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MEMORANDUM

TO: Air Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0178

SUBJECT: Supporting Documentation for the Determination Concerning 

Renewable Fuels Produced from Barley under the Renewable Fuel 

Standard Program

This memorandum accompanies information related to EPA’s analysis of lifecycle greenhouse 

gas (GHG) emissions from ethanol produced from barley. As explained in the preamble of this 

determination, our analysis utilizes several data sources and models. To facilitate public review, 

below is a brief description of the informational materials which accompany this memorandum.

1. Summary of Barley Modeling Inputs and Assumptions for the Determination

Concerning Renewable Fuels Produced from Barley under the Renewable Fuel Standard 

Program

This memorandum provides information on the key inputs and assumptions used in EPA’s 

lifecycle analysis of barley used as a feedstock to produce ethanol. Assumptions include crop 

yields, co-products, processing emissions, and other important factors in our lifecycle analysis.

2. FASOM Results

A spreadsheet that contains domestic agricultural output from the FASOM model for the 

“control case” and the “barley case.”

3. FAPRI-CARD Control Case Results

A spreadsheet that contains the international agricultural results from the FAPRI-CARD model 

for the “control case.”

4. FAPRI-CARD Barley Case Results

A spreadsheet that contains the international agricultural results from the FAPRI-CARD model 

for the “barley case.”

5. Barley LCA Results

This spreadsheet integrates results from all stages of the fuel lifecycle to calculate barley ethanol

lifecycle GHG emissions. The lifecycle GHG reductions are calculated as percent emissions 

reductions compared to a 2005 petroleum baseline, in this case gasoline. This file includes

results for all barley ethanol pathways that we are proposing to approve in this NODA.

6. BSLAM Barley Determination

This Excel-based model is used to perform EPA’s stochastic analysis of international land use 

change GHG emissions impacts induced by barley ethanol. The results from this model are input 

into the results spreadsheet to calculate a 95% confidence range for lifecycle GHG emissions.

7. Barley LCA Impact Calculations

This spreadsheet calculates GHG emissions per unit of barley ethanol. The spreadsheet

integrates results from of each stage of the renewable fuel lifecycle (e.g., feedstock production, 
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domestic and international agricultural emissions, fuel transport and distribution). The only 

piece of the lifecycle analysis not calculated in this spreadsheet is the emissions from 

international land use change. The results from the impact calculation spreadsheet are used in 

the results spreadsheet, which compares the lifecycle GHG emissions of barley ethanol with the 

2005 petroleum baseline. This file includes results for all barley ethanol pathways that we are 

proposing to approve in this NODA.

8. Barley International Agriculture Energy Emissions

This spreadsheet includes data about agricultural energy use in foreign countries. It is used to 

project lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by additional crop production in 

foreign countries. Specifically emissions associated with:

Energy use per hectare of foreign crop production

9. Barley International Agriculture NPK Pesticide

This spreadsheet includes data about agricultural fertilizer inputs in foreign countries. It is used 

to project lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by additional crop production in 

foreign countries. Specifically emissions associated with:

Fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide use per hectare of foreign crop production;

Nitrous oxide emissions per metric ton of foreign fertilizer application;

Upstream emissions from fertilizer production are calculated separately in the impact calculation 

spreadsheet.

10. Barley International Rice Emissions

This spreadsheet includes data about rice methane emissions in foreign countries. It is used to 

project lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by additional crop production in 

foreign countries. Specifically emissions associated with:

Methane emissions per hectare of foreign rice production

11. Potential Regulatory Text for Barley Ethanol Pathway Determination

This document provides example regulatory text, illustrating how EPA’s proposed barley ethanol 

pathways and their accompanying registration, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements might 

look if put into practice. This text is not being specifically proposed. Rather, it provides the 

reader with an aide to better understand how the proposed pathways could be structured within 

the RFS regulations.