the RFA Model MMP. In a recent email, 

EPA asked those companies for information about potential use of blender pumps for 

dispensing E15. Along with several companies, RFA responded and submitted an 

addendum to their Retailer Handbook (referenced in their Model MMP) that 

describes several configurations of pumps and suggests strategies for providing appropriate ethanol concentrations and clear labeling for E15. 

Program Update
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Program Update

After evaluating and approving specific E15 dispensing methods described in the RFA 

addendum, EPA approved companies’ request to use the RFA Model Plan as supplemented by 

the addendum. As E15 enters the market, EPA plans to work with stakeholders to monitor the 

effectiveness of E15 misfueling mitigation measures. If it becomes evident that additional measures may be needed, EPA will notify companies with approved MMPs and seek their input and 

that of other stakeholders in determining what, if any, additional measures should be required.

Additional Steps in Bringing E15 to Market

With the MMP approvals, EPA has acted on each of the Clean Air Act steps required to bring 

E15 to market (see timeline below). Some companies have now met all Clean Air Act 

requirements related to E15 and may lawfully introduce E15 into the marketplace. However, 

other federal, state and local requirements and practical concerns must also be addressed. For 

example, dispenser and tank compatibility with E15 must be considered by marketers of E15. 

(EPA has issued guidance and a proposed rule on tank compatibility.) Since a number of states 

restrict the sale of some gasoline-ethanol blends, state law changes may also be needed before 

E15 may be sold in those states. Industry stakeholders are also preparing an E15 public education 

campaign to provide consumers with additional information about the proper use of E15 and to 

help them avoid misfueling. EPA is participating in that effort.

Timeline of EPA’s E15 Clean Air Act Actions:

•	 March 6, 2009 – Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers submitted a waiver 

application to the Clean Air Act for the introduction into commerce of gasoline-ethanol 

blends containing more than 10 vol% and up to 15 vol% ethanol content (E15 Waiver 

Request).

•	 October 13, 2010 – EPA took two actions:

u It partially approved Growth Energy’s E15 Waiver Request to allow E15 to be 

introduced into commerce for use in Model Year (MY) 2007 and newer cars, 

light-duty trucks, and SUVs. 

u EPA also proposed a regulatory program to promote the successful introduction 

of E15 into commerce by reducing the potential for the misfueling of vehicles, 

engines and equipment that are prohibited from using E15.

•	 January 26, 2011 – EPA partially approved the E15 Waiver Request to be introduced 

into commerce for use in MY 2001 and newer cars, light-duty trucks, and SUVs.

•	 June 23, 2011 – EPA issued a final rule establishing the regulatory program rule to help 

inform consumers about the appropriate use of E15 and reduce the potential for the 

misfueling of vehicles, engines and equipment that are prohibited from using E15.

•	 February 17, 2012 – EPA released an evaluation of information submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy for satisfying the emissions and health effects 

data requirements for registration of E15 as required by the Clean Air Act.
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Program Update

•	 March 15, 2012 – EPA informed the RFA that its Model E15 MMP would generally be 

sufficient to satisfy the E15 partial waivers’ requirement for an MMP.

•	 April 2, 2012 – EPA approved the first applications for registering ethanol for use in 

making E15.

•	 May 24, 2012 – EPA approved the RFG Survey Association’s E15 Compliance Survey 

Plan for 2012.

•	 May 31, 2012 – EPA approves first MMP submissions to satisfy the E15 partial waivers’ 

MMP requirement.

For More Information 

You can access the list of companies with approved E15 MMPs and related materials on EPA’s 

Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) Web site at:

www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/additive/e15

For more information, please contact EPA’s Fuels Program at:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Ofice of Transportation and Air Quality (6405J)

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20460

202-343-9755

E-mail: epafuelsprograms@epa.gov