EO12866_RFS standards 2060-AQ76 FRM FRN_20111216.docx 

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 80 

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0133; FRL-XXXX-X] 

RIN 2060-AQ76 

Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: 2012 Renewable Fuel Standards 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: Under the Clean Air Act Section 211(o), the Environmental Protection Agency is 

required to set the renewable fuel standards each November for the following year. In general 

the standards are designed to ensure that the applicable volumes of renewable fuel specified in 

the statute are used. However, the statue specifies that EPA is to project the volume of cellulosic 

biofuel production for the upcoming year and must base the cellulosic biofuel standard on that 

projected volume if it is less than the applicable volume set forth in the Act. EPA is today 

finalizing a projected cellulosic biofuel volume for 2012 and annual percentage standards for 

cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and renewable fuels that will apply to 

all gasoline and diesel produced or imported for domestic use in year 2012. In the NPRM we 

also proposed an applicable volume of 1.28 bill gallons for biomass-based diesel for 2013. The 

statute specifies that the minimum volume of biomass-based diesel for years 2013 and beyond 

must be at least 1.0 billion gallons. We are continuing to evaluate the many comments on the 

NPRM from stakeholders, and will issue a final rule setting the applicable biomass-based diesel 

volume for calendar year 2013 at the same time we propose the other 2013 RFS standards next 

year. This action also presents a number of changes to the RFS2 regulations that are designed to 

clarify existing provisions and to address several unique circumstances that have come to light 

since the RFS2 program became effective on July 1, 2010. Finally, today's rule also makes a 

minor amendment to the gasoline benzene regulations regarding inclusion of transferred 

blendstocks in a refinery's early benzene credit generation calculations.

DATES: This final rule is effective on [insert date of publication in the Federal Register]. 

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-HQOAR-2010-0133. All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. 

Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other 

information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted 

material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are 

available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the Air and Radiation 

Docket and Information Center, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, 

Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 

(202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air Docket is (202) 566-1742. 
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia MacAllister, Office of Transportation 

and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards Division, Environmental Protection Agency, 2000 

Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor MI 48105; Telephone number: 734-214-4131; Fax number: 734-

214-4816; E-mail address: macallister.julia@epa.gov, or Assessment and Standards Division 

Hotline; telephone number (734) 214-4636; E-mail address OTAQPUBLICWEB@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information 

A. Does this Action Apply to Me? 

Entities potentially affected by this proposed rule are those involved with the production, 

distribution, and sale of transportation fuels, including gasoline and diesel fuel or renewable 

fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Potentially regulated categories include: 

Category NAICS1

Codes 

SIC2

Codes 

Examples of Potentially Regulated Entities 

Industry 

Industry 

Industry 

Industry 

Industry 

Industry 

 

Industry 

324110 

325193 

325199 

424690 

424710 

424720 

454319 

2911 

2869 

2869 

5169 

5171 

5172 

5989 

Petroleum Refineries 

Ethyl alcohol manufacturing 

Other basic organic chemical manufacturing 

Chemical and allied products merchant wholesalers 

Petroleum bulk stations and terminals 

Petroleum and petroleum products merchant 

wholesalers 

Other fuel dealers 

1

 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 

2

 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system code. 

This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers 

regarding entities likely to be regulated by this final action. This table lists the types of entities 

that EPA is now aware could potentially be regulated by this final action. Other types of entities 

not listed in the table could also be regulated. To determine whether your activities will be 

regulated by this final action, you should carefully examine the applicability criteria in 40 CFR 

part 80. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this final action to a particular 

entity, consult the person listed in the preceding section. 

Outline of this preamble 

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

A. Standards for 2012 

1. Assessment of 2012 Cellulosic Biofuel Volume 

2. Advanced Biofuel and Total Renewable Fuel in 2012 
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3. Percentage Standards for 2012 

4. Historical Renewable Fuel Production 

B. Regulatory Changes 

C. 2012 Price for Cellulosic Biofuel Waiver Credits 

D. Assessment of the Domestic Aggregate Compliance Approach 

E. Assessment of the Canadian Aggregate Compliance Approach 

II. PROJECTION OF CELLULOSIC VOLUME AND ASSESSMENT OF BIOMASSBASED DIESEL AND ADVANCED BIOFUEL FOR 2012 

A. Statutory Requirements 

B. Cellulosic Biofuel Volume Assessment 

1. Existing Cellulosic Biofuel Facilities 

2. Potential New Facilities in 2012 

3. Imports of Cellulosic Biofuel 

4. Projections from the Energy Information Administration 

5. Comments on the Proposed Rule 

6. Summary of Volume Projections 

C. Advanced Biofuel and Total Renewable Fuel in 2012 

D. Biomass-Based Diesel in 2012 

III. FINAL PERCENTAGE STANDARDS FOR 2012 

A. Background 

B. Calculation of Standards 

1. How Are the Standards Calculated? 

2. Small Refineries and Small Refiners 

3. Final Percentage Standards 

IV. CHANGES TO RFS2 REGULATIONS 

A. Summary of Amendments 

B. Technical Justification for Equivalence Value Application 

C. Changes to Definitions of Terms 

1. Definition of Annual Cover Crop 

2. Definition of "Naphtha" 

D. Technical Amendments Related to RIN Generation and Separation 

1. RIN Separation Limit for Obligated Parties 

2. RIN Retirement Provision for Error Correction 

3. Production Outlook Reports Submission Deadline 

4. Attest Procedures 

E. Technical Amendments Related to Registration & Recordkeeping 

1. Construction Discontinuance & Completion Documentation 

2. Third-Party Engineering Reviews 

3. Foreign Ethanol Producers 

F. Additional Amendments and Clarifications 

1. Third-Party Engineering Review Addendum 

2. RIN Generation for Fuel Imported from a Registered Foreign Producer 

3. Bond Posting 
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5. Acceptance of Separated Yard Waste and Food Waste Separation Plans 

6. Transferred Blendstocks in Early Benzene Credit Generation Calculations 

V. ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS 

A. 2011 Price for Cellulosic Biofuel Waiver Credits 

B. Assessment of the Domestic Aggregate Compliance Approach 

C. Assessment of the Canadian Aggregate Compliance Approach 

VI. COMMENTS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THIS RULEMAKING 

VII. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 

VIII. STATUTORY AND EXECUTIVE ORDER REVIEWS 

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive Order 13563: 

Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review 

B. Paperwork Reduction Act 

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act 

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism 

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments 

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and 

Safety Risks 

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 

Supply, Distribution, or Use 

I. National Technology Transfer Advancement Act 

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority 

Populations and Low-Income Populations 

K. Congressional Review Act 

IX. STATUTORY AUTHORITY 
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I. Executive Summary 

 The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program began in 2006 pursuant to the requirements 

in Clean Air Act (CAA) section 211(o) which were added through the Energy Policy Act of 2005 

(EPAct). The statutory requirements for the RFS program were subsequently modified through 

the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), resulting in the promulgation of 

revised regulatory requirements on March 26, 20101

. The transition from the RFS1 requirements 

of EPAct to the RFS2 requirements of EISA generally occurred on July 1, 2010. 

 Under RFS2, EPA is required to determine and publish the applicable annual percentage 

standards for each compliance year by November 30 of the previous year. As part of this effort, 

EPA must determine the projected volume of cellulosic biofuel production for the following 

year. If the projected volume of cellulosic biofuel production is less than the applicable volume 

specified in section 211(o)(2)(B)(i)(III) of the statute, EPA must lower the applicable volume 

used to set the annual cellulosic biofuel percentage standard to the projected volume of 

production. When we lower the applicable volume of cellulosic biofuel in this manner, we are 

also authorized to lower the applicable volumes of advanced biofuel and/or total renewable fuel 

by the same or a lesser amount. Since these evaluations are based on evolving information about 

emerging segments of the biofuels industry, and may result in the applicable volumes differing 

from those in the statute, we believe that it is appropriate to establish the applicable volumes 

through a notice-and-comment rulemaking process. Today's notice provides our final evaluation 

of the projected production of cellulosic biofuel for 2012, our evaluation of whether to lower the 

applicable volumes of advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel, and the final percentage 

standards for compliance year 2012. We are finalizing a cellulosic biofuel requirement of 10.45 

mill ethanol-equivalent gallons for 2012, and are not reducing the advanced biofuel or total 

renewable fuel requirements below the levels specified in the statute. For future years, EPA will 

continue to evaluate whether it is appropriate to adjust the volume of advanced and total 

renewable fuel, if EPA adjusts the volume of cellulosic biofuel. In making such determinations, 

EPA will consider all relevant factors. The evaluations that led to these 2012 volume 

requirements were based on our evaluation of individual producers’ production plans and 

progress, a consideration of comments received in response to our notice of proposed rulemaking 

published on July 1, 20112, the estimate of projected biofuel volumes that the Energy 

Information Administration (EIA) is required to provide to EPA by October 31, and other 

information that became available. 

 Today's final rule does not include an assessment of the environmental impacts of the 

percentage standards we are setting for 2012. All of the impacts of the RFS2 program were 

addressed in the RFS2 final rule published on March 26, 2010, including impacts of the biofuel 

standards specified in the statute. Today's rulemaking simply sets the standards for 2012 whose 

impacts were already analyzed previously. 

 Today's notice also finalizes a number of changes to the RFS2 regulations. These 

changes are designed to reduce confusion among regulated parties and streamline 

implementation by clarifying certain terms and phrases and addressing unique circumstances that 

 

1

 75 FR 14670 

2

 76 FR 38844 
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came to light after the RFS2 program went into effect on July 1, 2010. Additionally, this notice 

also makes a minor amendment to the gasoline benzene regulations regarding inclusion of 

transferred blendstocks in a refinery’s early benzene credit generation calculations. Further 

discussion of all of these changes can be found in Section IV. 

 Finally, in today's rulemaking we are announcing the price for cellulosic biofuel waiver 

credits that will be available for compliance with the 2012 cellulosic biofuel requirement, and are 

also announcing the results of our annual assessment of the aggregate compliance approach for 

U.S. crops and crop residue. These announcements are provided in Section V. 

 EPA is required to determine the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel (BBD) that 

will be required in 2013 and beyond based on consideration of a variety of factors, and 

promulgate regulations establishing the volumes. The statute specifies that the volume of 

biomass-based diesel for years 2013 and beyond must be at least 1 billion gallons. In the NPRM 

we proposed an applicable volume of 1.28 bill gallons for BBD for 2013. We are continuing to 

evaluate the many comments on the NPRM from stakeholders, and are not finalizing an 

applicable volume for 2013 BBD at this time in today's rulemaking. We recognize that the 

statute calls for EPA to promulgate the applicable volume of BBD for 2013 no later than 14 

months before that year. We do intend to issue a final determination setting the applicable BBD 

volume for calendar year 2013 at the same time we propose the other 2013 RFS volumes next 

year. 

A. Standards for 2012 

 1. Assessment of 2012 Cellulosic Biofuel Volume

 To estimate the volume of cellulosic biofuel that can be made available in the U.S. in 

2012, we researched all potential production sources by company and facility. This included 

sources that were still in the planning stages, those that were under construction, and those that 

are already producing some volume of cellulosic ethanol, cellulosic diesel, or some other type of 

cellulosic biofuel. Facilities primarily focused on research and development work with no 

intention of marketing any fuel produced were not considered for this assessment. From this 

universe of potential cellulosic biofuel sources we identified the subset that had a possibility of 

producing some volume of qualifying cellulosic biofuel for use as transportation fuel in 2012. 

 In today's final rule we specify the projected available volume for 2012 that forms the 

basis for the percentage standard for cellulosic biofuel. To arrive at this final volume, we took 

into consideration additional factors such as the current and expected state of funding, the status 

of the technology, progress towards construction and production goals, and other significant 

factors that could potentially impact fuel production or the ability of the produced fuel to 

generate cellulosic Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). We also considered projections 

of cellulosic biofuel provided by the EIA. Further discussion of these factors can be found in 

Section II.B. 
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 In our assessment we focused on domestic sources of cellulosic biofuel. While imports 

of cellulosic biofuels are possible and could be eligible to generate RINs, we believe this is 

unlikely due to local demand for cellulosic biofuels in the countries in which they are produced 

as well as the cost associated with transporting these fuels to the U.S. Of the domestic sources, 

we estimated that six facilities can make volumes of cellulosic biofuel available for 

transportation use in the U.S. in 2012. These facilities are listed in Table I.A.1-1 along with our 

estimate of the projected 2012 volume for each. 

Table I.A.1-1 

Projected Available Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Volumes for 2012 

Company Location Fuel type 

Projected available 

volume (million 

ethanol-equivalent 

gallons) 

American Process Inc. Alpena, MI Ethanol 0.5 

Fiberight Blairstown, IA Ethanol 2.0 

INEOS Bio Vero Beach, FL Ethanol 3.0 

KiOR Columbus, MS Gasoline, Diesel 4.8 

KL Energy Corp. Upton, WY Ethanol 0.1 

ZeaChem Boardman, OR Ethanol 0.05 

Total 10.45 

Each of the facilities listed in the Table I.A.1-1 are at different points in their progress 

towards the production of commercial volumes of cellulosic biofuel. KL Energy Corp. is the 

only facility in the United States currently generating cellulosic biofuel RINs. American Process 

Inc., Fiberight, and ZeaChem all anticipate completing construction on their production facilities 

in late 2011 or early 2012 and plan to begin producing biofuel soon after their facilities are 

complete. INEOS Bio and KiOR are targeting April 2012 and mid 2012 for the start-up of their 

respective cellulosic biofuel production facilities. The variation in these expected start-up times, 

along with the facility production capacities, company production plans, and a variety of other 

factors have all been taken into account in projecting the available volume of cellulosic biofuel 

from each these facilities. 

 2. Advanced Biofuel and Total Renewable Fuel in 2012

 The statute indicates that we may reduce the applicable volume of advanced biofuel and 

total renewable fuel if we determine that the projected volume of cellulosic biofuel production 

for 2012 falls short of the statutory volume of 500 million gallons. As shown in Table I.A.1-1, 

we have determined that this is the case. Therefore, we also must evaluate the need to lower the 

applicable volumes for advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel. 

 To address the need to lower the advanced biofuel standard, we first consider whether it 

appears likely that the biomass-based diesel volume of 1.0 billion gallons specified in the statute 

can be met in 2012. As discussed in Section II.E, we believe that the 1.0 billion gallon standard 
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can indeed be met. Since biodiesel has an Equivalence Value of 1.5, 1.0 billion physical gallons 

of biodiesel would provide 1.5 billion ethanol-equivalent gallons that can be counted towards the 

advanced biofuel standard of 2.0 billion gallons. Of the remaining 0.5 bill gallons, 10.45 mill 

gallons will be met with cellulosic biofuel. Based on our analysis as described in Section II.C, 

we believe that there will be sufficient volumes of other advanced biofuels, such as imported 

sugarcane ethanol, additional biodiesel, or renewable diesel, such that the applicable volume for 

advanced biofuel can remain at the statutory level of 2.0 billion gallons. In addition, as 

discussed in Section II.C, we believe there will be sufficient volumes to satisfy the 15.2 billion 

gallon applicable volume of total renewable fuel specified in the Act, so the 2012 total renewable 

fuel percentage standard is based on that volume. 

 3. Percentage Standards for 2012

 The renewable fuel standards are expressed as a volume percentage, and are used by each 

refiner, blender or importer to determine their renewable fuel volume obligations. The 

applicable percentages are set so that if each regulated party meets the percentages, and if EIA 

projections of gasoline and diesel use are accurate, then the amount of renewable fuel, cellulosic 

biofuel, biomass-based diesel, and advanced biofuel used will meet the volumes required on a 

nationwide basis. 

 To calculate the percentage standard for cellulosic biofuel for 2012, we have used the 

projected annual volume of 10.45 million ethanol-equivalent gallons (representing 8.65 million 

physical gallons). The applicable volumes for biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total 

renewable fuel for 2012 will be those specified in the statute. These volumes are shown in Table 

I.A.3-1. 

Table I.A.3-1 

Final Volumes for 2012 

Actual Volume Ethanol Equivalent 

Volumea

Cellulosic biofuel 8.65 mill gal 10.45 mill gal 

Biomass-based diesel 1.0 bill gal 1.5 bill gal 

Advanced biofuel 1.3 - 1.5b bill gal 2.0 bill gal 

Renewable fuel 14.5 - 14.7b bill gal 15.2 bill gal a Biodiesel and cellulosic diesel have equivalence values of 1.5 and 1.7 ethanol 

equivalent gallons respectively. As a result, ethanol-equivalent volumes are larger 

than actual volumes for cellulosic biofuel and biomass-based diesel. 

b Range depends on the equivalence values of advanced biofuels other than 

cellulosic biofuel and biomass-based diesel.

 Four separate standards are required under the RFS2 program, corresponding to the four 

separate volume requirements shown in Table I.A.3-1. The specific formulas we use to calculate 

the renewable fuel percentage standards are contained in the regulations at §80.1405 and 

repeated in Section III.B.1. The percentage standards represent the ratio of renewable fuel 

volume to projected non-renewable gasoline and diesel volume. The projected volume of 
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transportation gasoline and diesel used to calculate the standards in today's final rule was 

provided by EIA3

. 

 In March 2011, DOE evaluated the impacts of the RFS program on small entities and 

concluded that some small refineries would suffer a disproportionate economic hardship if 

required to participate in the program4. As a result, we are required to exempt these few 

refineries from being obligated parties for a minimum of two years (2011 and 2012), and must 

also exempt their gasoline and diesel volumes from the calculation of the annual percentage 

standards. In addition, EPA has approved a number of individual small refinery petitions 

submitted pursuant to 40 CFR §80.1441(e)(2) since publication of the proposed rule, and has 

also adjusted the final 2012 percentage standards to reflect the exemption of these small 

refineries from being RFS obligated parties in 2012. The final standards for 2012 are shown in 

Table I.A.3-2 and include the adjustment for exempt small refineries (which constitute about 

3.6% of the gasoline pool and 4.5% of the diesel pool). Detailed calculations can be found in 

Section III. 

 

Table I.A.3-2 

Final Percentage Standards for 2012 

Cellulosic biofuel 0.006% 

Biomass-based diesel 0.91% 

Advanced biofuel 1.21% 

Renewable fuel 9.23% 

 4. Historical Renewable Fuel Production

 To provide a comparison to the 2012 volume requirements shown in Table I.A.3-1, we 

determined the actual annual production volumes for the four RFS categories of renewable fuel. 

Since data on 2011 production is currently incomplete, we have shown the production volumes 

for the full year beginning in July 2010 and ending in June 2011. July 2010 also marks the start 

of the RFS2 program when data collection began with the EPA-Moderated Transaction System 

(EMTS) on production of renewable fuel and generation of RINs. 

 

3

 Letter from Howard K. Gruenspecht, Acting Administrator, Energy Information Administration, to Lisa P. 

Jackson, Administrator, EPA. October 19, 2011. 

4

 "Small Refinery Exemption Study: An Investigation into Disproportionate Economic Hardship," U.S. Department 

of Energy, March 2011. 
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Table I.A.4-1 

Production of Renewable Fuel from July 2010 - June 2011a

Actual Volume Ethanol Equivalent 

Volumea

Cellulosic biofuel 0 mill gal 0 mill gal 

Biomass-based diesel 0.43b bill gal 0.64b bill gal 

Advanced biofuel 0.47 bill gal 0.70 bill gal 

Renewable fuel 14.05 bill gal 14.29 bill gal 

a Except for biomass-based diesel, data derived from the EPA-Moderated Transaction 

System (EMTS) at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/rfsdata/index.htm 

b Due to ongoing investigations of biodiesel RIN generation, these values have been 

derived from Census Bureau data on fats and oils at 

http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/cir/historical_data/m311k/index.html 

B. Regulatory Changes 

 In today's action we are also finalizing a number of changes to the RFS2 regulations. 

These changes are intended to: 

• Clarify certain provisions because we have learned that there is some confusion among 

some regulated parties 

• Clarify the application of certain provisions to unique circumstances 

• Provide greater specificity in the definition of certain terms 

• Correct regulatory language that inadvertently misrepresented our intent 

Today's rule also makes a minor amendment to the gasoline benzene regulations regarding 

inclusion of transferred blendstocks in a refinery's early benzene credit generation calculations. 

A detailed discussion of these regulatory changes is provided in Section IV. 

C. 2012 Price for Cellulosic Biofuel Waiver Credits 

 Since we are reducing the required volume of cellulosic biofuel for 2012 below the 

applicable volume specified in the statute, EPA is required to offer biofuel waiver credits to 

obligated parties that can be purchased in lieu of acquiring cellulosic biofuel RINs5

. These 

waiver credits are not allowed to be traded or banked for future use, are only allowed to be used 

to meet the 2012 cellulosic biofuel standard, and cannot be applied to deficits carried over from 

2011. Moreover, unlike cellulosic biofuel RINs, waiver credits may not be used to meet either 

the advanced biofuel standard or the total renewable fuel standard. For the 2012 compliance 

period, we are making cellulosic biofuel waiver credits available to obligated parties for end-ofyear compliance should they need them at a price of $0.78 per credit. Further discussion is 

provided in Section VI.A. 

 

5

 One waiver credit would apply to one gallon of an obligated party's cellulosic biofuel Renewable Volume 

Obligation (RVO). 
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D. Assessment of the Domestic Aggregate Compliance Approach 

As part of the RFS2 regulations, EPA established an aggregate compliance approach for 

renewable fuel producers who use planted crops and crop residue from U.S. agricultural land. 

This compliance approach relieved such producers (and importers of such fuel) of the individual 

recordkeeping and reporting requirements otherwise required of producers and importers to 

verify that feedstocks used in the production of RIN-qualifying renewable fuel meet the 

definition of renewable biomass. EPA determined that 402 million acres of U.S. agricultural 

land was available in 2007 (the year of EISA enactment) for production of crops and crop 

residue that would meet the definition of renewable biomass, and determined that as long as this 

total number of acres is not exceeded, it is unlikely that new land has been devoted to crop 

production based on historical trends and economic considerations. We indicated that we would 

conduct an annual evaluation of total U.S. acreage that is cropland, pastureland, or conservation 

reserve program land, and that if the value exceed 402 million acres, producers using 

domestically-grown crops or crop residue to produce renewable fuel would be subject to 

individual recordkeeping and reporting to verify that their feedstocks meet the definition of 

renewable biomass. 

The RFS2 regulations provide that EPA will make a finding concerning whether the 2007 

baseline amount of U.S. agricultural land has been exceeded in a given year and will publish this 

finding in the Federal Register by November 30 of the same year. Based on data provided by the 

USDA, we have estimated that U.S. agricultural land reached 392 million acres in 2011, and 

thus did not exceed the 2007 baseline acreage. 

 We also stated in the preamble to the final RFS2 rule that if, at any point, EPA finds that 

the total agricultural land is greater than 397 million acres, EPA will conduct further 

investigations to evaluate validity of the domestic aggregate compliance approach. The total 

acreage estimate of 392 million acres does not exceed the trigger point for further investigation; 

therefore EPA does not plan to conduct further investigations into this matter. Additional 

discussion on this matter can be found in Section V.B of this preamble. 

E. Assessment of the Canadian Aggregate Compliance Approach 

On September 29, 2011, EPA approved the use of an aggregate compliance approach to 

renewable biomass verification for planted crops and crop residue grown in Canada. On March 

15, 2011, EPA issued a notice of receipt of and solicited public comment on a petition for EPA 

to authorize the use of an aggregate approach for compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard 

renewable biomass requirements, submitted by the Government of Canada. The petition 

requested that EPA determine that an aggregate compliance approach will provide reasonable 

assurance that planted crops and crop residue from Canada meet the definition of renewable 

biomass. 
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The Government of Canada utilized several types of land use data to demonstrate that the 

land included in their 124 million acre baseline is cropland, pastureland or land equivalent to 

U.S. Conservation Reserve Program land that was cleared or cultivated prior to December 19, 

2007, and was actively managed or fallow and nonforested on that date (and is therefore RFS2 

qualifying land). The total agricultural land in Canada in 2011 is estimated at 121 million acres. 

This data was presented to EPA in a report titled: Changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard 

Program Aggregate Compliance for Canadian Crops and Crop Residues: Data Analysis and 

Justification Report 2011. This report has been docketed at EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0133. The total 

acreage estimate of 121 million acres does not exceed the trigger point for further investigation; 

therefore EPA does not plan to conduct further investigations into this matter. Additional 

discussion on this matter can be found in Section V.B of this preamble.
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II. Projection of Cellulosic Volume and Assessment of Biomass-Based Diesel and 

Advanced Biofuel for 2012 

 In order to project production volume of cellulosic biofuel in 2012 for use in setting the 

percentage standard, we collected information on individual facilities that have the potential to 

produce qualifying volumes for consumption as transportation fuel, heating oil, or jet fuel in the 

U.S. in 2012. This section describes the projected available volume of cellulosic biofuel in 2012 

as well as some of the uncertainties associated with those volumes. Section III describes the 

derivation of the percentage standards that will apply to obligated parties in 2012. 

 The 2012 volume projections in today's final rule were based on several sources of 

information: 

• An estimate from EIA of the volumes of transportation fuel, biomass-based 

diesel, and cellulosic biofuel that they project will be sold or introduced into 

commerce in the U.S. in 2012. 

• Progress that the cellulosic biofuel industry is making in 2011 

• Our own assessment of the cellulosic biofuel industry's projected volumes for 

2012 

• Comments in response to the NPRM 

 In addition to the sources of information listed above EPA had also intended to consider 

the Production Outlook Reports that are required under §80.1449 for all registered renewable 

fuel producers and importers. These Production Outlook Reports were not as useful as EPA had 

hoped in helping to provide information on the intentions of cellulosic biofuel producers in 2012 

as very few had registered under the RFS program and they were thus not required to submit a 

report. EPA expects that in future years as more cellulosic biofuel producers register under the 

RFS program these reports will become of greater value in helping to determine the appropriate 

projected available volume of cellulosic biofuel. 

 In directing EPA to project cellulosic biofuel production for purposes of setting the 

annual cellulosic biofuel standard, Congress did not specify what degree of certainty should be 

reflected in the projections. However, in response to the NPRM, some commenters cited 

Executive Order 13563 which states that regulations must in general "promote predictability and 

reduce uncertainty." We agree that this must be a goal in the process of determining the 

appropriate cellulosic biofuel requirement for 2012. The greatest certainty is achieved when the 

level of the standard is firmly established before it becomes applicable, and all regulated parties 

can have confidence regarding that standard. Doing this ensures that obligated parties know 

what their obligations will be so that they can begin efforts to meet those obligations, and biofuel 

producers know what baseline demand for their product will be so that they can secure financing 

and ramp up production with confidence. 

 In contrast to statements made by several obligated parties, meeting the dual goals of 

predictability and reducing uncertainty does not require EPA to specify an applicable volume for 

cellulosic biofuel that is as low as possible, or based only on demonstrated (as opposed to 

reasonably anticipated) production. Due to the availability of cellulosic waiver credits, obligated 
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parties always have the means to comply with the cellulosic biofuel standard that we set6

, and at 

a cost that is predictable. There is, therefore, no uncertainty with regard to the level of their 

obligations or the means available to achieve it. 

 Moreover, Executive Order 13563 also states that regulations must in general promote 

"economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, and job creation." Consistent with this goal, we 

believe that the cellulosic biofuel standard should promote growth in the cellulosic biofuel 

industry according to the goals that Congress established in the RFS program. While the 

cellulosic biofuel standard that we set should be within the range of what can be attained based 

on projected domestic production and import potential, the standard that we set helps drive the 

production of volumes that will be made available. This is consistent with comments submitted 

by the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Renewable Fuels Association. Thus while 

any standard we set for cellulosic biofuel standard for 2012 will have some uncertainty in terms 

of actual attainment, our intention is to balance such uncertainty with the objective of promoting 

growth in the industry. Our final projected available volume of 8.65 million gallons of cellulosic 

biofuel (10.45 million ethanol-equivalent gallons) for 2012 reflects these considerations. 

A. Statutory Requirements 

 The volumes of renewable fuel to be used under the RFS2 program each year (absent an 

adjustment or waiver by EPA) are specified in CAA 211(o)(2). These volumes for 2012 are 

shown in Table II.A-1. 

Table II.A-1 

Required Volumes in the Clean Air Act for 2012 (bill gal) 

Actual Volume Ethanol Equivalent 

Volume 

Cellulosic biofuel 0.5a 0.5 

Biomass-based diesel 1.0 1.5 

Advanced biofuel 2.0a 2.0 

Renewable fuel 15.2a 15.2 a

 These values assume that the biofuels would be ethanol. If any portion of the biofuels used to 

meet these applicable volumes has a volumetric energy content greater than that for ethanol, these 

values will be lower.

By November 30 of each year, the EPA is required under CAA 211(o) to determine and publish 

in the Federal Register the renewable fuel percentage standards for the following year. These 

standards are to be based in part on transportation fuel volumes estimated by the EIA for the 

following year. The calculation of the percentage standards is based on the formulas in 

§80.1405(c) which express the required volumes of renewable fuel as a volume percentage of 

gasoline and diesel sold or introduced into commerce in the 48 contiguous states plus Hawaii. 

 

6

 So long as the required volume is below the volume specified in the statute, such that cellulosic biofuel waiver 

credits are available. 
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 The statute requires that if EPA determines that the projected volume of cellulosic biofuel 

production for the following year is less than the applicable volume shown in Table II.A-1, then 

EPA is to reduce the applicable volume of cellulosic biofuel to the projected volume available 

during that calendar year. In addition, if EPA reduces the required volume of cellulosic biofuel 

below the level specified in the statute, the Act also indicates that we may reduce the applicable 

volume of advanced biofuels and total renewable fuel by the same or a lesser volume. 

B. Cellulosic Biofuel Volume Assessment 

 In order to project cellulosic biofuel production for 2012, EPA has tracked the progress 

of over 100 biofuel production facilities. From this list of facilities we used publically available 

information, as well as information provided by DOE and USDA, to make a preliminary 

determination of which facilities are the most likely candidates to produce cellulosic biofuel and 

make it commercially available in 2012. Each of these companies was investigated further in 

order to determine the current status of their facilities and their likely cellulosic biofuel 

production volumes for the coming years. Information such as the funding status of these 

facilities, announced construction and production ramp up periods, and annual fuel production 

targets were taken into account. We also considered each company’s history of meeting 

milestone targets and production goals where applicable. Our projection of the volume of 

cellulosic biofuel production in 2012 is based on this information as well as our own assessment 

of the likelihood of these facilities successfully producing cellulosic biofuel in the volumes 

indicated. A brief description of each of the companies we believe can produce cellulosic 

biofuel and make it commercially available in 2012 can be found below. 

 1. Existing Cellulosic Biofuel Facilities

The rule that established the required 2011 cellulosic biofuel volume identified five 

production facilities that we projected would produce cellulosic biofuel and make the fuel 

commercially available in 2011. Each of these production facilities are now structurally 

complete, however they are in various stages of biofuel production. All of these facilities have 

either produced some volume of cellulosic biofuel in 2011, or are on schedule to do so later in 

the year. Only KL Energy and Range Fuels, however, have completed registration of cellulosic 

biofuel production facilities under the RFS2 program and as such they are currently the only 

facilities of the five listed here currently eligible to generate cellulosic biofuel RINs. For more 

background information on each of these facilities see the 2011 standards rule7

. 

 DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE) successfully started up their small 

demonstration facility in Vonore, Tennessee in late 2010. This facility has a maximum 

production capacity of 250,000 gallons of ethanol per year and uses an enzymatic hydrolysis 

process to convert corn cobs into ethanol. In conversations with EPA in July 2011 DDCE 

indicated that this facility was currently producing ethanol at approximately half the nameplate 

capacity, corresponding to a volume of 125,000 gallons per year. The focus of this facility, 

however, remains gathering information to help successfully design and operate DDCE’s first 

 

7

 75 FR 76790, December 9, 2010. 
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commercial scale facility. All the cellulosic ethanol currently produced at this facility is used for 

testing purposes or given away. No RINs are currently generated for this ethanol and it is not 

available for purchase by obligated parties. DDCE has indicated that they have no plans to 

generate RINs or sell ethanol produced at their facility in Vonore in 2012. No volume of 

cellulosic ethanol has therefore been included in the projections of available cellulosic biofuel 

for 2012. 

 Fiberight uses an enzymatic hydrolysis process to convert the biogenic portion of 

separated municipal solid waste (MSW) into ethanol. Construction on the first stage of 

Fiberight’s Blairstown, Iowa facility was completed in the summer of 2010. The production 

capacity of the first stage of this project is 2 million gallons of ethanol per year. Fiberight had 

planned to begin production of cellulosic biofuel from this facility in late 2010 but poor 

economic conditions, due in part to low cellulosic RIN values in 2010, caused them to postpone 

fuel production. Fiberight had also planned to begin construction on an expansion of this facility 

in late 2010 that would increase the production potential to 6 million gallons of ethanol per year, 

but were unable to secure funding to carry out the construction as planned. They have since 

secured funding and began construction on the expansion of their Blairstown facility in April 

2011. Fiberight anticipates that they will begin fuel production in early 2012 and will ramp up 

production at this facility throughout 2012. EPA projects the production of 2 million gallons of 

cellulosic ethanol from this facility in 2012. 

 KiOR continues to produce a small volume of renewable crude from agricultural residue 

at their demonstration facility in Houston, Texas using a technology they call Biomass Catalytic 

Cracking (BCC). This technology uses heat and a proprietary catalyst to convert biomass to a 

renewable crude with a relatively low oxygen content. The renewable crude is then upgraded to 

produce renewable gasoline and diesel, as well as a small quantity of fuel oil. While KiOR plans 

to continue to operate their Houston facility in 2012 its main purpose will be to provide small 

quantities of fuel for testing purposes and to provide data for the optimization of KiOR’s first 

commercial facility. In conversations with EPA KiOR has indicated that it is unlikely that any 

significant volume of fuel from this facility will be sold commercially. EPA has therefore not 

included any volume from KiOR’s Houston facility in our projected available volumes for 2012. 

KL Energy has developed a process to convert cellulose and hemicellulose into cellulosic 

sugars using a thermal-mechanical pretreatment process followed by an enzymatic hydrolysis. It 

had initially planned to used woody biomass as their feedstock for cellulosic biofuel production; 

however its production process is versatile enough to allow for a wide variety of cellulosic 

feedstocks to be used. In August 2010 KL Energy announced a joint development agreement 

with Petrobras America Inc. As part of the agreement Petrobras has invested $11 million to 

modify KL Energy’s facility in Upton, Wyoming to allow it to process bagasse and other waste 

products. If successful, Petrobras and KL Energy plan to work together to integrate the 

technology into currently existing ethanol production facilities in Brazil. The modifications to 

KL Energy’s facility were completed earlier this year. KL Energy is currently producing small 

volumes of cellulosic ethanol and plans to continue to do so throughout 2012. In August 2011 

KL Energy successfully registered its cellulosic biofuel production facility under the RFS 

program making it eligible to generate RINs for biofuel produced from this facility. KL Energy 

has indicated to EPA its intent to generate RINs for the fuel it produces and to sell it 
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commercially in the United States. EPA projects that 100,000 gallons of cellulosic ethanol will 

be available from this facility in 2012. 

 Range Fuels began production of methanol at their Soperton, Georgia facility in the third 

quarter of 2010. This facility uses a thermochemical technology to produce syngas (consisting 

of mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide) from a woody biomass feedstock. The syngas is then 

converted into fuel with the aid of a chemical catalyst developed by Range. Range has 

developed the capability to produce both methanol and ethanol, depending on the catalyst used. 

In January 2011, after producing a small volume of ethanol from this facility and proving this 

capability, Range Fuels shut down the Soperton facility in order to work through technical 

difficulties they had been experiencing. No timeline has been given for the restart of this facility 

and fuel production from this facility in 2012 appears unlikely. No cellulosic fuel production 

from Range Fuels has been included in EPA’s 2012 projected available volume. 

 2. Potential New Facilities in 2012

In the proposed rule EPA discussed five new cellulosic biofuel production facilities that 

had plans to begin commercial production at some point in 2012. These facilities were at various 

stages in the construction process, and as such had various degrees of uncertainty associated with 

any projected 2012 commercial production. Three of these facilities, those being developed by 

INEOS Bio, KiOR, and ZeaChem, have made significant progress towards completion and are 

expected to produce and market cellulosic biofuel in 2012. Two of the companies mentioned in 

the proposed rule, Fulcrum Bioenergy and Terrabon, are no longer on a schedule to produce 

cellulosic biofuel in 2012. Finally, EPA has become aware of a sixth company, American 

Process Inc., which is developing a cellulosic biofuel project that is likely to produce and market 

some volume of cellulosic biofuel in 2012. The following section provides updated information 

on each of the companies discussed in the proposed rule, as well as a summary of the project 

being developed by American Process Inc. 

 Fulcrum Bioenergy is planning to build a facility capable of producing 10.5 million 

gallons of cellulosic ethanol and 16 megawatts of renewable electricity per year. It has 

developed a thermochemical technology to produce ethanol from separated MSW via syngas 

using a chemical catalyst. In November 2010 Fulcrum announced that it had received a term 

sheet for an $80 million loan guarantee from DOE and was entering into the final phase of the 

loan guarantee program. Prior to that Fulcrum had announced that it had signed long term 

feedstock supply contracts for this facility as well as engineering, procurement, and construction 

contracts. In January 2011 Fulcrum announced it had closed on a $75 million Series C financing 

that would provide the remaining necessary capital for the construction of its first commercial 

production facility pending the closing of its DOE loan guarantee. The loan guarantee, however, 

has yet to be finalized. As a result the start of the construction of this facility, originally planned 

for the second quarter of 2011, is now expected to begin in late 2011. EPA has not included any 

volume of cellulosic biofuel from Fulcrum Bioenergy’s facility in our 2012 projected available 

volume because of this delay. 
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 INEOS Bio has developed a process for producing cellulosic ethanol by first gasifying 

feedstock material into a syngas and then using naturally occurring bacteria to ferment the 

syngas into ethanol. In January 2011 USDA announced a $75 million loan guarantee for the 

construction of INEOS Bio’s first commercial facility to be built in Vero Beach, Florida. This 

was in addition to the grant of up to $50 million INEOS Bio received from DOE in January 

2010. This facility will be capable of producing 8 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel as well as 

6 megawatts of renewable electricity from a variety of feedstocks including yard, agricultural, 

and wood waste, as well as separated MSW. On February 9, 2011 INEOS Bio broke ground on 

this facility. Since February significant progress has been made and INEOS Bio remains on 

target to complete construction on this facility in April 2012. Commercial production of 

cellulosic ethanol is expected to begin soon after construction is complete. Three million gallons 

of cellulosic ethanol from this facility has been included in EPA’s projected available volume for 

2012. 

 After successful operation of their demonstration plant in Houston, Texas KiOR began 

construction on its first commercial scale facility in May 2011. This facility, located in 

Columbus, Mississippi, will convert biomass to a low oxygen biocrude using a process KiOR 

calls Biomass Catalytic Cracking (BCC). BCC uses a catalyst developed by KiOR in a process 

similar to Fluid Catalytic Cracking currently used in the petroleum industry. KiOR’s Columbus 

facility will also be capable of upgrading this biocrude into finished gasoline and diesel as well 

as a small quantity of fuel oil. KiOR plans to finish construction on this facility in the first half 

of 2012 and begin commercial production early in the third quarter of 2012. KiOR has also 

announced plans to construct several more commercial scale biofuel production facilities in 

Mississippi and across the southeastern United States. It is unlikely any of these additional 

facilities will begin production of biofuel in 2012. EPA has included 3 million gallons of 

cellulosic biofuel (4.8 million ethanol equivalent gallons) from KiOR’s Columbus facility in our 

projected available volume for 2012. 

Terrabon completed construction of a small demonstration scale facility for the 

conversion of MSW and other waste materials into gasoline in 2010 and are currently developing 

plans for their first commercial scale facility. Terrabon utilizes a unique production process that 

can be used to produce gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel. Feedstock is first fermented into carboxylic 

acids by a variety of micro organisms. These carboxylic acids are then neutralized to form 

carboxylate salts that are dewatered, dried, and thermally converted to ketones. Finally, the 

ketones are hydrogenated to form alcohols which can then be refined into gasoline, diesel, or jet 

fuel. Terrabon had hoped to begin producing cellulosic biofuel at their first commercial scale 

facility some time in 2012, however difficulties in securing the necessary funding have delayed 

the expected start up of their first commercial scale facility to 2013. EPA has not included any 

volume of cellulosic biofuel from Terrabon in our 2012 projected available volume. 

 ZeaChem has begun construction on a small demonstration scale facility in Boardman, 

Oregon capable of producing 250,000 gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year. Its production 

process uses a combination of biochemical and thermochemical technologies to produce ethanol 

and other renewable chemicals from cellulosic materials. The feedstock is first fractionated into 

two separate streams containing cellulosic sugars and lignin. The cellulosic sugars are fermented 

into ethyl acetate using a naturally occurring acetogen, which can then be hydrogenated into 
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ethanol. The hydrogen necessary for this process is produced by gasifying the lignin stream 

from the cellulosic biomass. ZeaChem’s process is flexible and is capable of producing a wide 

range of renewable chemical and fuel molecules in addition to ethanol. ZeaChem received a 

grant of up to $25 million from DOE in January 2010 for the construction of their demonstration 

facility. Since then ZeaChem has made significant progress on its demonstration facility and 

currently plans to begin production of cellulosic ethanol from this facility in early 2012. It has 

indicated to EPA, however, that it is highly unlikely to achieve full production capacity at this 

facility in its first year of production and has suggested that the production of 50,000 gallons of 

cellulosic ethanol from this facility in 2012 is a more realistic expectation. Despite this small 

volume, ZeaChem does intend to generate RINs for the fuel that they produce and to market it 

commercially. Based on this information EPA has included 0.05 million gallons of cellulosic 

ethanol in our projected available volume for 2012. 

 American Process Inc. (API) is developing a project in Alpena, Michigan capable of 

producing up to 900,000 gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year from woody biomass. This 

facility will use a technology developed by API called GreenPower+TM. This technology 

extracts the hemicelluloses portion of woody biomass using hot water and hydrolyzes it into 

cellulosic sugars. These cellulosic sugars are then converted to ethanol or other alcohols, while 

the remaining portion of the woody biomass, containing mostly cellulose and lignin, is processed 

into wood paneling at a co-located facility. At larger scale facilities API anticipates burning the 

residual biomass in a boiler to produce renewable steam and electricity as well as cellulosic 

biofuel. In January 2010 API received a grant from DOE for up to $18 million for the 

construction of their demonstration facility. Construction of the Alpena, Michigan facility began 

in March 2011 and API anticipates beginning the production of cellulosic ethanol at this site 

early in 2012. API was not discussed as a potential producer of cellulosic biofuels in 2012 in our 

proposed rule due to uncertainty about its ability to generate RINs with the intended feedstock 

and production process. EPA anticipates these issues will be resolved. Cellulosic biofuel 

produced at API’s facility will therefore likely be eligible for cellulosic RINs. For our 2012 

projected available volume of cellulosic biofuels we have included 500,000 gallons of cellulosic 

ethanol from this facility. This volume represents the low end of API’s production target for that 

year due to the uncertainties associated with the start up of a new industrial facility utilizing a 

technology unproven at industrial scale. 

 Another potential source of cellulosic biofuel in 2012 is the application of a technology 

being developed by EdeniQ. EdeniQ is developing a suite of enzymes capable of breaking down 

cellulose into simple sugars that can then be fermented into ethanol. Rather than build its own 

production facilities EdeniQ plans to license its enzymes to existing corn ethanol facilities. Such 

licensing would be accompanied by the Cellunator, an advanced milling device EdeniQ has 

developed to reduce the particle size of corn kernels to enable greater conversion of starch to 

ethanol as well as the conversion of cellulose to simple sugars. EdeniQ claims that its 

technology would allow corn ethanol facilities to increase ethanol production by 1-2% by 

converting the cellulosic portion of the corn kernel into ethanol. EdeniQ is also working to 

increase the effectiveness of its enzymes in order to enable ethanol production increases of 3-4% 

from the cellulose in the corn kernel in the future. EdeniQ plans to begin commercial trials of its 

technology in the second half of 2011. This technology has the potential to be implemented 

rapidly and produce significant amounts of cellulosic ethanol in 2012 as it requires relatively 
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small capital additions to already existing corn ethanol facilities. While this technology is 

promising, there is currently no pathway in the RFS2 regulations for the generation of cellulosic 

biofuel RINs using the cellulosic portion of the corn kernel as a feedstock. Moreover, EdeniQ 

has not announced any agreements with corn ethanol producers to install this technology to 

enable the production of cellulosic ethanol. For these reasons, EPA has not included any 

cellulosic ethanol production from EdeniQ’s technology in our 2012 projections. 

In addition to the facilities mentioned above, EPA is also aware of three companies 

planning to begin the production of cellulosic biofuels in early 2013. Coskata, Enerkem, and 

Poet are planning on completing construction on their first commercial scale cellulosic biofuel 

facilities in late 2012 or early 2013 and producing commercial volumes of biofuels in 2013. 

While all of these facilities continue to make progress towards commercial production of 

cellulosic biofuel in 2013 it is highly unlikely that any of these facilities will be capable of 

producing cellulosic biofuels by the end of 2012. EPA has therefore not included any volume of 

cellulosic biofuel from these facilities in our projected available volume for 2012. These 

facilities, along with several other commercial cellulosic biofuel facilities planning to begin 

production in 2013, notably the first commercial scale facilities from Abengoa and Mascoma, 

indicate that the potential exists for the rapid expansion of production volumes in future years. 

 3. Imports of Cellulosic Biofuel

While domestically produced cellulosic biofuels are the most likely source of cellulosic 

biofuel available in the United States, producers and/or importers of cellulosic biofuel produced 

in other countries may also generate RINs and participate in the RFS2 program. While the RFS2 

program does provide a financial incentive for companies to import cellulosic biofuels into the 

United States, the combination of local demand, financial incentives from other governments, 

and transportation costs for the cellulosic biofuel has resulted in no cellulosic biofuel being 

imported to the United States thus far. EPA believes this situation is likely to continue in the 

near future. Additionally, the majority of internationally based cellulosic biofuel facilities that 

currently exist or plan to complete construction by the end of 2012 are small research and 

development or pilot facilities not designed for the commercial production of fuel. 

Two notable exceptions, both located in Canada, are Enerkem and Iogen. Enerkem has a 

currently existing commercial production facility in Westbury, Quebec and is expecting to 

complete construction on a second facility in Edmonton, Alberta in late 2011. Iogen has a small 

demonstration facility in Ottawa and is currently exploring the possibility of building its first 

commercial facility near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The large expected production volumes 

and relatively small distance this fuel would have to be transported to reach the United States 

make these facilities the most likely candidates to import cellulosic biofuel into the United 

States. In conversations with EPA, however, both companies indicated that they had no current 

intentions of importing fuel from their Canadian production facilities into the United States. On 

September 1, 2010 the government of Canada finalized regulations requiring all gasoline sold in 

Canada to have a renewable content of 5% and all diesel fuel and heating oil to have a renewable 

content of 2%. These regulations will further increase local demand for any cellulosic biofuel 

produced from these two facilities and decrease the likelihood of any of this fuel being exported 
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to the United States. For these reasons we have not included any cellulosic biofuel production 

from foreign facilities in our projections of cellulosic biofuel availability in 2012. 

4. Projections from the Energy Information Administration

Section 211(o)(3)(A) of the Clean Air Act requires EIA to "...provide to the Administrator of the 

Environmental Protection Agency an estimate, with respect to the following calendar year, of the 

volumes of transportation fuel, biomass-based diesel, and cellulosic biofuel projected to be sold 

or introduced into commerce in the United States." EIA provided these estimates to us on 

October 19, 2011.8 With regard to cellulosic biofuel, the EIA estimated that the available 

volume in 2012 would be 6.9 million gallons based on its assessment of the utilization of 

production capacity. A summary of the commercial scale plants they considered and associated 

production volumes is shown below in Table II.B.4.In addition to the facilities listed in this table 

EIA also projects that three pilot-scale facilities, those owned by American Process (Alpena, 

MI), KL Process Design (Upton, WY) and ZeaChem (Boardman, OR) will produce an additional 

0.2 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel and make it available for sale in the US in 2012.

 

8

 Letter from Howard K. Gruenspecht, EIA Acting Administrator to Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator October 19, 

2011. 
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Table II.B.4 

Commercial-scale cellulosic biofuel plants expected to generate cellulosic biofuel RINs in 2012 

Year 

Online Company Location Product 

Nameplate 

Capacity 

gallons) 

(million Utilization 

Projected 

(%) 

Projected 

Production 

gallons) 

(million 

2011/12 Fiberight, LLC Blairstown, IA Ethanol 6.4 25% 1.6 

2012 INP Bioenergya Vero Beach, FL Ethanol 8.0 25% 2.0 2012 KiOR Columbus, MS Liquids 12.2 25% 3.1 

Total 26.6 25% 6.7 

EPA refers to INEOS New Planet (INP) Bioe a nergy as INEOS Bio throughout this rule 
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EIA’s projections of cellulosic biofuel production in 2012 are very similar to EPA’s 

projections discussed above and summarized in Section II.B.6 below. The lists of companies 

that EIA and EPA expect to generate cellulosic biofuel RINS in 2012 are the same. There are, 

however, several small differences in the volumes of cellulosic biofuel expected to be produced 

at some of the production facilities listed. EPA has slightly higher projections of cellulosic 

biofuel production for Fiberight (2 million gallons vs. 1.59 million gallons), INEOS Bio (3 

million gallons vs. 2 million gallons), and American Process Inc. (0.5 million gallons vs. less 

than 0.2 million gallons). These slight variations are a result of different methodologies used by 

EIA and EPA to project biofuel production in future years. Both Fiberight and INEOS Bio are 

commercial scale facilities that plan to begin production in 2012. As a result, EIA has used a 

standard utilization factor of 25% (used for the first year of production for all commercial scale 

facilities) along with the nameplate capacity of these facilities to project their production 

volumes for 2012. EPA believes it is more appropriate to consider the timing of the anticipated 

start up of these facilities within 2012. Facilities planning to begin production early in the year 

should not have the same expected utilization factor as those planning to begin production near 

the end of the year. Both Fiberight and INEOS Bio plan to complete construction and begin the 

production of fuel in early 2012, and therefore EPA has projected production volumes from these 

facilities that are equivalent to 2012 utilization rates of slightly higher than 25% in comparison to 

their full, long-term production potential. 

EIA’s projected production volume for American Process Inc. assumes a utilization 

factor of 10%, consistent with the factor that EIA uses for all demonstration scale facilities. 

While this may be reasonable in many cases as the purpose of most pilot plants is not to produce 

fuel for commercial scale, American Process Inc. has communicated to EPA that it plans to 

produce volumes approaching its facility’s nameplate capacity in their first year. While EPA 

believes this is unlikely due to the challenges of starting up a facility utilizing a technology that 

has not been proven at commercial scale, we believe a volume corresponding to a utilization rate 

higher than 10%, but at the low end of American Process Inc’s target production range is 

appropriate. While the production volumes of the other companies listed in EIA and EPA’s 

projected available volume tables are not identical, the differences are small and their impact on 

the overall volume projection is negligible. 

There is also a slight variation in the nameplate capacities for two of the listed facilities, 

Fiberight and KiOR. This is once again the result of differing methods for determining the 

nameplate capacities used by EIA and EPA. EIA used publically available information to 

calculate the nameplate capacities for these two facilities. The Fiberight plant is a converted 

corn ethanol facility that had a production capacity of 25.5 million gallons per year. Fiberight 

announced they expected to be able produce cellulosic ethanol at 25% of the original capacity 

and these numbers formed the basis for EIA’s nameplate capacity. Similarly for KiOR EIA’s 

nameplate capacity was based on the number of tons the facility could process per day and the 

expected yield. EPA’s nameplate capacities, conversely, are based on conversations with each of 

these companies. EPA does not believe these slight differences in nameplate capacities have a 

significant on the cellulosic biofuel volume projections made by EPA and EIA. 

While the cellulosic biofuel volume projections for 2012 provided by EIA are not 

identical to those being finalized in this rule EPA believes that they are similar enough to support 
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the volumes we are finalizing. Where differences exist they are primarily due to EPA’s 

consideration of facility specific situations rather than use of uniform utilization factors. As 

discussed above, EPA believes this is appropriate, and that wherever possible these facility 

specific factors should be taken into account. CAA 211(o)(7)(D) vests the authority for making 

the projection with EPA, since it provides that the projection is “determined by the Administrator 

based on the estimate provided [by EIA].” If Congress intended that EPA simply adopt EIA’s 

projection without an independent evaluation, it would not have specified that the projection is 

“determined by the [EPA] Administrator”. Although the statute provides that our determination 

must be “based on the estimate provided” by EIA, we believe that our consideration of EIA’s 

estimate in deriving our own projection as described above satisfies this statutory requirement. 

5. Comments on the Proposed Rule

 EPA received comments on our proposed rule recommending various methodologies or 

suggested volumes for the final rule. Several parties supported our projected volumes and 

emphasized the importance of maintaining a consistent policy supporting growth in the cellulosic 

biofuel industry. Other comments we received recommended that the volume we set for 

cellulosic biofuel be based only on the demonstrated production rates of facilities that have been 

in production for at least three months. EPA believes this approach is inconsistent with the 

requirement that the mandated volume of cellulosic biofuel be based on the projected, not 

demonstrated, volume for any given year. Using the approach recommended by the commenters 

would effectively project no market growth from the end of 2011 through 2012, and would lead 

to no 2012 market demand for additional cellulosic biofuel capacity that comes on line during 

the course of 2012, hindering industry growth. As a result, the incentives for the cellulosic 

biofuels industry to grow, which are one of the primary purposes of the RFS program and which 

are consistent with Executive Order 13563, would be compromised. 

Several other commenters claimed that cellulosic biofuel technology was not yet capable 

of producing the volumes of fuel indicated in our proposal and that the proposed range of 

cellulosic biofuels was too high. Chevron suggested that EPA finalize the lower end of the 

proposed range (3.55 million ethanol-equivalent gallons). After reassessing the state of the 

cellulosic biofuel industry and tracking the progress being made towards the production of 

cellulosic biofuels at commercial scale facilities, EPA believes the industry is capable of 

exceeding the lower end of the range of projected volume from our proposed rule. In order to 

provide the appropriate economic conditions for the cellulosic biofuel industry to grow in 

accordance with the objectives of the statute, it is important that these fuels, once produced, have 

a viable market. EPA believes that setting the 2012 standard for cellulosic biofuels at the low 

end of the proposed range, or some lower volume, could potentially result in a depressed market 

for cellulosic biofuel and would discourage cellulosic biofuel producers from producing 

quantities of fuel in 2012 that are actually attainable. 

 Alternatively, we also received comments requesting that EPA finalize the high end of 

the proposed volume (15.7 ethanol-equivalent gallons). While this approach would provide a 

strong incentive for potential cellulosic biofuel producers to maximize their production of fuel, 

EPA does not believe it would be consistent with the requirement that the volume mandate be 
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based on the projected production volume. As discussed above, several companies have 

experienced delays in their construction plans since the proposed rule has been published, and 

others have lowered their production targets or indicated that they no longer intend to generate 

RINs for the cellulosic biofuel they produce. While it is possible that one or more of the 

companies for whom we have included volumes in our 2012 projection may produce a greater 

volume of fuel than we currently anticipate, EPA does not believe it would be appropriate to rely 

on such speculation in setting the applicable volume of cellulosic biofuel for 2012. We believe 

that the 2012 cellulosic biofuel applicable volume of 8.65 million gallons (10.45 million ethanolequivalent gallons) finalized in this rule is a reasonable projection of the volume of cellulosic 

biofuel that will be produced and made available for RFS compliance in 2012. While this 

volume is slightly higher than the volume projected by EIA we believe this is appropriate based 

on the consideration of company specific factors such as when in the year the companies 

anticipate the start of fuel production and production targets shared with EPA. The difference in 

the methodologies used for EIA and EPA’s projections is discussed in further detail in Section 

II.B.4. 

 The Consumers Energy Alliance, in addition to suggesting that the range of cellulosic 

biofuel production in our proposed rule was too high, also requested that EPA perform a costbenefit analysis to determine the implications of our proposed standards. The Clean Air Act 

clearly states that in the event that the projected volume of cellulosic biofuel production for the 

following year is less than the applicable volume shown in Table II.A-1, EPA is to reduce the 

applicable volume of cellulosic biofuel to the projected volume available during that calendar 

year. Since the mandated volume for any given year is to be based solely on the projected 

volume available for that year, a cost-benefit analysis is not necessary. 

 Two cellulosic biofuel companies, American Process Inc. and ZeaChem, commented on 

the volume of cellulosic biofuels they expect to produce in 2012 and requested that EPA’s 

projections of available volumes of cellulosic biofuel be adjusted accordingly. After 

consideration of these comments and additional information provided by these two companies 

EPA agrees that the adjustments they suggested are appropriate. As a result a volume of 500,000 

gallons of cellulosic ethanol from American Process Inc., a volume representing the lower end of 

their production target for 2012, has been included in our projected available volume. The 

volume of fuel projected from ZeaChem’s facility has been changed to 50,000 gallons of 

cellulosic ethanol in 2012 to more accurately reflect their current expectations for their facility. 

 Finally, EPA received several comments from obligated parties requesting that in any 

year in which actual annual production of cellulosic biofuel falls below the applicable volume 

used to set the annual standard, that EPA use its waiver authority to waive a volume of cellulosic 

biofuel equal to the shortfall in February of the following year, prior to the February 28 deadline 

for submission of compliance demonstration reports by obligated parties. This approach, these 

commenters argued, would ensure that their obligations match the number of cellulosic biofuel 

RINs that are available in the market. These comments deal with EPA’s general waiver 

authority under CAA 211(o)(7)(A), and thus are not directly related to the annual standard 

setting process or the waiver authority that is specific to cellulosic biofuel under 211(o)(7)(D). 

At this time EPA has received no petitions for a waiver of the 2011 cellulosic biofuel volume 

under 211(o)(7)(A) due to inadequate domestic supply, and thus we are not considering at this 
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time whether and how any portion of the 2011 cellulosic biofuel applicable volume should be 

waived. 

6. Summary of Volume Projections

 The information EPA has gathered on the potential cellulosic biofuel producers in 2012, 

described above, allows us to project facility-specific volumes of cellulosic biofuel production 

for 2012. This information is summarized in Table II.B.6-1 below. 
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Table II.B.6-1 

Cellulosic Biofuel 2012 Projected Available Volume 

Company Name Location Feedstock Fuel Capacity 

(MGY) 

Earliest 

Production 

2012 Projected 

Available Volume 

(MG) 

Ethanol 

Equivalent 

Gallons (MG) 

INEOS BioFiberight Blairstown, IA MSW Ethanol 6 Early 2012 2.0 2.0 American Process Inc. Alpena, MI Waste Wood Ethanol 0.9 Early 2012 0.5 0.5 

a Vero Beach, FL Ag Residue, MSW Ethanol 8 May 2012 3.0 3.0 

ZeaChem Boardman, OR Planted Trees Ethanol 0.25 Early 2012 0.05 0.05 KL Energy Upton, WY Bagasse Ethanol 1.5 Online 0.1 0.1 KiOR Columbus, MS Pulp Wood Gasoline, Diesel 10 Mid 2012 3.0 4.8 

Total 8.65 10.45 

This facility is listed as INP Bioenergy in EIA’s projections a
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Page 28 of 92 

 While the production volumes in Table II.B.6-1 have some uncertainty, we believe that a 

total volume of 8.65 million gallons (10.45 million ethanol-equivalent gallons) is reasonably 

attainable. By basing the 2012 cellulosic biofuel standard on the reasonably attainable volumes 

rather than proven production volumes, we aim to avoid a scenario in which cellulosic biofuel 

production exceeds the mandated volume; no mechanism exists for this standard to be raised 

should cellulosic biofuel production exceed the 2011 standard. Such a scenario would result in 

weak demand for cellulosic biofuels and RINs. Moreover, the standard that we set determines in 

large part the volumes of cellulosic biofuel that will be produced. We believe that the intent of 

Congress in establishing steadily increasing applicable volumes of cellulosic biofuel in the RFS 

program through EISA was to provide a reliable market for these fuels and in so doing to spur 

growth in the cellulosic biofuels industry. EPA believes the projected available volume finalized 

in this rule best reflects these intentions. 

 Based on our assessment of the potential production capabilities of individual companies 

as described above, EPA is finalizing the cellulosic biofuel standard for 2012 at 10.45 million 

ethanol-equivalent gallons of cellulosic biofuel. This number represents the volume of RINgenerating cellulosic biofuel that we believe can be made available for use as transportation fuel, 

heating oil, or jet fuel in 2012. It incorporates reductions from the annual production capacity of 

each facility based on when fuel production can begin and assumptions regarding a ramp-up 

period to full production. We believe that a production volume of 10.45 million ethanolequivalent gallons is reasonably attainable despite the uncertainties. Moreover, by setting the 

standard for cellulosic biofuel based on the volumes that are reasonably attainable, we are 

providing incentives for producers to overcome uncertainties and greater opportunities for 

funding based on an established demand. 

 There are also a variety of factors that could lead to production volumes greater than 

those listed in Table II.B.6-1 and make up for potential shortfalls elsewhere. For instance: 

• For each of the facilities listed, we are projecting that their production will be some 

volume less than the capacity of their facility. It is possible, however, that these 

companies could produce a greater volume of fuel than they are currently anticipating or 

has been projected by EPA. 

• It is possible that companies that are currently targeting 2013 for commercial production 

may produce cellulosic biofuel ahead of schedule and generate RINs in 2012. None of 

this volume was included in our projection for 2012. 

• A high demand for cellulosic biofuels may be sufficient to cause companies to import 

fuel into the United States, even if they currently have no plans to do so. As described in 

Section II.B.3 above, there are several foreign producers that are either producing 

cellulosic biofuel now, or could potentially produce some cellulosic biofuel volume in 

2012. 

 Finally, we note that if the actual volume of cellulosic biofuel RINs that are available in 

2012 falls short of the 10.45 million gallon RINs used to derive the 2012 cellulosic biofuel 

standard, obligated parties have other recourses: 
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Page 29 of 92 

• Purchase cellulosic biofuel waiver credits from the EPA (see further discussion in Section 

V.A) 

• Carry over a deficit from 2012 into 2013 according to §80.1427(b) under certain 

conditions 

C. Advanced Biofuel and Total Renewable Fuel in 2012 

 Under CAA 211(o)(7)(D)(i), EPA has the discretion to reduce the applicable volumes of 

advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel in the event that the projected volume of cellulosic 

biofuel production is determined to be below the applicable volume specified in the statute. As 

described in Section II.B above, we are indeed projecting the volume of cellulosic biofuel 

production for 2012 at significantly below the statutory applicable volume of 500 million 

gallons. Because cellulosic biofuel is used to satisfy the cellulosic biofuel standard, the 

advanced biofuel standard, and the total renewable fuel standard, any reductions in the applicable 

volume of cellulosic biofuel will also affect the means through which obligated parties comply 

with the advanced biofuel standard and the total renewable fuel standard. Therefore, we have 

considered whether and to what degree to lower the advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel 

applicable volumes for 2012. 

 If the required volume of cellulosic biofuel for a given year is less than the volume 

specified in the statute, it is important to evaluate whether there would be sufficient volume of 

advanced biofuels to satisfy the applicable volume of advanced biofuel volume set forth in the 

statute. Even with a reduced volume of cellulosic biofuel, other advanced biofuels, such as 

biomass-based diesel, sugarcane ethanol, or other biofuels, may be available in sufficient 

volumes to make up for the shortfall in cellulosic biofuel. 

 Several commenters stated their belief that the applicable volume of advanced biofuel 

should always be lowered concurrently, and to the same degree, that the applicable volume of 

cellulosic biofuel is lowered from the levels set forth in the statute. Since we are finalizing a 

cellulosic biofuel applicable volume today that is approximately 490 million gallons below the 

500 mill gal applicable volume specified in the statute, this approach would lead to a reduction in 

the advanced biofuel standard of 490 million gallons as well, from 2,000 mill gallons to 1,510 

mill gallons. However, as described in the NPRM, we believe that it would not be consistent 

with the energy security and greenhouse gas reduction goals of the statute to reduce the 

applicable volume of advanced biofuel set forth in the statute if there are sufficient volumes of 

advanced biofuels available, even if those volumes do not include the amount of cellulosic 

biofuel that Congress may have desired. Our authority to lower the advanced biofuel and/or total 

renewable fuel applicable volumes is discretionary, and in general we believe that actions to 

lower these volumes should only be taken if insufficient volumes of qualifying biofuel can be 

made available, based on such circumstances as insufficient production capacity, insufficient 

feedstocks, competing markets, constrained infrastructure, or the like. As discussed below, we 

project that sufficient volumes of advanced biofuel can be made available in 2012 such that the 

2.0 bill gallon advanced biofuel requirement need not be reduced. 
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Page 30 of 92 

 If we were to maintain the advanced biofuel, biomass-based diesel, and total renewable 

fuel volume requirements at the levels specified in the statute, while also lowering the cellulosic 

biofuel standard to 10.45 million ethanol-equivalent gallons, then 1,510 million gallons of the 

2.0 billion gallon advanced biofuel mandate would be satisfied automatically through the 

satisfaction of the cellulosic and biomass based diesel standards. An additional 490 million 

ethanol-equivalent gallons of additional advanced biofuels would be needed. See Table II.C-1. 

Table II.C-1 

Projected Fuel Mix in 2012 Assuming No Change in Advanced Biofuel or Total Renewable Fuel 

Volume Requirements (mill gallons) 

 Ethanol-Equivalent 

Volume 

Physical Volume 

Total renewable fuel 

Conventional renewable fuela

15,200 

13,200 

14,535 - 14,698 

13,200 

Total advanced biofuel 2,000 1,335 - 1,498 

Cellulosic biofuel 

Biomass-based diesel 

Other advanced biofuelb

10.45 

1,500 

490 

8.65 

1,000 

326 - 490c

a

 Predominantly corn-starch ethanol

b

 Rounded to nearest million gallons for simplicity 

c Physical volume is a range because other advanced biofuel may be ethanol, biodiesel, or some 

combination of the two 

 The most likely sources of additional advanced biofuel would be imported sugarcane 

ethanol and additional biomass-based diesel, though there may also be some volumes of other 

types of advanced biofuel available as discussed below. To determine if there are likely to be 

sufficient volumes of these biofuels to meet the need for 490 million gallons of other advanced 

biofuel, we first examined historical data on ethanol imports and projections from EIA and 

USDA for 2012. Brazilian imports have made up a sizeable portion of total ethanol imported 

into the U.S. in the past, and these volumes were predominantly produced from sugarcane. 

Ethanol imports averaged about 380 million gallons per year over the last five years, and reached 

an all-time high of 730 million gallons in 20069

. However, ethanol imports were significantly 

lower in 2010 than in previous years, and continue to be low in the first half of 2011. This 

decline in imports may be related to the cessation of the duty drawback that became effective on 

October 1, 2008, to changes in world sugar prices, and increases in demand within Brazil.10 

Several commenters cited these lower import volumes in the last two years as evidence that 

importation of sugarcane ethanol will be low in 2012 as well. 

 However, we believe that the broader view of historical data on sugarcane ethanol 

imports supports our view that Brazil has significant export potential under the appropriate 

economic circumstances. Monthly ethanol imports in June and July of 2011 were significantly 

higher than during any of the previous 16 months, at 3 and 13 million gallons, respectively.11 

Moreover, Brazil continues to be second worldwide in the production of ethanol, producing a 

 

9

 "Monthly U.S. Imports of Fuel Ethanol," EIA, released 3/30/2011 

10 Lundell, Drake, “Brazilian Ethanol Export Surge to End; U.S. Customs Loophole Closed Oct. 1,” Ethanol and 

Biodiesel News, Issue 45, November 4, 2008. 

11 Monthly U.S. Imports of Fuel Ethanol, Energy Information Administration, Release Date 9/29/2011 
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Page 31 of 92 

total of 6.9 bill gallons in 2009.12 By establishing an increased U.S. demand for 490 million 

gallons of other advanced biofuel in 2012, we would be enhancing the export market for 

Brazilian sugarcane ethanol. This could increase the percentage of ethanol produced from 

sugarcane (as opposed to sugar production), and lead to higher volumes of sugarcane ethanol 

exported to the U.S. Insofar as there is insufficient availability of domestically produced 

advanced biofuel to meet the need for 490 mill gallons, the price of advanced biofuel RINs 

would likely increase, providing the incentive for Brazil to export more sugarcane ethanol into 

the U.S. California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard also went into effect in 2010, and may result in 

some refiners importing additional volumes of sugarcane ethanol from Brazil into California in 

2012. These same volumes would count towards the federal RFS2 program as well. 

 Projections from other sources also suggest that a large portion of the 490 million gallons 

of advanced biofuel needed could be supplied by imported sugarcane ethanol. For instance, in 

its Annual Energy Outlook 2011, EIA projects ethanol imports of approximately 300 million 

gallons for 201213. In addition, the university-based Food and Agricultural Policy Research 

Institute (FAPRI) released its 2011 U.S. and World Agricultural Outlook report in which it 

projects 2012 ethanol imports of 728 million gallons.14 This is a substantial increase compared 

to FAPRI's previous projection of 317 mill gallons as cited in our NPRM. While other sources 

suggest that total Brazillian exports of sugarcane ethanol decreased in 2011 and may decrease in 

2012, the higher RIN prices associated with the advanced biofuel mandate would be expected to 

create an incentive for a greater proportion of Brazillian exports to be imported into the U.S. For 

instance, according to the FAPRI report, the increase in imports into the U.S. would be 

concurrent with reductions in imports into other countries rather than an increase in exports of 

sugarcane ethanol from Brazil. 

 We also examined the potential for excess biodiesel to help meet the need for 490 million 

gallons of advanced biofuel. The applicable volume of biomass based diesel established in the 

statute for 2012 is 1.0 billion gallons (which corresponds to 1.5 billion ethanol-equivalent 

gallons). As discussed more fully in Section II.D below, we believe that the biodiesel industry 

has the potential for producing volumes above 1.0 billion gallons if demand for such volume 

exists. 

There are also other potential sources of advanced biofuels. Based on RIN generation 

reports collected via the EPA-Moderated Transaction System (EMTS), 32 million ethanolequivalent gallons of advanced biofuel with a D code of 5 were produced in the first half of 

201115. Extrapolated to the end of the year, it would be reasonable to expect a total of over 60 

million ethanol-equivalent gallons of such advanced biofuel to be produced in 2011. Production 

Outlook Reports also provided some insight into producers' expectations for 2012. For 2012, 

 

12 Portal Brasil, Energy Matrix for Ethanol, http://www.brasil.gov.br/sobre/economy/energymatrix/ethanol/br_model1?set_language=en 

13 Table 11 of AEO2011, Report Number DOE/EIA-0383(2011). 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/forecasts/aeo/tables_ref.cfm 

14 Table "Ethanol Trade", Commodity Outlook/Biofuels, FAPRI-ISU 2011 World Agricultural Outlook. 

http://www.fapri.iastate.edu/outlook/2011/ 

15 RFS2 EMTS Informational Data, updated on August 18, 2011. 

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/compliancehelp/rfsdata.htm 
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producers of advanced biofuel projected that they would produce about 80 million ethanolequivalent gallons, composed of some combination of ethanol, renewable diesel, and heating oil. 

 Another potential source of advanced biofuels is electricity generated from renewable 

biomass that is used as a transportation fuel. EIA data indicates that in 2009, the most recent 

year for which data is available, 36.05 million megawatt-hours of electricity was generated from 

wood and wood derived fuels, and an additional 18.4 million megawatt-hours was generated 

from other biomass in the United States16. This is significantly more than the 6.8 million 

megawatt-hours of electricity used in the transportation sector in 200917, equivalent to about 300 

mill ethanol-equivalent gallons. While not all the feedstocks used to generate the electricity 

included in these totals would meet the RFS2’s renewable biomass definition, this remains a very 

large potential source of advanced biofuel RINs. 

 Currently, there are no valid pathways in Table 1 to §80.1426 for the generation of RINs 

representing electricity used as transportation fuel. However, several companies have 

approached EPA with requests for such a pathway, and investigations are underway. It is 

possible that one or more new pathways for electricity may be available for use in 2012. 

 In addition to verifying that the feedstocks used to generate renewable electricity meet 

the renewable biomass definition, producers would also be required to document that the 

electricity they produce is used as a transportation fuel in order to be eligible to generate RINs. 

Until recently there were very few vehicles capable of using electricity as a transportation fuel, 

limited mainly to electric trains and trolley cars. Expected increases in the number of vehicles 

with this capability, such as electric vehicles and plug in hybrids, has the potential to 

dramatically increase the degree to which electricity is able to be used as a transportation fuel. 

Verifying that the renewable electricity produced is used as a transportation fuel would still 

remain a challenge, however the potential for capitalizing on the RIN value, without the 

necessity of making major changes in the areas of fuel production, distribution, or end use, may 

be a large enough incentive to overcome this challenge. While the uncertainties associated with 

the generation of advanced biofuel RINs representing renewable electricity used as 

transportation fuel prevent EPA from making a quantitative projection for 2012, such RINs may 

nevertheless play a role in meeting the advanced biofuel standard. 

In light of the potential volumes of imported sugarcane ethanol, excess biodiesel, and 

other sources of advanced biofuel, we continue to believe that there will likely be sufficient 

volumes of advanced biofuels to meet the need for 490 million ethanol-equivalent gallons. As a 

result, the applicable volume of advanced biofuel set forth in the statute need not be lowered. A 

number of commenters on the NPRM agreed with this assessment. However, several 

commenters raised a concern about the ethanol blendwall, saying that the volume of ethanol that 

can be legally and practically consumed in 2012 is a limiting factor in how much advanced 

biofuel can be consumed. We disagree. Based on gasoline energy demand projections from 

 

16 Table ES1 of Electric Power Industry 2009: Year in Review. Available online: 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epayir.pdf 

17 Table 36 of AEO2011, Report Number DOE/EIA-0383(2011). Number based on the conversion that 1 megawatt 

hour is equivalent to 3.41 million BTU 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/forecasts/aeo/tables_ref.cfm 
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EIA18, a total of about 14.3 bill gallons of ethanol could be consumed in 2012 if all gasoline 

contained 10% ethanol.19 Under the requirements of the RFS program, however, the total 

volume of ethanol that would need to be consumed to meet the RFS standards would be no more 

than 13.7 bill gallons in 201220. This assumes an extreme case in which all renewable fuel that is 

not advanced biofuel is assumed to be ethanol, and all advanced biofuel other than biomassbased diesel is also assumed to be ethanol. 

It is possible that more ethanol may be produced/imported in 2012 than is necessary to 

meet the RFS requirements, and such circumstances could accelerate the arrival of the blendwall. 

However, this would only occur if market forces favored the consumption of higher volumes of 

ethanol, and we cannot make reliable predictions of such market forces. Since the applicable 

standards are set before a given compliance year begins, obligated parties should be coordinating 

with producers, distributors, and blenders of the various forms of ethanol (e.g. cellulosic ethanol, 

corn-ethanol, sugarcane ethanol) to ensure that all RFS standards are met by the end of the 

compliance period. 

Based on our assessment of the availability of volumes of advanced biofuel beyond those 

required to meet the cellulosic biofuel and biomass-based diesel standards, we do not believe that 

the advanced biofuel standard need be lowered below the 2.0 billion gallon level specified in the 

Act. Thus, we are not reducing the applicable volume of advanced biofuel for 2012. 

A number of parties that commented on the NPRM requested that the applicable volume 

for total renewable fuel in 2012 be reduced. However, all such commenters tied the reduction in 

total renewable fuel to a reduction in the advanced biofuel standard. Since we are not lowering 

the advanced biofuel standard for 2012, and there are expected to be sufficient volumes of cornethanol to meet the need for 13.2 bill gallons of conventional renewable fuel (see Table II.C-1), 

we do not believe that there is a need to lower the total renewable fuel standard. 

D. Biomass-Based Diesel in 2012 

 Unlike for cellulosic biofuel, the statute does not require EPA to project available 

volumes of biomass-based diesel for years up through 2012 and to base the standard on the 

projected available volume. Instead, the standard for 2012 is to be based on the statutory 

applicable volume of 1.0 bill gallons. However, the statute does include waiver provisions that 

allow for lowering the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel under certain circumstances. 

Moreover, as described more fully in Section II.C above, we must determine whether the 

required volumes of advanced biofuel and/or total renewable fuel should be reduced if we reduce 

the required volume of cellulosic biofuel. Since biomass-based diesel is also an advanced 

biofuel, the amount of biomass-based diesel that is consumed in 2012 directly affects our 

consideration of adjustments to the volumetric requirements for advanced biofuel and total 

 

18 Total energy demand for light-duty vehicles, motorcycles, and nonroad per AEO 2011 Tables 10, 45, and 46. 

19 In reality, there may be some areas where gasoline without ethanol endures, but there will also be some E85 and 

potentially other gasoline-ethanol blends as well. We have used a scenario consisting of 100% E10 for this exercise. 

20 From Table II.C-1, sum of ethanol-equivalent gallons of conventional renewable fuel, cellulosic biofuel, and other 

advanced biofuel. 
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renewable fuel. We therefore investigated whether the applicable volume of 1.0 bill gallons for 

biomass-based diesel is achievable in 2012, and whether additional volumes are also feasible. 

 We examined recent production rates, production capacity of the industry, and 

projections for future production from a variety of sources. Although there are several different 

fuel types that can qualify as biomass-based diesel, biodiesel is by far the predominant type. 

Thus, our assessment focused primarily on biodiesel, though we also investigated potential 

volumes of renewable diesel. 

 According to information from the EPA-Moderated Transaction System (EMTS) and 

RIN generation reports submitted to EPA from producers, we estimate that the volume of 

biomass-based diesel produced in 2010 was about 380 mill gallons.21 A number of commenters 

pointed to this low volume as an indication that the volume requirements of 800 mill gallons in 

2011 and 1.0 bill gallons in 2012 are not achievable. However, many of the activities of the 

biodiesel industry in 2010 were due to unique circumstances that may not apply in 2012. It is 

likely that a contributing factor to the lower production volumes in 2010 was the expiration of 

the biodiesel tax credit at the end of 2009 and its absence throughout 2010, and the fact that the 

RFS program effectively created a demand for about 345 mill gallons in 2010.22 A more 

comprehensive view of historical biodiesel production levels strongly indicates that the U.S. 

biodiesel industry has produced higher volumes when demand for it existed, and that as a result 

the industry has the capability to produce greater volumes than it did in 2010 under the 

appropriate circumstances. This point is illustrated in Figure II.D-1 below. 

 

21 Consists of approximately 209 mill gallons as recorded through EMTS for volume produced under the RFS2 

regulations in July through December, and approximately 171 mill gallons as recorded through RIN generation 

reports submitted by producers for volume produced under the RFS1 regulations in January through June. 

22 See question 6.7 in EPA's "Questions and Answers on Changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard Program 

(RFS2)", http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/compliancehelp/rfs2-aq.htm#6 
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Figure II.D-1 

Historical Domestic Production of Biodiesel 

Source: EIA Monthly Energy Review, Oct 2011, Table 10.4

 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Million gallons
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Page 36 of 92 

 The biodiesel industry's production potential supports the view that it can more than 

satisfy the applicable volume of biomass based diesel specified in the statute for 2012. As of 

August, 2011, the aggregate production capacity of biodiesel plants in the U.S. was estimated at 

2.4 billion gallons per year across 148 facilities.23 We expect the time and reinvestment required 

to ramp up production at existing facilities to be less than the time required to build and begin 

production at new plants, which takes about a year on average.24 Thus, restarting idled plants 

will not be a hindrance to meeting the applicable volumes for biomass-based diesel in 2011 or 

2012. A higher mandate for biomass-based diesel will increase demand for biodiesel with 

associated increases in RIN prices. This in turn will create the incentive for biodiesel produces 

to put idled capacity into production. 

 Additionally, information from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that monthly production 

volumes of biodiesel have increased steadily in the first half of 2011, reaching about 78 mill 

gallons by July25. See Figure II.D-2. 

Figure II.D-2 

2011 Domestic Production of Biodiesel 

 

23 Figures taken from National Biodiesel Board's Member Plant List as of August 22, 2011. Some plants did not 

report production capacity. http://biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/plants/showall.aspx 

24 Based on construction times for new plants listed in Biodiesel Magazine from July 2006 through May 2009. 

25 U.S. Census Bureau, Fats and Oils, Production, Consumption, and Stocks, Survey M311K. 

http://www.census.gov/manufacturing/cir/historical_data/m311k/index.html. Assumes 7.68 lb/gal conversion. 

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

Millions gallons
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Over the seven months shown in this figure, biodiesel production increased by an average of 

about 16% each month. This trend demonstrates that the industry is responding to the higher 

demand created by the 800 mill gal biomass-based diesel volume requirement under the RFS 

program in 2011. Biodiesel production will only need to increase at a more modest rate of about 

3% each month after July in order for the total 2011 production volume to reach 800 mill 

gallons. Moreover, further increases in monthly production volumes would not be necessary 

after December 2011 for the industry to reach a total production volume of 1.0 bill gallons in 

2012. We believe, therefore, that the 1.0 bill gallon requirement for biomass-based diesel in 

2012 can be met. Moreover, given the increases in monthly production volumes that occurred in 

the first half of 2011 and the significant amount of underutilized production capacity that exists 

within the biodiesel industry, there is also reason to believe that monthly production volumes 

will increases after July 2011 at a rate that is more than needed to meet the statutory biomassbased diesel volume requirements, providing additional volumes that can be used to meet the 

advanced biofuel standard. 

 Projections from other sources provide additional support to our conclusions that 1.0 bill 

gal biomass-based diesel can be produced in 2012. For instance, the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture projects that over 400 mill gallons of biodiesel will be produced from soybean oil in 

2012, and adds that "Although some other first-use vegetable oils are also used to produce 

biodiesel, most of the remaining biodiesel production needed to reach the 1-billion-gallon 

mandate of the 2007 Energy Act uses animal fats or recycled vegetable oil as the feedstock."26 

This projection is further supported by the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center at Iowa State 

University, which projects that soy-oil biodiesel production may reach as high as 470 mill 

gallons and that non-soy biodiesel may reach as high as 460 mill gallons.27 Both of these sources 

project more growth in non-soy oil feedstock volumes than soy oil. Finally, EIA projects that the 

total volume of biodiesel in 2012 would be about 830 mill gallons.28 While all of these 

projections suggest that volumes of biodiesel may fall short of 1.0 bill gallons, they do not take 

into account the increase in monthly production volumes as noted above, nor sources of 

renewable diesel that will also be available. For instance, Dynamic Fuels has constructed one 

plant in Geismar, Louisiana that started production of renewable diesel in November, 2010.29 In 

the final RFS2 rule, we projected that annual renewable diesel production could reach 150 mill 

gallons based on feedstock availability. Renewable diesel can also be produced at existing 

refineries with little modification to processing equipment.30 Thus, we currently believe that the 

total production volume of biomass-based diesel can readily reach 1.0 bill gal in 2012. 

 

26 USDA Agricultural Projections to 2020, Long-Term Projections Report OCE-2011-1, February 2011. See Table 

24. Assumes 7.68 lb/gal. 

27 Soybean Oil and Biodiesel Usage Projections and Balance Sheet, updated 2/18/2011. A version made available 

on 8/1/2011 shows similar volumes of soybean oil for biodiesel use, but does not provide information about non-soy 

oil sources of biodiesel. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/outlook/soybeanbalancesheet.pdf. Values 

cited are for the "High" case. 

28 Short-Term Energy Outlook, August 2011. Table 8. 

29 Project status updates are available via the Syntroleum website, http://dynamicfuelsllc.com/wp-news/ 

30 For such a product to qualify for biomass-based diesel, however, it cannot be co-processed with petroleum 

feedstock. This might limit its potential for refinery-based production of qualifying product. 
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 We also reviewed information submitted by registered producers of biomass-based diesel 

under the requirements of §80.1449 for Production Outlook Reports. Of the 65 facilities that 

submitted a report, the total projected 2012 volume of biomass-based diesel was 937 mill 

gallons. We believe that this projection is indicative of the industry's expectation that the 

applicable volume requirement for 2012 will be 1.0 bill gallons and its intention to meet that 

requirement. Moreover, the projection provided in these reports likely underestimates the actual 

expectations and capabilities of the industry, since the number of facilities that submitted a report 

is far less than the total number of facilities capable of producing biodiesel and renewable diesel. 

 In additional to production capacity and projections of 2012 production volume, we also 

investigated feedstocks used to produce biomass-based diesel. We believe that there will be 

sufficient sources of qualifying renewable biomass to more than meet the needs of the biodiesel 

industry in 2012. The largest sources of feedstock for biodiesel in 2012 are expected to be soy 

oil, canola oil, rendered fats, and corn oil extracted during production of fuel ethanol. In 

response to the NPRM, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) cited historically high soybean 

production rates for 2011 as evidence that there will be ample volumes of soybean oil available 

for biodiesel production. Likewise, the Renewable Energy Group (REG) provided information 

on significant increases in the availability of inedible corn oil from ethanol producers that it 

believes will occur in the next 1-2 years. 

 While commenters did not provide any information suggesting that the applicable volume 

of 1.0 bill gallons cannot be reached, some raised concerns about impacts on other industries and 

feedstock price. For instance, the American Trucking Association (ATA) stated that feedstocks 

will need to be diverted from other uses in order to meet the 1.0 bill gallon requirement, and the 

American Cleaning Institute (ACI) provided information about how such a diversion could affect 

the oleochemical industry. We address concerns about price in more detail below in our 

discussion of ATA's request for a waiver of the 2012 applicable volume of 1.0 bill gallons. 

 While we agree that the total volume of animal fats is largely inelastic and is unlikely to 

grow significantly due to the presence of the increasing market for biomass-based diesel, we also 

agree with the statement from ACI that "there is nothing in EISA or the proposed rule that limits 

the amount of animal fats that can be used to meet the mandate." Under the statutory definition 

of renewable biomass, valid feedstocks include animal waste material and animal byproducts. 

We believe that animal fats fall into these categories, and as a result we do not have the authority 

to exclude or limit volumes of animal fats that are used for production of biomass-based diesel. 

Such wastes could potentially be considered “biogenic waste oils/fats/greases” or “non-cellulosic 

portions of separated food waste” under the RIN-generating pathways listed in Table 1 to 

§80.1426, and could thus be eligible for the production of RIN-generating biofuel. 

 In response to the NPRM, we received comments both in support of and opposed to our 

proposal to maintain the statute's applicable volume of 1.0 bill gallons for biomass-based diesel 

in 2012. In general, producers of biodiesel and crop-based feedstocks were supportive, citing the 

sufficiency of available feedstocks and production capacity. Several supporters indicated that 

historically low biodiesel production volumes are not an appropriate reference point on which to 

base the capabilities of the industry for the future, since the higher biomass-based diesel 
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mandates established by Congress for 2011 and 2012 are expected to drive production volumes 

more than any other factor. 

 Parties opposed to maintaining the statutory applicable volume of 1.0 bill gallons for 

2012 were primarily obligated parties, as well as representatives of diesel trucking companies 

and the oleochemical industry. To a large degree, these commenters pointed to historical 

biodiesel production levels in support of their belief that 1.0 bill gallons in 2012 is not 

achievable. As described above, we do not agree with this conclusion. 

 One party opposed to maintaining the 1.0 bill gal requirement for 2012 also raised 

concerns about infrastructure. We acknowledge that the required expansion of the biodiesel 

handling capacity at terminals will represent a challenge to industry. However, as discussed in 

the NPRM, we continue to believe that there will be sufficient biomass-based diesel distribution 

infrastructure in place to support the use of 1.0 bill gal biodiesel in 2012. For instance, NBB 

stated in their comments that in most markets, terminals can treat 5% biodiesel blends as a 

fungible commodity like diesel fuel and that they believe that many terminals may be storing B5 

blends. To the extent terminals store a finished B5 blend, it would obviate the need for much of 

the segregated biodiesel storage and blending capability that is assumed in our infrastructure 

analysis. The Iowa Biodiesel Board stated that claims that industry cannot accommodate the 

distribution of the target gallons are baseless and cited various examples of recent biodiesel 

blending initiatives at Iowa terminals. 

 Industry activities are currently progressing to ramp up biodiesel consumption from the 

approximately 380 mill gallons estimated to be used in the U.S. in 2010 to the volumes that will 

be needed in 2011 to meet the biomass-based diesel volume requirement. For example, Kinder 

Morgan and the Renewable Energy Group opened a substantial biodiesel distribution facility to 

serve the Chicago area in December of 2010.31 Magellan also recently announced that it plans to 

complete its biodiesel blending facility in Sioux Falls Minnesota in 2011.32 In June of this year, 

Sunoco Logistics and Sprague Energy opened a new terminal facility to supply biodiesel blended 

transportation fuel and heating fuel to New Jersey.33 These new terminal facilities employ 

segregated biodiesel storage and blending capability. Just as there has been considerable 

biodiesel production capacity idled due to lack of demand which will be brought back on line as 

biodiesel volumes ramp up, we believe that there may also be substantial idled biodiesel 

distribution assets that could be brought back into service. It seems reasonable to assume that at 

least some of the distribution assets used previously to deliver biodiesel manufactured at now 

idled production plants would still be available. 

 Of the parties that requested a reduction in the applicable volume of 1.0 bill gallons for 

2012, the American Trucking Association (ATA) and Chevron explicitly invoked the waiver 

mechanism provided at 211(o)(7)(E). The full text of this statutory provision is shown below: 

 

31 Biodiesel Magazine, November 17, 2010. http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/4568/chicago-areaterminal-soon-to-offer-biodiesel 

32 Report to the Legislature, Annual Report on Biodiesel, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, January 15, 2011. 

http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/news/government/~/media/Files/news/govrelations/legrpt-biodiesel2011.ashx 

33 http://www.tankterminals.com/news_detail.php?id=1284 
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(E) BIOMASS-BASED DIESEL.— 

(i) MARKET EVALUATION.—The Administrator, in consultation with the 

Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall periodically evaluate 

the impact of the biomass-based diesel requirements established under this 

paragraph on the price of diesel fuel. 

(ii) WAIVER.—If the Administrator determines that there is a significant 

renewable feedstock disruption or other market circumstances that would make 

the price of biomass-based diesel fuel increase significantly, the Administrator, in 

consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall 

issue an order to reduce, for up to a 60-day period, the quantity of biomass-based 

diesel required under subparagraph (A) by an appropriate quantity that does not 

exceed 15 percent of the applicable annual requirement for biomass-based diesel. 

For any calendar year in which the Administrator makes a reduction under this 

subparagraph, the Administrator may also reduce the applicable volume of 

renewable fuel and advanced biofuels requirement established under paragraph 

(2)(B) by the same or a lesser volume. 

(iii) EXTENSIONS.—If the Administrator determines that the feedstock 

disruption or circumstances described in clause (ii) is continuing beyond the 60- 

day period prescribed in clause (ii) or this clause, the Administrator, in 

consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Agriculture, may 

issue an order to reduce, for up to an additional 60-day period, the quantity of 

biomass-based diesel required under subparagraph (A) by an appropriate quantity 

that does not exceed an additional 15 percent of the applicable annual requirement 

for biomass-based diesel. 

 The waiver authority provided in paragraph 211(o)(7)(E)(ii) is based on an EPA 

determination that there “is” a feedstock disruption or other market circumstance that would 

make the price of biomass-based diesel rise significantly. The authority to extend a temporary 

waiver in paragraph (iii) is based on an EPA determination that such disruption or circumstance 

“is continuing." Thus, we believe that any waiver of the 2012 biomass-based diesel 

requirements under this statutory provision must be based on an evaluation of feedstock 

conditions or other circumstances that exist currently and “would make” the price of biomass 

based diesel rise significantly in 2012. If Congress had intended that we project future market 

circumstances that might lead to significant prices increases, it could have used "will be" in place 

of "is" in paragraph 211(o)(7)(E)(ii). Thus, we believe that any waiver of the biomass-based 

diesel requirements for 2012 must be based on a current evaluation of the market, rather than a 

projected one. 

 We do not believe that the information provided by Chevron and ATA warrants a waiver 

of the 2012 biomass-based diesel volume at this time. While ATA provided some information 

on the relative price of biodiesel and conventional diesel, it did not demonstrate how this price 

difference represented a price increase as required under the statute. Also, they did not cite any 

particular renewable feedstock disruption or other market circumstance to demonstrate how the 
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difference in price between conventional diesel fuel and biomass-based diesel meets the statutory 

criterion for a significant increase in the price of biomass-based diesel. 

 Both Chevron and ATA cite an expected expiration of the biodiesel tax credit at the end 

of 2011 as a reason that prices will increase significantly. EPA has not determined whether the 

expiration of a tax credit should be considered a “market circumstance” within the meaning of 

CAA 211(o)(7)(E)(ii), and is making no determination regarding that matter at this time. 

Whether or not such a development would be a “market circumstance,” it is clear that it is not an 

existing circumstance, and conjecture that the tax credit may not be continued in the future does 

not provide an appropriate basis for a waiver under 211(o)(7)(E)(ii). Apart from possible 

consideration under the statutory waiver provisions, however, we note that the applicable 

volumes set by Congress must be met regardless of the status of federal or state tax credits, 

subsidies, incentives, and the like. 

 One commenter requested a cost-benefit analysis in the context of determining the 

appropriate volume for biomass-based diesel in 2012. Under the statute, we are to set the 

percentage standard for biomass-based diesel for 2012 based on the applicable volume of 1.0 bill 

gallons specifically set forth in the statute in CAA 211(o)(2)(B)(IV). While the statute does 

provide limited mechanisms for waiving all or a portion of any annual biomass-based diesel 

standard in 2012 under CAA 211(o)(7), the statute does not require a cost-benefit analysis either 

in setting a standard based on the statutory applicable volume or in considering whether or not to 

issue a waiver. For instance, under 211(o)(7)(A), waivers can be granted based on an EPA 

finding of severe harm to the economy or environment of a state, region, or the United States, or 

inadequate domestic supply. Under 211(o)(7)(E) waivers can be granted based on a significant 

renewable feedstock disruption or other market circumstance that would make the price of 

biomass-based diesel fuel increase significantly. Neither of these statutory provisions provides 

for a comparison of the costs associated with meeting the biomass-based diesel standard to the 

benefits of meeting that standard. Therefore, we do not believe that cost-benefit analyses are 

necessary or appropriate in the context of considering the 2012 biomass-based diesel volume of 

1.0 bill gallons. 

Based on our review of the production potential of the biodiesel industry, projections 

from several sources, and our assessment of available feedstocks, we believe that the 1.0 billion 

gallons needed to satisfy the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel specified in the statute 

can be produced in 2012, and that more than 1.0 bill gallons of production is possible. 

Moreover, we do not believe that waiving a portion of the 2012 biomass-based diesel volume of 

1.0 bill gallons under the provisions of 211(o)(7)(E) is appropriate at this time. 

 
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III. Final Percentage Standards for 2012 

A. Background 

 The renewable fuel standards are expressed as a volume percentage, and are used by each 

refiner, blender or importer to determine their renewable volume obligations (RVO). Since there are 

four separate standards under the RFS2 program, there are likewise four separate RVOs applicable 

to each obligated party. Each standard applies to the sum of all gasoline and diesel produced or 

imported for use in the U.S. The applicable percentage standards are set so that if each regulated 

party meets the percentages, then the amount of renewable fuel, cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based 

diesel, and advanced biofuel used will meet the volumes required on a nationwide basis. 

 As discussed in Section II.B.6, we are finalizing a required volume of cellulosic biofuel 

for 2012 of 8.65 million gallons (10.45 million ethanol equivalent gallons). The advanced 

biofuel and total renewable fuel volumes will not be reduced below the applicable volumes 

specified in the statute. The final 2012 volumes used to determine the four percentage standards 

are shown in Table III.A-1. 

Table III.A-1 

Final Volumes for 2012 

Actual Volume Ethanol Equivalent 

Volume 

Cellulosic biofuel 8.65 mill gal 10.45 mill gal 

Biomass-based diesel 1.0 bill gal 1.5 bill gal 

Advanced biofuel 2.0 bill gal 2.0 bill gal 

Renewable fuel 15.2 bill gal 15.2 bill gal 

 

 The formulas used in deriving the annual renewable fuel standards are based in part on 

estimates of the volumes of gasoline and diesel fuel, for both highway and nonroad uses, that 

will be used in the year in which the standards will apply. Producers of other transportation 

fuels, such as natural gas, propane, and electricity from fossil fuels, are not subject to the 

standards, and volumes of such fuels are not used in calculating the annual standards. Since the 

standards apply to producers and importers of gasoline and diesel, these are the transportation 

fuels used to set the standards, and then again to determine the annual volume obligations of an 

individual gasoline or diesel producer or importer. 

B. Calculation of Standards 

 1. How Are the Standards Calculated?

The following formulas are used to calculate the four percentage standards applicable to 

producers and importers of gasoline and diesel (see §80.1405): 
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Gi − RGi + GSi − RGSi − GEi + Di − RDi + DSi − RDSi − DEi

= ×

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

RFV Std 100% CB, i

CB, i

Gi − RGi + GSi − RGSi − GEi + Di − RDi + DSi − RDSi − DEi

× = ×

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

RFV 1.5 Std 100% BBD, i 

BBD, i

Gi − RGi + GSi − RGSi − GEi + Di − RDi + DSi − RDSi − DEi

= ×

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

RFV Std 100% AB, i

AB, i

Gi − RGi + GSi − RGSi − GEi + Di − RDi + DSi − RDSi − DEi

= ×

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

RFV Std 100% RF, i

RF, i

Where 

StdCB,i = The cellulosic biofuel standard for year i, in percent. 

StdBBD,i = The biomass-based diesel standard (ethanol-equivalent basis) for year i, in percent. 

StdAB,i = The advanced biofuel standard for year i, in percent. 

StdRF,i = The renewable fuel standard for year i, in percent. 

RFVCB,i = Annual volume of cellulosic biofuel required by section 211(o) of the Clean Air 

Act for year i, in gallons.

RFVBBD,i = Annual volume of biomass-based diesel required by section 211(o) of the Clean 

Air Act for year i, in gallons. 

RFVAB,i = Annual volume of advanced biofuel required by section 211(o) of the Clean Air 

Act for year i, in gallons. 

RFVRF,i = Annual volume of renewable fuel required by section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act 

for year i, in gallons. 

Gi = Amount of gasoline projected to be used in the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii, in 

year i, in gallons. 

Di = Amount of diesel projected to be used in the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii, in 

year i, in gallons. 

RGi = Amount of renewable fuel blended into gasoline that is projected to be consumed 

in the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii, in year i, in gallons. 

RDi = Amount of renewable fuel blended into diesel that is projected to be consumed in 

the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii, in year i, in gallons. 
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GSi = Amount of gasoline projected to be used in Alaska or a U.S. territory in year i if 

the state or territory opts-in, in gallons. 

RGSi = Amount of renewable fuel blended into gasoline that is projected to be consumed 

in Alaska or a U.S. territory in year i if the state or territory opts-in, in gallons. 

DSi = Amount of diesel projected to be used in Alaska or a U.S. territory in year i if the 

state or territory opts-in, in gallons. 

RDSi = Amount of renewable fuel blended into diesel that is projected to be consumed in 

Alaska or a U.S. territory in year i if the state or territory opts-in, in gallons. 

GEi = The amount of gasoline projected to be produced by exempt small refineries and 

small refiners in year i, in gallons, in any year they are exempt per §§80.1441 and 

80.1442, respectively. 

DEi = The amount of diesel projected to be produced by exempt small refineries and 

small refiners in year i, in gallons, in any year they are exempt per §§80.1441 and 

80.1442, respectively. 

 The four separate renewable fuel standards for 2012 are based in part on the gasoline and 

diesel consumption volumes projected by EIA. The Act requires EPA to base the standards on 

an EIA estimate of the amount of gasoline and diesel that will be sold or introduced into 

commerce for that year. EIA estimates 8.85 million barrels per day of gasoline (~136 billion 

gallons) and 3.36 million barrels per day of transportation diesel (~ 52 billion gallons) will be 

sold or introduced into commerce in 2012.34 Because diesel used in ocean-going vessels is 

excluded from the RFS2 program, that amount must be subtracted from the total projected 

transportation diesel value. EIA estimates approximately 26,000 barrels per day of 

transportation diesel will be used in ocean-going vessels in 2012, resulting in approximately 

3.334 million barrels per day (51.11 billion gallons) projected for all other transportation uses in 

2012. 

The gasoline and diesel volumes are adjusted to account for renewable fuel volumes – 

ethanol (estimated by EIA) and biodiesel (based on EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO)). 

For 2012, these values are 0.87 million barrels per day (~13 billion gallons) and 0.119 

quadrillion Btu35 (~ 0.9 billion gallons), respectively. 

In addition, because Alaska does not participate in the RFS2 program, the gasoline and 

diesel volumes must be further reduced by Alaska’s projected share of transportation fuels. To 

determine the 49-state values for gasoline and diesel, the amounts of these fuels used in Alaska is 

subtracted from the totals provided by DOE. Just as with its corresponding gasoline and diesel 

 

34 Letter, Howard K. Gruenspecht, Acting Administrator, U.S. Energy Information Administration, to Lisa P. 

Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, October 19, 2011. 

35 Table 8 “U.S. Renewable Energy Supply and Consumption’, Short Term Energy Outlook, U.S. Energy 

Information Administration, October 2011. 
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volumes, renewable fuels used in Alaska are not included in the renewable fuel volumes that are 

subtracted from the total gasoline and diesel volume estimates. Section 211(o) of the Clean Air 

Act requires that the renewable fuel be consumed in the contiguous 48 states, and any other state 

or territory that opts-in to the program (as Hawaii has done). However, because renewable fuel 

produced in Alaska is unlikely to be transported to the contiguous 48 states or to Hawaii, 

including Alaska’s renewable fuel volumes in the calculation of the standard would not serve the 

purpose intended by section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act of ensuring that the statutorily required 

renewable fuel volumes are consumed in the 48 contiguous states and any state or territory that 

opts-in 

The 2012 Alaska fractions of U.S. consumption are determined from the most recent 

(2009) EIA State Energy Data System (SEDS) estimates, assuming fairly constant Alaska to U.S. 

year-to-year ratios. We used Table CT1 “Energy Consumption Estimates for Major Energy 

Sources in Physical Units, 1960-2009, Alaska” to get total gasoline and ethanol consumption for 

Alaska for 2009. We coupled this data with total U.S. estimates from Table C2 “Energy 

Consumption Estimates for Major Energy Sources in Physical Units, 2009” to determine the 

corresponding Alaska fractions. The gasoline fraction is approximately 0.2%. Ethanol use in 

Alaska is estimated at 8.4% of its gasoline consumption (based on the data in Table CT1), or 

approximately 0.2% of national ethanol consumption. Because only transportation diesel fuel is 

subject to the RFS program, we need more specific data than that used to calculate the gasoline 

and ethanol fractions. We used data from Table C8 “Transportation Sector Energy 

Consumption Estimates, 2009” to calculate the Alaska transportation distillate fuel oil fraction, 

0.8%. Biodiesel use is assumed to be zero. The Alaska and U.S. data just described are shown 

in Table III.B-1. 

Table III.B-1. Alaska and U.S. Data 

 Alaska U.S. Alaska 

fractionx

 

Motor Gasoline 6725 Mbbla 3283.7 MMbblb 0.2% 

Fuel Ethanol 565 Mbbla 262.8 MMbblb 0.2% 

Transportation Distillate 46.1 tBtuc 5528.3 tBtuc 0.8% a

Source: EIA State Energy Data System, Table CT1 “Energy Consumption Estimates for Major Energy Sources in 

Physical Units, 1960-2009, Alaska”. 

b

Source: EIA State Energy Data System, Table C2 “Energy Consumption Estimates for Major Energy Sources in 

Physical Units, 2009” 

c

Source: EIA State Energy Data System, Table C8 “Transportation Sector Energy Consumption Estimates, 2009” 

x

Calculated value 

2. Small Refineries and Small Refiners

In CAA section 211(o)(9), enacted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congress 

provided a temporary exemption to small refineries (those refineries with a crude throughput of 

no more than 75,000 barrels of crude per day) through December 31, 2010. In RFS1, we 

exercised our discretion under section 211(o)(3)(B) and extended this temporary exemption to 

the few remaining small refiners that met the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) definition 
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of a small business (1,500 employees or less company-wide) but did not meet the statutory small 

refinery definition as noted above. Because EISA did not alter the small refinery exemption in 

any way, the RFS2 program regulations exempted gasoline and diesel produced by small 

refineries and small refiners in 2010 from the renewable fuels standard (unless the exemption 

was waived), see 40 CFR §80.1141. 

Under the RFS program, Congress provided two ways that small refineries can receive a 

temporary extension of the exemption beyond 2010. One is based on the results of a study 

conducted by the Department of Energy (DOE) to determine if small refineries would face a 

disproportionate economic hardship under the RFS program. The other is based on EPA 

determination of disproportionate economic hardship on a case-by-case basis in response to 

refiner petitions. 

In January 2009, DOE issued a study which did not find that small refineries would face 

a disproportionate economic hardship under the RFS program.36 The conclusions were based in 

part on the expected robust availability of RINs and EPA’s ability to grant relief on a case-bycase basis. As a result, beginning in 2011 small refiners and small refineries were required to 

participate in the RFS program as obligated parties, and there was no small refiner/refinery 

volume adjustment to the 2011 standard as there was for the 2010 standard. 

Following the release of DOE's 2009 small refinery study, Congress directed DOE to 

complete a reassessment and issue a revised report. DOE recently re-evaluated the impacts of 

the RFS program on small entities and concluded that 21 small refineries would suffer a 

disproportionate hardship if required to participate in the program37. As a result, these refineries 

will be exempt from being obligated parties for a minimum of two additional years, 2011 and 

2012.38 In 2009, these gasoline produced by these refineries’ constituted approximately 3.6% of 

total US gasoline, and 4.5% of total US diesel. Applying these percents to the 2012 projections 

of gasoline and diesel volumes yields exempt small refinery gasoline volume of 4.87 billion 

gallons and diesel volume of 2.28 billion gallons. 

CAA section 211(o) requires that the small refinery adjustment also account for 

renewable fuels used during the prior year by small refineries that are exempt and do not 

participate in the RFS2 program. Accounting for this volume of renewable fuel would reduce 

the total volume of renewable fuel use required of others, and thus directionally would reduce the 

percentage standard. However, as we discussed in RFS1, the amount of renewable fuel that 

would qualify, i.e., that was used by exempt small refineries but not used as part of the RFS 

program, is expected to be very small. In fact, these volumes would not significantly change the 

resulting percentage standards. Whatever renewable fuels small refineries blend will be reflected 

as RINs available in the market; thus there is no need for a separate accounting of their 

 

36DOE report “EPACT 2005 Section 1501 Small Refineries Exemption Study”, (January, 2009). 

37 "Small Refinery Exemption Study: An Investigation into Disproportionate Economic Hardship," U.S. Department 

of Energy, March 2011. 

38 Since the standards are applied on an annual basis, the exemptions are likewise on an annual basis even though the 

determination of which refineries would receive an extension to their exemption did not occur until after January 1, 

2011. 
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renewable fuel use in the equations used to determine the standards. Thus we assign a value of 

zero to small refinery renewable fuel use. 

The 2012 standards reflect the exemption of these refineries. In addition, and separate 

from the DOE determination, EPA may extend the exemption for individual small refineries on a 

case-by-case basis if they demonstrate disproportionate economic hardship. 

In the NPRM, we stated that “requests for exemptions that are approved after the release 

of the final 2012 RFS standards will not affect the 2012 standards.” This position is unchanged 

from that set in the final rule establishing the 2011 standards39. At that time, we stated, “EPA 

believes the Act is best interpreted to require issuance of a single annual standard in November 

that is applicable in the following calendar year, thereby providing advance notice and certainty 

to obligated parties regarding their regulatory requirements. Periodic revisions to the standards 

to reflect waivers issued to small refineries or refiners would be inconsistent with the statutory 

text, and would introduce an undesirable level of uncertainty for obligated parties.” However, a 

few commenters took issue with this approach. Specifically, these commenters maintain that 

EPA did not provide notice and comment opportunities regarding the extensions of the small 

refinery exemptions for the current compliance period (2011), and that EPA cannot grant such 

extensions (mid-year) without modifying the standards because such authority is not provided in 

the statute. In addition, these commenters extend the application of their comments to any 

extensions of exemptions that may occur after issuance of the final 2012 standards. 

Commenters suggested requiring petitions to be submitted in time to be considered in the annual 

standard-setting process. One commenter also suggested that the volumes waived in 2011 as a 

result of the small refiner waivers be “made up” in setting the 2012 standards. EPA understands 

the desire of the commenters to have the annual required volumes of renewable fuels realized. 

However, while the statute requires EPA to publish the standards for the following year by 

November 30 of the preceding year, there is no provision for changing the percentage standards 

once they are set outside of the waiver provisions of CAA 211(o)(7). In addition, we are not 

required to ensure that the biofuel volumes in the statute are precisely met. We are required to 

use the specified volumes to set the percentage standards, but there are no provisions for 

ensuring that the percentage standards actually result in the specified volumes actually being 

consumed. This outcome is evidenced by the fact that we use projections of gasoline and diesel 

volume for the next year which might turn out to be too high or too low. Insofar as those 

projections are wrong, the percentage standards will not produce a demand for biofuels that 

exactly corresponds to the volumes in the statute. Thus Congress allowed for some imprecision 

to exist in the actual volumes of renewable fuel that are consumed as a result of the percentage 

standards that we set each November, and did not provide a means for correcting the percentage 

standards after November to ensure that the applicable volumes of renewable fuel are exactly 

met in a given compliance year. 

3. Final Percentage Standards

As finalized in the March 26, 2010 RFS2 rule, the standards are expressed in terms of 

energy-equivalent gallons of renewable fuel, with the cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and 

 

39 See 75 FR 76805, December 9, 2010. 
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total renewable fuel standards based on ethanol equivalence and the biomass-based diesel 

standard based on biodiesel equivalence. However, all RIN generation is based on ethanolequivalence. More specifically, the RFS2 regulations provide that production or import of a 

gallon of biodiesel will lead to the generation of 1.5 RINs. In order to ensure that demand for 1.0 

billion physical gallons of biomass-based diesel will be created in 2012, the calculation of the 

biomass-based diesel standard provides that the required volume be multiplied by 1.5. The net 

result is a biomass-based diesel gallon being worth 1.0 gallons toward the biomass-based diesel 

standard, but worth 1.5 gallons toward the other standards.40

 The levels of the percentage standards would be reduced if Alaska or a U.S. territory 

chooses to participate in the RFS2 program, as gasoline and diesel produced in or imported into 

that state or territory would then be subject to the standard. Neither Alaska nor any U.S. territory 

has chosen to participate in the RFS2 program at this time, and thus the value of the related terms 

in the calculation of the standards is zero. 

 Note that the terms for projected volumes of gasoline and diesel use include gasoline and 

diesel that has been blended with renewable fuel. Because the gasoline and diesel volumes 

estimated by EIA include renewable fuel use, we must subtract the total renewable fuel volume 

from the total gasoline and diesel volume to get total non-renewable gasoline and diesel 

volumes, as discussed earlier. The values of the variables described above are shown in Table 

III.B.3-2. Terms not included in this table have a value of zero. 

Table III.B.3-2 

Values for Terms in Calculation of the Standards (bill gal) 

Term Value 

RFVCB,2012 0.01045 

RFVBBD,2012 1.0 

RFVAB,2012 2.0 

RFVRF,2012 15.20 

G2012 135.39 

D2012 50.68 

GE2012 4.87 

DE2012 2.28 

RG2012 13.31 

RD2012 0.93 

Using the volumes shown in Table III.B.3-2, we have calculated the percentage standards 

for 2012 as shown in Table III.B.3-3. 

 

40 75 FR 14716, March 26, 2010. 
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Table III.B.3-3 

Final Percentage Standards for 2012 

Cellulosic biofuel 0.006% 

Biomass-based diesel 0.91% 

Advanced biofuel 1.21% 

Renewable fuel 9.23% 

 
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IV. Changes to RFS2 Regulations 

 As the RFS2 program got underway in the second half of 2010, we discovered that a 

number of regulatory provisions were causing confusion among regulated parties. In some cases 

the confusion was due to a lack of specificity in terms, while in others it was due to unique 

circumstances that were not sufficiently addressed in the RFS2 regulations. A few amendments 

are being finalized in order to correct these problems and to amend regulatory language that 

inadvertently misrepresented our intent as reflected in the preamble to the final RFS2 

regulations. In addition, as we have worked with regulated parties to ensure that the RFS 

program is operating as intended, we identified areas in the regulations that could benefit from 

streamlining. We also identified one provision in the gasoline benzene regulations that 

misrepresented our intent as stated in the preamble. As a result, we are finalizing a number of 

amendments to the RFS regulations, and one amendment to the gasoline benzene regulations, in 

40 CFR Part 80. 

A. Summary of Amendments 

 Below is a table listing the provisions that we are amending in today’s action. We have 

provided additional explanation for several of these amendments in Sections IV.B through IV.F 

below. 

Table IV.A-1 

Summary of Technical Amendments 

Section Description 

80.1275(d)(3) 

Removed to allow for the inclusion of transferred blendstocks in the 

calculation of benzene early credits. 

80.1401 

Amended definition of "annual cover crop" to clarify that the crop 

has no existing market to which it can be sold except for its use as 

feedstock for the production of renewable fuel. 

80.1401 

Amended definition of “naphtha” to clarify that it applies to 

hydrocarbons only, must be commonly or commercially known as 

naphtha, and is used for producing gasoline. 

80.1405(a), (b), and (d) 

Amended to state the standards for 2012 and the date of the annual 

standards calculation. 

80.1405(c) 

Amended terms “GEi” and “DEi” to reference the amount of gasoline 

and/or diesel produced by small refineries and small refiners that are 

exempt pursuant to §§80.1441 and 80.1442. 

80.1415(c)(2) 

Amended to state the specific requirements needed for technical 

justifications for applications for Equivalence Values. 

80.1426(f)(1) 

Corrected typographical error in cross reference to paragraph (f)(6) 

of §80.1426. 

80.1426(f)(5)(ii) 

Amended requirements so that the separated yard waste plans and 

separated food waste plans need not be approved by EPA, but instead 

only need to be accepted by EPA under the registration provisions. 

80.1429(b)(2) Amended to clarify that "fossil-based” diesel fuel is different from 
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renewable diesel fuel. 

80.1429(b)(9) 

Amended to include RIN separation limitations on parties whose 

non-export RVOs are solely related to imports of gasoline and diesel 

or the use of blendstocks to produce gasoline or diesel. 

80.1449(a) 

Amended Production Outlook Report due date; added allowance for 

unregistered renewable fuel producers and importers to submit 

Production Outlook Reports. 

80.1450(d)(1)-(d)(3) 

Amended to add more specificity on when updates, addenda, or 

resubmittals are required for engineering reviews and to include 

references to foreign ethanol producers. 

80.1451(a)(1)(xi) 

Amended to clarify that this section references RFS1 RINs retired for 

compliance. 

80.1452(b)(2) Corrected typographical error. 

80.1452(b)(4) 

Amended to clarify that a RIN-generating importer must submit to 

EMTS the EPA facility registration number of the facility at which 

the renewable fuel producer or foreign ethanol producer produced the 

batch. 

§80.1452(b)(5) 

Amended to clarify that for imports of renewable fuel, the RINgenerator must submit to EMTS the EPA facility registration number 

of the importer that imported the batch. 

80.1460(b)(6) 

Adds the existing prohibition against generating a RIN for fuel for 

which RINs have previously been generated. 

80.1464(a)(2)(iii), 

(a)(2)(iv), (b)(2)(iii), 

(b)(2)(iv), (c)(1)(iii), and 

(c)(1)(iv) 

Added to clarify that auditors must verify that product transfer 

documents for RIN transactions contain the required information for 

obligated parties/exporters and for renewable fuel 

producers/importers. 

80.1464(a)(2)(i), 

(a)(3)(ii), (b)(2)(i), 

(b)(3)(ii) 

Amended to clarify that auditors must validate RIN separations for 

obligated parties/exporters and for renewable fuel 

producers/importers; amended to correct typographical error. 

80.1465(h)(2); 

80.1466(h)(2); and 

80.1467(e)(1), (e)(2), and 

(g)(2) 

Amended to remove the option of using an alternative commitment 

in lieu of paying a bond and to clarify the amount of bond a foreign 

entity must post. 

 There are also two changes to Table 1 to §80.1426 that we proposed in the July 1, 2011 

NPRM that we are not finalizing in today's action, but which instead will be finalized in a 

separate action. The first change would amend the table to include ID letters for each pathway to 

facilitate references to specific pathways. The second change would add "rapeseed" to the 

existing pathway that currently allows canola oil to be used as a valid feedstock in the production 

of biodiesel. These two changes are being finalized in a separate action in order to ensure that 

multiple changes to Table 1 to §80.1426 that are made sequentially do not inadvertently result in 

later changes over-writing earlier changes. 
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B. Technical Justification for Equivalence Value Application 

A producer or importer of renewable fuels is required to submit an equivalence value 

(EV) application in accordance with §80.1415(c) for any renewable fuel that does not have an 

EV listed in §80.1415(b). In addition, a producer or importer could apply for an alternative EV 

if the producer or importer has reason to believe that a different EV than that listed in 

§80.1415(b) is warranted. Section 80.1415(c) provides the calculation equation for the EV of the 

renewable fuel and the requirements for the technical justification to be submitted in the EV 

application. 

We have received many inquiries from producers and importers of renewable fuels 

requesting clarification of the specific requirements for the technical justification listed in 

§80.1415(c). In addition, based on the many EV applications we have evaluated, we have found 

that we needed to request additional information from producers and importers to better 

understand the composition of the renewable fuel they produced, such as intermediate steps and 

energy inputs in production process, sources of renewable and non-renewable feedstock, and so 

forth, to better evaluate and assign the correct EV to the producer or importer’s renewable fuel. 

Therefore, we are finalizing in this rulemaking amendments to §80.1415(c)(2) to clarify 

the current requirements and to include additional requirements for the technical justification to 

be submitted in the EV application. The final amendments to §80.1415(c)(2) include: 

- A calculation for the requested equivalence value according to the equation in 

§80.1415(c)(1), including supporting documentation for the energy content (EC) of the 

renewable fuel such as a certificate of analysis from a laboratory that verifies the lower 

heating value in Btu per gallon of the renewable fuel produced. 

- For each feedstock, component or additive used to make the renewable fuel, provide a 

description, the percent input and identify whether or not it is renewable biomass or is 

derived from renewable biomass. 

- For each feedstock that could independently qualify as a renewable fuel, state whether or 

not RINs have been previously generated for the feedstock. 

- A description of renewable fuel and the production process, including a block diagram 

that shows quantities of all inputs and outputs required at each step of the production 

process for the production of one batch of renewable fuel. 

We received no adverse comments on our proposed changes to §80.1415(c)(2), and so 

are finalizing the changes as proposed. 

 C. Changes to Definitions of Terms 

 1. Definition of Annual Cover Crop

As explained in the preamble of the RFS2 final rulemaking, EPA extended modeling for 

cellulosic biofuel made from corn stover and biodiesel/renewable diesel made from waste 

oils/fats/greases to certain fuels made from annual cover crops, based on the expectation that 
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cultivation of annual cover crops, as defined in §80.1401, will have little impact on the 

agricultural commodity markets and therefore little or no land use impact associated with them. 

Therefore, certain fuels (as specified in Table 1 to §80.1426) derived from annual cover crop 

feedstocks qualify for D-codes under the advanced biofuel, biomass-based diesel, and cellulosic 

renewable fuel categories. 

Section 80.1401 of the final RFS2 rule defines “annual cover crop.” We proposed to 

amend the definition of annual cover crop in order to more clearly define those feedstocks that 

meet the intent of including cover crops in several pathways in Table 1 to §80.1426. 

As explained in the proposal, in order to extend our modeling to cover crops, we used the 

rationale that annual cover crops would have no indirect land use impact since they are planted 

on land otherwise used for crop production. Direct greenhouse gas emissions would only be 

associated with growing, harvesting and transporting the cover crop, and then processing into 

biofuel. (See 75 FR 14794 col. 3.) These direct impacts could include requiring the farmer to 

use more commercial fertilizer in compensation for removing cover crops that would have been 

plowed into the field, or in decreasing yield of food crops. However, our determination that 

cover crops qualified for D-codes under the advanced biofuel, biomass-based diesel, and 

cellulosic renewable fuel categories was based on the fact that they did not have any indirect 

impacts. Thus, we assumed that no additional land would be required to plant annual cover 

crops, that cover crops would not displace primary crop production, and that the use of the cover 

crop as a feedstock for renewable fuels would not have secondary impacts on other agricultural 

commodity markets. This implies that annual cover crops would not be planted and harvested 

for the purpose of being sold to existing markets. If a cover crop already had an existing market, 

then the increased use of cover crops as feedstocks for renewable fuel production could 

potentially impact the existing markets. Therefore, we proposed to amend the current definition 

for “annual cover crop” to clarify that for purposes of the RFS program the term only includes 

crops that have no existing market to which they can be sold except for the use of the feedstock 

for renewable fuel. This will ensure that no unintended land use or significant indirect effects 

result from the use of annual cover crops as feedstocks for renewable fuel production. 

Several parties commented against this change, stating that it is too restrictive and thus 

would prevent some crops they considered cover crops from qualifying as eligible feedstock 

under the RFS2 program. While this change clarifies that crops having existing market impacts 

would not qualify as cover crops, such exclusion is consistent with the basis for including the 

cover crop provision. EPA determined that crops with no market value could be planted on land 

without any expected impact on other crops and thus no expected indirect land use impact. This 

amendment clarifies that only crops with no market impact can qualify as cover crops and is 

consistent with the underlying analysis. However, even if a crop does not qualify under this 

revised cover crop definition, that does not prevent it from being included as an eligible 

feedstock under the RFS2 program. As stated in the proposal, EPA recognizes that there may be 

additional fuel pathways requiring lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) assessments and the 

assignment of appropriate RIN D-Codes, including those using feedstocks that do not meet the 

proposed amended definition of annual cover crop. For further guidance on the process for 

requesting EPA evaluation of new fuel pathways, please refer to the following sites: 
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http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/compliancehelp/rfs2-lca-pathways.htm

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/compliancehelp/lca-petition-instructions.htm#1

2. Definition of "Naphtha"

 In the RFS2 final rule, we included several RIN-generating pathways in Table 1 to 

§80.1426 for naphtha made from renewable biomass. We also provided a definition of naphtha 

in §80.1401. However, the definition we finalized was overly broad and did not adequately 

represent our intent to limit naphtha to gasoline blendstocks. As a result, some biofuel producers 

have expressed interest in interpreting the term "naphtha" to include materials that, while falling 

within the boiling range of gasoline, are not used as a blendstock to produce gasoline. 

 To remedy this situation, we proposed to revise the definition of naphtha to also specify 

that it applies only to blendstocks which are composed of only hydrocarbons, are commonly or 

commercially known as naphtha, and are used to produce gasoline. We received no adverse 

comments on this proposal, and so are finalizing it as proposed. 

D. Technical Amendments Related to RIN Generation and Separation 

1. RIN Separation Limit for Obligated Parties

 We proposed to amend section §80.1429(b)(9) to limit the amount of RINs a company 

who is an obligated party solely by virtue of importation of obligated fuel can separate to meet 

their Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO). This proposal was designed to prevent abuse of the 

obligated party RIN separation provision by a company that imports a relatively small amount of 

an obligated volume, but then separates a large amount of RINs. It was also designed to help 

prevent hoarding of RINs by parties that do not need them for compliance purposes, and to 

generally increase the liquidity of RINs. EPA structured the original RFS1 separation 

regulations around facilitating compliance by obligated parties who must acquire RINs to meet 

their RVOs. This change is consistent with the original design and also ensures that importers 

can separate enough RINs to meet their obligations. Overall, commenters were against this 

amendment with many companies indicating that they are currently taking advantage of the 

ability to separate all RINs in their possession if they are an obligated party solely related to their 

gasoline and/or diesel imports, and that they wish to continue to do so. 

One commenter opposed this change, stating that the RIN life limitation would prevent 

hoarding. EPA does not agree with this; the life of a RIN prevents use for compliance after a 

designated amount of time, see §80.1447(a)(6), this does not provide an adequate mechanism to 

prevent hoarding of RINs. 

Several commenters stated that the carryover provisions prevent RIN hoarding. EPA 

does not agree; the carryover provisions, §80.1428(a)(5), refer only to the ratio of assigned RINs 
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to volumes of renewable fuel owned at the end of a quarter. There is no limit on the amount of 

separated RINs that a party may own at the end of a quarter. 

Several commenters stated that market liquidity would decrease if obligated importers 

could not separate all RINs that they own. They also stated that RINs will be held by fewer 

obligated parties. We believe that market liquidity would not be decreased; RIN separation 

would still occur according to §80.1429 and obligated parties would still have access to the 

separated RINs needed for compliance. In fact, to the extent that the provision prevents RIN 

hoarding, as intended, it should increase RIN liquidity.EPA has determined that this will not 

change or limit who can participate in the RFS program or become an obligated party; it will 

only limit the number of RINs that certain importers can separate. In addition, these obligated 

importers and any other RIN owning party can separate RINs without being subject to the 

limitation in §80.1429(b)(9) for any of the reasons outlined in §80.1429(b)(2)-(b)(5) and (b)(8). 

One commenter was concerned about how an obligated importer would know how many 

RINs they could separate for “receipt of fuel by an obligated party” noting that they will not 

know their exact RVO until the end of the compliance year. EPA believes that obligated 

importers should separate RINs on the basis of “receipt of fuel by an obligated party” only to the 

extent necessary to meet their existing obligation. 

One commenter felt that the proposed amendment would limit the actual capacity of an 

importer to introduce a volume of renewable fuel into the marketplace. EPA does not agree with 

this statement and believes that limiting RIN separation using the reason “receipt of fuel by an 

obligated party” would not reduce the amount of renewable fuel that is in demand and may be 

sold. 

One commenter requested confirmation of the following statement: “this change would, 

in no way, limit the right of a company to separate RINs from renewable fuel if that entity is 

acting as a blender and blending renewable fuel into transportation, heating fuel or jet fuel.” 

EPA confirms the previous statement with one clarification. Amended §80.1429 applies “except 

as provided in paragraphs (b)(2) through (b)(5) and (b)(8).” Since the obligation for blenders to 

separate RINs for renewable fuel that they blend to produce a transportation fuel, heating oil or 

jet fuel appears in (b)(2), the limitations in (b)(9) are not applicable to RIN separations pursuant 

to that provision. We clarify, however, that (b)(2) applies to blending “to produce” a 

transportation fuel, heating oil or jet fuel. For example, blending biodiesel at a rate of 5% into 

motor vehicle diesel fuel would produce a transportation fuel. 

One commenter indicated that this method of separation helped companies that did not 

want to be involved with the RFS program; allowing obligated importers to transfer renewable 

fuel without RINs and not violating the quarterly check outlined in §80.1428(a)(5). EPA notes 

that all parties have the ability to separate up to 2.5 RINs per gallon pursuant to §80.1429. This 

amendment, which will limit obligated importers’ ability to separate RINs, would not change this 

feature. This provision could facilitate the transfer of fuel with separated RINs to parties not 

wishing to receive RINs. Also, small blenders have the ability to delegate all RIN related 

responsibilities to the party directly upstream as long as they are blending less than 125,000 

gallons of renewable fuel per year (§80.1440). In addition to separating up to their RVO, 
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obligated importers and any other RIN owning party can separate for any of the reasons outlined 

in §80.1429(b)(2)-(b)(5) and (b)(8) without being subject to the limitation in (b)(9). 

One commenter argued that the ability to separate as an obligated importer allowed them 

more flexibility with RIN transfer dates. EPA believes that this implies that the party uses its 

ability to separate to avoid the requirement in §80.1428(a)(3) “an assigned RIN cannot be 

transferred to another person without simultaneously transferring a volume of renewable fuel to 

that same person.” The commenter indicated that a reason for becoming an obligated importer is 

to be able to separate all RINs and avoid the previously referenced regulatory requirement. This 

also allows them to remain in compliance with the EMTS transaction reporting time frames laid 

out on §80.1452(c). EPA believes that transfer date and the ability to transfer separated RINs 

without renewable fuel are not relevant to this amendment. The commenter’s use of the 

provision is counter to how the program was set up to ensure the distribution of RINs and could 

be used not only to slow the transfer of RINs downstream to the blender or final user of the 

renewable fuel, but also allow hoarding. The commenter also stated that there is no requirement 

to report physical fuel inventory and number of assigned RINs (§80.1428(a)(5)). EPA has 

determined that this statement is not accurate pursuant to §80.1451. Currently, 

§80.1451(c)(2)(xiv), requires the volume of renewable fuel owned at the end of the quarter. This 

volume must meet the requirements of §80.1428(a)(5). 

EPA believes that while commenters were mainly against the amendment, specific 

arguments presented supported EPAs reason for the amendment. For the reasons stated above, 

we are finalizing the regulatory changes as proposed. 

 2. RIN Retirement Provision for Error Correction

 

 As we stated in the proposal, in some instances, renewable fuel producers or importers 

may improperly generate RINs in EMTS as a result of calculation errors, meter malfunctions or 

clerical errors. Pursuant to §80.1431(a), improperly generated RINs are invalid, and cannot be 

used to achieve compliance with any Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). 

 EPA sought comment on the possibility of amending §80.1431 to provide the regulated 

community with limited flexibility to allow certain RINs that were improperly generated to 

nevertheless be transferred and used for compliance, provided the RIN-generator retires 

equivalent RINs (the same quantity and fuel category (D-code) of RINs with the same RIN year) 

in order to make the market whole. 

We sought comment on whether EPA should amend the regulations to include the 

flexibility for EPA to allow improperly generated RINs to be used for compliance, whether the 

conditions set forth in the proposal were appropriate, and whether there are additional or 

alternative conditions that should be imposed if the flexibility were to be granted. We proposed 

that the following general limitations should apply to any flexibility to allow improperly 

generated RINs to be transferred and used for compliance: 1) the RINs must have been 

improperly generated as a result of an inadvertent error, 2) the improperly generated RINs must 

have the correct D code, 3) the RIN generator must correct the information submitted to EMTS 
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and retire an equivalent number and type of any excess RINs that were generated as a result of 

the error within a fixed time period of 60 days, 4) the flexibility to allow improperly generated 

RINs to be used for compliance would only apply if the number of excess RINs generated for a 

particular batch exceeds the number of RINs that should have been generated by no more than 

two percent, and 5) the flexibility to allow improperly generated RINs to be used for compliance 

should be limited to a certain number of times per year per RIN generator. 

We received several comments in support of providing EPA with some sort of flexibility 

to allow improperly generated RINs to be used for compliance, and a few comments that did not 

support EPA providing any flexibility of this type. Supporters of the flexibility believe that this 

flexibility is necessary for good faith RIN generators who have made inadvertent mistakes. They 

argue that the flexibility will avoid time spent by both EPA and regulated parties tracking 

invalidly generated RINs to their current owner when equivalent RINs could be retired to make 

the system whole. Commenters believe EPA’s time is better spent investigating more egregious 

violations. Many supporters of the flexibility, however, believe that, given the proposed 

limitations, the proposed flexibility would be too narrow. Commenters believe that EPA should 

take into consideration the totality of the circumstances, including the number of RINs/percent of 

the batch that are invalid, the frequency of improper generation on the part of the producer and 

indications of good faith mistake when determining whether to allow the flexibility for 

improperly generated RINs to be used for compliance, rather than imposing strict limitations on 

the use of the flexibility. 

EPA believes that providing this type of flexibility will reduce disruptions to the RIN 

market while continuing to apply appropriate pressure on parties that generate, transfer and use 

RINs to comply with the regulations. However, EPA disagrees with the commenters that 

advocated that the flexibility should be unlimited. EPA believes that by limiting the use of this 

flexibility, RIN generators are provided an incentive to implement and utilize measures and 

controls to ensure the validly of information sent to EMTS in a more timely manner. Therefore, 

in today’s rule in 80.1431(c) and (d), EPA is finalizing an approach that provides flexibility to 

RIN generators to retire equivalent RINs in situations where they have over-generated RINs on a 

batch due a broken meter, an inadvertent temperature correction error, or an inadvertent 

administrative error. This flexibility may only be used under certain conditions, though, in order 

to mitigate harm to the RIN market, as specified in the regulations and discussed in detail below. 

Some commenters supported the proposed 60-day time allowance for a RIN generator to 

correct RIN generation information submitted to EMTS. The commenters believe 60 days is 

sufficient to identify and correct inadvertent mistakes, and the time limit provides an incentive 

for the regulated community to regularly verify that RINs have been correctly generated. On the 

other hand, another commenter thought that the correction period should be longer than 60 days. 

One commenter suggested 18 months for RIN generators to notify EPA of improperly generated 

RINs at which point EPA would determine whether to allow those invalid RINs to be used for 

compliance. The commenter believed this would allow invalid RINs to be discovered during the 

attest audit conducted each year concerning the renewable fuel producer’s compliance records. 

Additionally, commenters generally disagreed with EPA’s proposal to limit the flexibility 

to situations where the number of excess RINs generated for a particular batch exceeds the 
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number of RINs that should have been generated by no more than 2%. Commenters argued that 

a simple typing error in any digit can easily result in an over-generation that far exceeds 2%. 

One commenter suggested that the number of RINs eligible for the flexibility be limited to no 

more than 2% of a specific RVO category (e.g. Cellulosic Biofuel, Advanced Biofuel, etc.) for 

any given year. Another suggested that there is no reason to limit the flexibility this way, and 

that EPA should maintain discretion to determine when invalid RINs can be used for 

compliance, regardless of what percentage of the RIN batch is invalid. The commenter states 

that there is no reasonable equitable basis for limiting the availability of the flexibility to 

situations involving an error of no more than 2%, since there can be significant variability in the 

size of renewable fuel batches; for example, 2% of a large batch could consist of more RINs than 

an entire batch for a smaller facility. 

In today’s final rule, EPA did not limit the ability to use the flexibility to a certain 

number of RINs or percentage of a batch as proposed because we agree with commenters’ 

suggestion that a simple typing or meter error may result in a large number of excess RINs just 

as easily as it could result in an error that constitutes only a small number of RINs. EPA’s 

decision to eliminate the two percent limitation may result in more regulated parties taking 

advantage of the flexibility created by this rule. Nevertheless, EPA is limiting the use of the 

flexibility to situations in which RIN generators who improperly over-generated RINs on a batch 

fit certain criteria, including taking remedial action to retire equivalent RINs within 30 days of 

the original invalid RIN generation submission in EMTS, as specified in 80.1431(c)(7). EPA 

believes that it is appropriate to require RIN generators to correct the information submitted to 

EMTS within 30 days to encourage the regulated community to take prompt corrective action, 

which will aid in maintaining market integrity. EPA believes that limiting the amount of time 

that RIN generators are afforded to avail themselves of this flexibility is necessary to provide an 

incentive to RIN generators to conduct timely internal inspections of their RIN generation 

activities in order to ensure that RINs are properly generated and the accuracy of RIN 

information in EMTS. 

We also sought comment on the possibility of establishing a limit on the number of times 

this flexibility could be requested within a compliance period by a given RIN generator. We 

stated that we believe such a limitation could encourage RIN generators to take appropriate 

measures to avoid generating invalid RINs, and limit the possibility that RIN generators would 

intentionally generate invalid RINs to take advantage of short term RIN price spikes. Some 

commenters argued that there should not be a limit on the number of times a RIN generator can 

request EPA allow them to use the flexibility, but that if a particular company regularly generates 

RINs improperly, that company should be penalized on a case-by-case basis, taking into account 

whether the error was truly a mistake made in good faith. 

EPA disagrees with commenters’ belief that RIN generators should have unlimited access 

to these flexibilities. EPA believes that the flexibility should be limited to a set number (namely, 

five) of improperly generated batches per year and is finalizing regulations to that effect in 

80.1431(c)(6). By limiting the number of times a RIN generator may utilize the flexibility to 

retire equivalent RINs, the regulations will encourage RIN generators to implement robust 

measures and controls to prevent errors from occurring, knowing that the flexibility is only 

available to them for five batches each compliance year. Additionally, limiting the number of 
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batches to which this flexibility can be applied restricts the ability of RIN generators that might 

otherwise intentionally generate invalid RINs to take advantage of short term RIN price spikes. 

Finally, EPA is finalizing a provision informing the regulated community that EPA 

intends to publicly post information concerning RIN generators utilizing this flexibility in 

80.1431(c)(7)(B). By posting this information, EPA is assisting obligated and other regulated 

parties in their due diligence to ensure compliance with all RFS2 regulations. EPA believes that 

posting information concerning the use of this flexibility will incentivize proper RIN generation 

in the future. 

Further, EPA may remove improperly generated RINs from EMTS if the RIN generator 

has failed to properly meet the remedial action requirements stated in the regulations, as 

specified in 80.1431(d). EPA believes this will prevent invalid RINs that do not meet the 

requirements in 80.1431(c) from propagating through the market and being used for compliance 

purposes, thus preventing additional violations. While EPA is aware that the proposal did not 

include the ability to remove improperly generated RINs, EPA believes this ability is a logical 

outgrowth from the comments that EPA should spend more time investigating egregious 

violations. This provision will allow EPA to quickly remove from the market those RINs 

reported by the RIN generator to be invalid due to reasons in 80.1431(c)(2), thus affording EPA 

more time to spend investigating egregious violations. 

 Finally, a number of commenters noted that good faith purchasers and the ultimate users 

of the RINs, the obligated parties, should not be subject to a violation for unwittingly buying 

and/or retiring invalid RINs for compliance. EPA disagrees, and believes that the “buyer 

beware” aspect of the RIN trading program is one of the cornerstones of the program. It provides 

an important incentive for the regulated community to comply with the regulations and mandates 

due diligence on the part of all RIN buyers. It encourages self-policing on the part of RIN 

generators, owners and users in order to keep the program functioning smoothly. EPA is not 

making any changes to the liability sections of RFS2 as a result of these comments and although 

today’s rule will allow obligated parties to use some invalid RINs for compliance, the obligated 

parties and any intermediary party are still liable for buying and/or transferring invalid RINs. 

3. Production Outlook Reports Submission Deadline

 In the final RFS2 regulations, in §80.1449(a), EPA set the annual deadline for submitting 

Production Outlook Reports as March 31 of each year. However, EPA has determined that, in 

order for the information contained in the Production Outlook Reports to be most useful when 

setting the RFS2 volume requirements and associated percentage standards for the following 

calendar year, the reports should contain the most accurate projections possible. Since the 

accuracy of projections tends to increase the closer those projections are made to the following 

calendar year, we proposed that the March 31 deadline should be moved to June 1. This revised 

deadline would still allow the information contained in the Production Outlook Reports to be 

used in the development of the final rulemaking setting the standards for the following year. 
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 We received one comment on the proposed Production Outlook Reports deadline of June 

1 that suggested August 31, or as late as possible that still ensures the information is useful in the 

development of the final RFS standards for the following year. EPA believes, however, that if 

the deadline is set later in the year, there would be insufficient opportunity for EPA to quality 

check the incoming data prior to incorporating it into the analysis for developing the RFS2 

volume requirements and associate percentage standards for the following calendar year. EPA 

strives to make the most accurate projections possible, so without time to check the data quality, 

there could be inaccuracies in the volume requirements that lead to market disruption. 

Another commenter suggested that having the Production Outlook Reports deadline 

immediately after the May 31 attest engagement deadline would place a significant burden on 

regulated parties at that time, and suggests a deadline of June 30 for the Production Outlook 

Reports. EPA believes that it is not a significant burden for regulated parties to submit the 

Production Outlook Report at the same time as the attest engagement report, especially 

considering the attest audit and report are typically conducted by independent third-party 

auditors, rather than the regulated parties themselves. 

 For the reasons stated above, EPA believes that the proposed June 1 deadline for 

Production Outlook Reports is reasonable and should not be moved to later in the year. 

Therefore, EPA is finalizing the June 1 deadline for Production Outlook Reports. 

 

4. Attest Procedures 

 In the final RFS2 regulations, EPA required in §80.1464(c)(1)(i) and (c)(2)(ii) that RIN 

owners conduct attest procedures for RIN transaction and RIN activity reports that involve RIN 

separations. This requirement was intended to be included in the attest procedures for obligated 

parties and exporters as well as for renewable fuel producers and RIN-generating importers, in 

order to confirm that RINs are being properly separated by all parties participating in the RIN 

market. Thus, we proposed amendments to §80.1464(a)(2)(i) and (a)(3)(ii) for obligated parties 

and exporters as well as to §80.1464(b)(2)(i) and (3)(ii) for renewable fuel producers and RINgenerating importers to include attest procedures concerning verification of RIN separation. 

 

Additionally, in the final RFS2 regulations, EPA required in §80.1464 that auditors of 

RIN generation reports verify that product transfer documents (PTDs) include the required 

information. EPA believes it would be beneficial for auditors to verify the required information 

is present on PTDs for RIN transactions for all parties, including obligated parties, renewable 

fuel producers and importers and RIN owners. Thus, we proposed amendments to 

§80.1464(a)(2), (b)(2) and (c)(1) to require auditors to verify that the PTDs for a representative 

sample of RINs sold and purchased contains the information required in §80.1453. 

We received one comment that stated that the attestation procedures should be 

comparable for all reporting activities of all regulated parties. EPA believes, however, that the 

proposed regulatory changes to the attest engagement procedures apply consistently to all 

regulated parties in that all parties are responsible for ensuring that RINs that they separate, 

purchase or use for compliance have been properly separated and that they have associated PTDs 
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with all of the required information. Another commenter states that obligated parties should not 

be required to audit RIN separation activities in addition to RIN purchases. Again, EPA feels 

this additional check on RIN separation activities will ensure that the RINs are properly 

separated and that renewable fuel is actually being blended for use as transportation fuel, heating 

oil or jet fuel. Therefore, EPA is finalizing the amendments to the attest engagement procedures 

as proposed. 

E. Technical Amendments Related to Registration & Recordkeeping 

1. Construction Discontinuance & Completion Documentation 

The registration requirements in §80.1450(b)(1)(vi) state that for facilities claiming the 

exemption described in §80.1403(c) or (d), evidence must be submitted demonstrating the date 

that construction commenced. However, the registration requirements do not explicitly require 

the submission of evidence demonstrating that they meet the other requirements described in 

§80.1403(c)(1) and (2) or (d)(1), (2) and (3). 

 

In order to verify that facilities which claim to qualify for an exemption under 

§80.1403(c) or (d) in fact meet all of the qualification requirements for such an exemption, we 

proposed to amend §80.1450(b)(1)(vi) to include requirements that the owner or operator of 

facilities claiming exemption under §80.1403(c) submit evidence demonstrating that construction 

was not discontinued for a period of 18 months after construction began, and that construction 

was completed by December 19, 2010. Similarly, we proposed that for facilities claiming the 

exemption under §80.1403(d), evidence be submitted demonstrating that construction was not 

discontinued for a period of 18 months after construction began and that construction was 

completed within 36 months of the commenced construction date . 

We received comments that EPA should not adopt these proposed amendments because 

the requirements would be overly burdensome and unnecessary due to the fact that the majority 

of all facilities that have claimed the exemption under §80.1403 have already been registered and 

therefore these amended requirements would have no effect on these facility’s registration. 

Secondly, the commenter stated that the proposed requirement to submit evidence that 

construction was not discontinued for a period of 18 months is unreasonable because it is unclear 

how a facility could prove a lack of construction activity. Thirdly, the commenter stated that the 

proposed amendment to submit evidence that construction was timely completed was 

unnecessary because a facility’s operation activity such as production of fuel was enough to 

serve as evidence that construction was completed. The commenter suggested that EPA only 

request evidence to demonstrate that these requirements are met from facilities that EPA believes 

did not rightly claim the exemption under §80.1403. 

In order to fully assess the concerns raised by the commenters, EPA has decided to 

investigate this issue in more detail and analyze some additional options. Therefore, at this time, 

EPA is not taking final action with respect to this proposed amendment. 
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2. Third-Party Engineering Reviews

 The regulations stipulate that producers of renewable fuels and foreign ethanol producers 

are required to update their registration information, and submit an updated independent thirdparty engineering review, every 3 years after their initial registration in accordance with 

§80.1450(d)(3). We have received many inquiries regarding the start date that EPA uses to 

determine the 3 year period after which the producer must submit an updated independent third 

party engineering review (such as the registration acceptance date, the third-party professional 

engineer’s signature date on the engineering review report, or the due date for engineering 

reviews. 

 Given the lack of clarity in the current regulations, we proposed amendments to specify 

the time frame for submission of updated independent third-party engineering reviews which 

included a simplified method that would group producers according to the calendar year they 

were or will be registered, and set a fixed time frame for registration updates for each group. We 

proposed to amend §80.1450(d)(3) to stipulate that for all producers of renewable fuel and 

foreign ethanol producers for which registration was accepted by EPA in calendar year 2010, 

that the updated registration information and independent third-party engineering review would 

be submitted to EPA within the three months prior to January 1, 2014, and within three months 

prior to January 1 of every third calendar year thereafter. For all producers of renewable fuel and 

foreign ethanol producers registered in any calendar year after 2010, the updated registration 

information and independent third-party engineering review would be submitted to EPA within 

three months prior to January 1 of every third calendar year after the first year the producer’s 

registration was accepted by EPA. For example, a producer registered in 2011 would be 

required to submit an updated independent third-party engineering review by January 1, 2015, 

and by January 1 every three calendar years thereafter. 

 We received comments that supported the adoption of the proposed amendments for a 

simplified method of grouping producers according to the calendar year that they were or will be 

registered to determine the due date for submission of the updated registration information and 

independent third-party engineering review. The commenter suggested that we provide a clear 

method to determine the due date for individual facilities to further help with the compliance of 

this requirement. We agree with the commenter that providing more clarity and guidance would 

help facilities comply with this requirement. Therefore, in the near future and well before the 

due date for any updated engineering reviews, we plan to compile and publish a guidance 

document that will provide the date in which each facility’s registration was accepted, the 

calendar year in which each facility will be grouped, and the corresponding triennial due dates 

for the updated engineering review for each calendar year group. This guidance document will 

be published on the RFS public website. Parties must also comply with all other applicable 

requirements in 40 CFR Part 80, Subpart M. This guidance does not, in any way, alter the 

requirements of the renewable fuel program regulations, and does not establish or change legal 

rights or obligations.

In addition, we are removing from the final rule the proposed 3 months allowance period 

prior to triennial due date. The reason we included a 3 months allowance was to ensure that the 
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updated engineering reviews were not submitted so early as to not provide appropriately updated 

information as of the three-year submission deadline. We believed at the time of the proposal 

that the inclusion of the 3 month window would ensure that facilities conduct their engineering 

review closer to the end of the 3 year period, which we assumed would provide the most up-todate information. However, now we believe that the inclusion of this 3 month period is 

unnecessary since the owners or operators of a facility can determine for themselves when it is 

appropriate to coordinate and conduct the engineering review for their facility and that the 

regulatory requirement for “up-dated” engineering reviews provide sufficient clarity that the 

information submitted to EPA must reflect the up-to-date information 

 Therefore, we are finalizing in this rulemaking the proposed simplified method to group 

facilities based on the calendar year in which their facility’s registration was accepted by EPA 

with the due date for the updated registration and independent third party engineering review to 

be submitted to EPA by January 31st of every 3 calendar years, starting from the acceptance date 

of the facility’s initial registration. We are allowing the engineering reviews to be submitted at 

the end of January due to possible scheduling concerns during the holiday season. 

3. Foreign Ethanol Producers

We proposed that the amendments to the registration requirements in §80.1450 also apply 

to foreign ethanol producers. As defined in §80.1401, foreign ethanol producers are foreign 

producers that produce ethanol for use in transportation fuel, heating oil or jet fuel but who do 

not add denaturant to their product. Therefore, foreign ethanol producers do not technically 

produce ‘‘renewable fuel’’ as defined in our regulations. As discussed in the preamble to the 

Direct Final Rule published on May 1, 2010 (see 75 FR 26032), the result of the amendments 

made in the Direct Final Rule is to require foreign ethanol facilities that produce ethanol that 

ultimately becomes part of a renewable fuel for which RINs are generated to provide EPA the 

same registration information as foreign renewable fuel facilities that export their product to the 

United States. In both cases the required registration information is important for enforcement 

purposes, including verifying the use of renewable biomass as feedstock and the assignment of 

appropriate D codes. Therefore, we believe amendments to the registration requirements that we 

make in this final rule should also be applicable to foreign ethanol producers for the same 

reasons. We did not receive comments on this proposed change, so we are finalizing the 

amendment as proposed. 

F. Additional Amendments and Clarifications 

 

1. Third-Party Engineering Review Addendum

We have received many inquires as to whether an addendum to the existing independent 

third-party engineering review is sufficient to meet the requirement that all producers of 

renewable fuel and foreign ethanol producers submit an updated independent third-party 

engineering review if they make changes to their facility that will qualify the renewable fuel that 

is produced for a renewable fuel category or D code that is not already reflected in the producer’s 
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registration information. In some circumstances the majority of the information verified in the 

existing independent third-party engineering review would remain the same, and duplicating the 

entire effort does not appear necessary. We believe the concept of allowing the submission of an 

addendum in lieu of a updated independent third-party engineering review is reasonable and 

therefore we are finalizing to amend the requirements in §80.1450(d)(1) to state that a producer 

of renewable fuel or foreign ethanol producer may submit an addendum to the existing 

independent third-party engineering review on file with EPA provided the addendum meets all 

the requirements in §80.1450(b)(2) and verifies for EPA the most up-to-date information at the 

producer’s existing facility. The updated independent third-party engineering review or 

addendum shall be submitted at least 60 days prior to producing the new type of renewable fuel 

and must meet all the same requirements stipulated in §80.1450(b)(2) for the independent thirdparty engineering review, including a new site visit conducted by the third-party to verify any 

changes to the facility that allows it to produce a different renewable fuel that is not currently 

reflected in their registration on file with EPA. 

 2. RIN Generation for Fuel Imported from a Registered Foreign Producer

 In RFS2, EPA finalized provisions allowing importers to generate RINs for renewable 

fuel imported from a foreign producer only under certain circumstances. The importer may only 

generate RINs for fuel imported from a foreign renewable fuel producer or foreign ethanol 

producer if that producer is registered with EPA and has received EPA company and facility 

identification numbers pursuant to §80.1450. Pursuant to §80.1426(c)(4), the importer is 

prohibited from generating RINs for fuel imported from a foreign producer that is not registered 

with EPA. In the proposed rulemaking, EPA proposed to clarify that when an importer is 

generating RINs for fuel imported from a registered foreign renewable fuel producer or foreign 

ethanol producer, the importer must submit to EPA via EMTS the importer’s company 

identification number, the facility identification number of the import facility where the batch 

was imported, and the facility identification number for the foreign renewable fuel or ethanol 

producer that produced the batch of fuel for which the importer is generating RINs. EPA did not 

receive comments on these clarifications, and is therefore finalizing them as proposed in 

§§80.1452(b)(4) and (5). 

 3. Bond Posting

 We proposed to amend paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(2) and (g)(2) of §80.1467 to make them 

consistent with §80.1467(g)(1). These proposed amendments were intended to clarify that the 

amount of the posted bond must cover the number of gallon RINs that are sold and/or 

transferred, and also those RINs held and/or obtained by the foreign entity, including those held 

and/or obtained to comply with a foreign importer's RVO requirements. We also proposed to 

amend §§80.1465-80.1467 by striking §§80.1465(h)(2)(iii), 80.1466(h)(2)(iii) and 

80.1467(e)(2)(iii), which allowed entities to make alternative commitments in lieu of posting 

bonds. EPA believes that this method is vague, unnecessary, and unenforceable. 

 
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 One commenter at the hearing is against the removal of the regulation allowing foreign 

producers to make alternative commitments as it may discourage foreign renewable fuel 

producers from entering the U.S. market. EPA disagrees as no foreign producer has used an 

alternative commitment to date, and most foreign renewable fuel producers do not post bonds 

and instead rely on the renewable fuel importers to generate RINs for renewable fuel that is 

imported. For those reasons and the reasons described above, we are finalizing the proposed 

changes to the bond posting regulations as proposed. 

 4. Prohibition Against Repeat Generation of RINs

 We are finalizing our proposal to add a new paragraph (b)(6) to the prohibited acts of 

§80.1460 to specify in this section of the regulations that RINs may not be generated for any fuel 

for which RINs have previously been generated. Pursuant to §80.1401, a RIN is a unique 

number generated to represent a volume of renewable fuel. If more than one RIN is generated 

for a particular volume, the RIN will no longer be unique, and is therefore improperly generated 

and cannot be used to demonstrate compliance with the renewable volume obligations. While 

generating RINs for a particular volume of fuel for which RINs have already been generated is 

already prohibited, we are amending the regulations to include this prohibition in § 80.1460 for 

clarity. 

 5. Acceptance of Separated Yard Waste and Food Waste Separation Plans

We proposed to amend §80.1426(f)(5)(ii)(A) to remove the requirement that the 

separated yard waste plan and separated food waste plan must be approved by EPA, and instead 

only require that these two plans be submitted and accepted by EPA under the registration 

procedures specified in §80.1450(b)(1)(vii). The details and information required to be submitted 

in the separated yard waste plan and separated food waste plan are not overly burdensome or 

complex, and therefore we believe it does not warrant a specific EPA approval, but that EPA 

acceptance of these plans through the registration procedures is sufficient. 

We received comments that supported the adoption of this amendment for separated food 

waste plan and separated yard waste plan. We also received comments suggesting that we also 

adopt this amendment for the separated MSW plan. The commenter stated that although the 

separated MSW plan requires somewhat more information than the separated yard and food 

waste plans, the same logic applies in that the separated MSW plan will also be subject to EPA 

review as part of the producer’s registration process and therefore requiring a separate duplicate 

approval for the separated MSW plan is not necessary. 

First, we would like to clarify that there is not a duplicate approval process for the 

separated MSW plan that serves as a separate additional requirement for the producer’s 

registration. Similar to the proposed acceptance process for the producer’s separated yard and 

food waste plan, the approval process for the producer’s separated MSW plan will equally serve 

as verification of compliance as part of the producer’s registration. Secondly, we disagree with 

the commenter that the separated MSW plan only requires somewhat more information than the 
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separated yard and food waste plans, and that the same logic applies in terms of the review 

process. For the separated MSW plan, producers are required to provide ongoing verification 

that there is separation of recyclable paper, cardboard, plastics, rubber, textiles, metals, and glass 

wastes to the extent reasonably practicable, including: the extent and nature of the recycling that 

occurred prior to receipt of the waste material, identification of available recycling technology 

and practices that are appropriate for removing recycling materials from the waste stream, and 

identification of the technology or practices selected for implementation, including an 

explanation for such selection, and reasons why other technologies or practices were not 

implemented. In addition, producers are also required to provide contracts relevant to materials 

recycled from municipal waste streams and certification that recycling is conducted in a manner 

consistent with goals and requirements of applicable State and local laws relating to recycling 

and waste management as part of their registration process. For the separated yard and food 

waste plan, the producers are only required to provide ongoing verification that the separated 

yard waste or food waste was kept separate since generation from other waste materials, and for 

food waste, contain only incidental amounts of other components. We believe the information 

submitted in the separated MSW plan will be considerably more complex than information 

submitted in the separated yard and food waste plans, and therefore, will require EPA conduct a 

much more comprehensive review and also consider many additional factors to ensure that the 

producer has met the all the requirements stipulated. Based on the factors discussed, we believe 

that it is not reasonable to apply the same proposed acceptance process for separated yard and 

food waste plan to the separated MSW plan. 

Therefore, we are finalizing in this rulemaking only for separated yard waste plan and 

separated food waste plan to amend the requirement that the plans must be approved by EPA, 

and instead only require that the plans will be accepted by EPA under the registration procedures 

specified in §80.1450(b)(1)(vii). 

 6. Transferred Blendstocks in Early Benzene Credit Generation Calculations

Today’s rule also finalizes one minor correction to the gasoline benzene regulations 

which would clarify how refiners should account for transferred blendstocks in their early 

benzene credit generation calculations. Under current rules, refineries which generated early 

benzene credits are required to reduce gasoline benzene during an early credit generation period 

by at least 10% compared to the refinery’s benzene baseline, and are also required to make 

specific operational changes and/or improvements in benzene control technology to reduce 

gasoline benzene levels.41 Refineries which reduce their gasoline benzene by at least 10%, in 

part by transferring reformate to another refinery, could also generate early benzene credits, 

provided the transferee refinery treated the reformate in specific benzene-reduction processing 

units.42 See 72 FR 8486-87 (Feb. 26, 2007). However, the gasoline benzene regulations also 

contain an additional provision that requires all blendstock streams transferred to, from or 

 

41 Early credit generation periods were July 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007, and calendar years 2008, 2009 and 

2010. 

42 Refineries produce gasoline by combining several different blendstocks produced by various refinery processing 

units. Reformate is a blendstock which contains approximately 80% of all benzene found in gasoline, per the 

MSAT2 regulatory impact analysis. 
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between refineries to be excluded from a refinery’s early credit generation calculations (except 

for reformate as described previously). This led to an inconsistent comparison of a refinery’s 

benzene during an early credit generation period with a refinery’s benzene baseline (which 

included blendstocks transferred to the refinery), which was not EPA’s intent. 

As described in the preamble of the gasoline benzene final rule, EPA intended that 

refineries not be allowed to generate early benzene credits exclusively through blendstock 

trading, without making any other qualifying reductions (see 72 FR 8487), but that refineries 

could generate early benzene credits in part through qualifying reductions and “in part” through 

other means such as blendstock transfers (see 72 FR 8496-97). However, the current regulations 

do not allow this approach, and this inconsistency has caused confusion among refiners about 

how to calculate the amount of early credits generated. Refiners have generally followed the 

approach set out in the preamble (as EPA in fact intended), and included all blendstocks 

transferred to a refinery in the refinery’s early credit generation calculations. Refiners typically 

keep records on transferred blendstocks for 1-2 years, and thus do not have sufficient data to 

exclude transferred blendstocks from their early credit generation calculations. 

EPA recently became aware of this inconsistency and is amending the regulations to 

make them consistent with EPA’s intent as described in the preamble. This rule amends the 

gasoline benzene regulations at 40 CFR 80.1275(d)(3) by deleting that provision. This will 

allow a refinery to include blendstocks transferred to the refinery in the refinery’s early benzene 

credit generation calculations (all other conditions, including treatment which removes benzene 

in transferred reformate streams still applying, of course). Consistent with EPA’s original intent, 

today’s rule also allows a refinery to include transferred blendstocks in past early credit 

generation calculations, provided the refinery met all of the other requirements for generating 

early benzene credits. EPA is finalizing this change to include transferred blendstocks in past 

early credit generation calculation not only because this was EPA’s intent at the time of the 

benzene gasoline rulemaking, but because some refiners have reasonably relied upon that stated 

intent in devising their compliance strategies. 

 All of the comments received on this change to the regulations were in support of this 

change. Commenters generally noted that the change was needed in order to align the language 

in the regulations with the intent stated in the preamble.
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V. Annual Administrative Announcements

 In the RFS2 final rule, we stated our intent to make two announcements each year: 

• Set the price for cellulosic biofuel waiver credits that will be made available to 

obligated parties in the event that we reduce the volume of cellulosic biofuel 

below the applicable volume specified in the Clean Air Act (CAA), and 

• Announce the results of our annual assessment of the aggregate compliance 

approach for U.S. planted crops and crop residue. 

The biofuel waiver credit price being announced today was calculated in accordance with the 

specifications in §80.1456(d). Since the manner in which EPA calculates the waiver credit price 

is precisely set forth in EPA regulations (which were issued through a notice-and-comment 

process), and since some of the variables necessary to compute the price have only recently 

become available, EPA did not propose a waiver credit price for comment. Similarly, because 

EPA’s assessment of the aggregate compliance approach announced today was conducted using 

data sources, methodology, and criteria that were identified and explained in the preamble to the 

RFS2 final rule, it was not necessary to present a preliminary annual assessment for comment in 

the NPRM. 

A. 2011 Price for Cellulosic Biofuel Waiver Credits 

Section 211(o)(7)(D) of the CAA requires that whenever EPA sets the applicable volume 

of cellulosic biofuel at a level lower than that specified in the Act, EPA is to provide a number of 

cellulosic credits for sale that is no more than the EPA-determined applicable volume. Congress 

also specified the formula for calculating the price for such waiver credits: adjusted for inflation, 

the credits must be offered at the price of the higher of 25 cents per gallon or the amount by 

which $3.00 per gallon exceeds the average wholesale price of a gallon of gasoline in the United 

States.43 The inflation adjustment is for years after 2008. EPA regulations provide that the 

inflation adjustment is calculated by comparing the most recent Consumer Price Index for All 

Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the “All Items” expenditure category as provided by the Bureau 

of Labor Statistics that is available at the time EPA sets the cellulosic biofuel standard to the 

comparable value that was reported soonest after December 31, 2008.44 

In contrast to its directions to EPA for setting the price of a cellulosic biofuel waiver 

credit, Congress afforded the Agency considerable flexibility in designing regulations specifying 

 

43 More information on wholesale gasoline prices can be found on the Department of Energy's (DOE), Energy 

Information Administration's (EIA) Web site at: 

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=EMA_EPM0_PBR_NUS_DPG&f=M

44 See U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Consumer Price Index Web site at: 

http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ 
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the permissible uses of the credits. The CAA states that EPA regulations “shall include such 

provisions, including limiting the credits’ uses and useful life, as the Administrator deems 

appropriate to assist market liquidity and transparency, to provide appropriate certainty for 

regulated entities and renewable fuel producers, and to limit any potential misuse of cellulosic 

biofuel credits to reduce the use of other renewable fuels, and for such other purposes as the 

Administrator determines will help achieve the goals of this subsection.” The final RFS2 

regulations provide a detailed discussion of how we designed the provisions for cellulosic 

biofuel waiver credits in keeping with the statutory language. In short, 2012 cellulosic biofuel 

waiver credits (or ”waiver credits”) are only available for the 2012 compliance year. Waiver 

credits will only be made available to obligated parties, and they are nontransferable and 

nonrefundable. Further, obligated parties may only purchase waiver credits up to the level of 

their cellulosic biofuel RVO less the number of cellulosic biofuel RINs that they own. A 

company owning cellulosic biofuel RINs and cellulosic waiver credits may use both types of 

credits if desired to meet their RVOs, but unlike RINs, waiver credits may not be carried over for 

use in the next calendar year. Obligated parties may not use waiver credits to meet a prior year 

deficit obligation. Finally, unlike cellulosic biofuel RINs which may also be used to meet an 

obligated party's advanced and total renewable fuel obligations, waiver credits may only be used 

to meet a cellulosic biofuel RVO. An obligated party will still need to additionally and 

separately acquire RINs to meet their advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel obligations. 

For the 2012 compliance period, since the applicable volume of cellulosic biofuel used to 

set the annual cellulosic biofuel standard is lower than the volume for 2012 specified in the 

CAA, we are making cellulosic waiver credits available to obligated parties for end-of-year 

compliance should they need them at a price of $0.78 per credit. To calculate this price, EPA 

first determined the average wholesale (refinery gate) price of gasoline using the most recent 12 

months of data available from the EIA website on September 30, 2011. Based on this data, we 

calculated an average price of gasoline for the period July 2010 to June 2011 of $2.44. In 

accordance with the Act, we then calculated the difference of the inflation-adjusted value of 

$3.00, or $3.22, and $2.44, which yielded $0.78. Next, we compared the value of $0.78 to the 

inflation-adjusted value of $0.25, or $0.27. The Act requires EPA to use the greater of these two 

values as the price for cellulosic biofuel waiver credits. 

The derivation of this value is more fully explained in a memorandum submitted to the 

docket for this rulemaking,45 and a more complete description of the statutory requirements and 

their application can be found in the RFS2 final rule.46 The price for the 2013 compliance 

period, if necessary, will be set when we announce the 2013 cellulosic biofuel standard. 

B. Assessment of the Domestic Aggregate Compliance Approach 

The RFS2 regulations contain a provision for renewable fuel producers who use planted 

crops and crop residue from U.S. agricultural land that relieves them of the individual 

recordkeeping and reporting requirements concerning the specific land from which their 

 

45 See memo to docket number EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0133 from Scott Christian, on the subject of “Calculating the 

price for cellulosic biofuel waiver credits,” dated September 30, 2011. 

46 75 FR 14726 - 14728 
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feedstocks were harvested. To enable this approach, EPA established a baseline number of acres 

for U.S. agricultural land in 2007 (the year of EISA enactment) and determined that as long as 

this baseline number of acres was not exceeded, it was unlikely that new land outside of the 2007 

baseline would be devoted to crop production based on historical trends and economic 

considerations. We therefore provided that renewable fuel producers using planted crops or crop 

residue from the U.S. as feedstock in renewable fuel production need not comply with the 

individual recordkeeping and reporting requirements related to documenting that their feedstocks 

are renewable biomass, unless EPA determines through one of its annual evaluations that the 

2007 baseline acreage of agricultural land has been exceeded. 

In the final RFS2 regulations, EPA committed to make an annual finding concerning 

whether the 2007 baseline amount of U.S. agricultural land has been exceeded in a given year 

and publish this finding in the Federal Register by November 30 of the same year. If the 

baseline is found to have been exceeded, then producers using U.S. planted crops and crop 

residue as feedstocks for renewable fuel production would be required to comply with individual 

recordkeeping and reporting requirements to verify that their feedstocks are renewable biomass. 

Based on data provided by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), we have estimated that U.S. agricultural land reached 

approximately 392 million acres in 2011, and thus did not exceed the 2007 baseline acreage. 

This acreage estimate is based on the same methodology used to set the 2007 baseline acreage 

for U.S. agricultural land in the RFS2 final rulemaking. Specifically, we started with FSA crop 

history data for 2011, from which we derived a total estimated acreage of 392 million acres. We 

then subtracted the amount of land estimated to be participating in the Grasslands Reserve 

Program (GRP) and Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) by the end of Fiscal Year 2011, 275,000 

acres, to yield an estimate of approximately 392 million acres of U.S. agricultural land in 2011. 

The USDA data used to make this calculation can be found in the docket to this rule. 

C. Assessment of the Canadian Aggregate Compliance Approach 

On March 15, 2011, EPA issued a notice of receipt of and solicited public comment on a 

petition for EPA to authorize the use of an aggregate approach for compliance with the 

Renewable Fuel Standard renewable biomass requirements, submitted by the Government of 

Canada. The petition requested that EPA determine that an aggregate compliance approach will 

provide reasonable assurance that planted crops and crop residue from Canada meet the 

definition of renewable biomass. After through consideration of the petition, all supporting 

documentation provided and the public comments received, EPA determined that the criteria for 

approval of the petition were satisfied and approved the use of an aggregate compliance 

approach to renewable biomass verification for planted crops and crop residue grown in Canada. 

The Government of Canada utilized several types of land use data to demonstrate that the 

land included in their 124 million acre baseline is cropland, pastureland or land equivalent to 

U.S. Conservation Reserve Program land that was cleared or cultivated prior to December 19, 

2007, and was actively managed or fallow and nonforested on that date (and is therefore RFS2 

qualifying land). The total agricultural land in Canada in 2011 is estimated at 121 million acres. 
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This total agricultural land area includes 95.6 million acres of cropland and summer fallow, 15.6 

million acres of pastureland and 9.8 million acres of agricultural land under conservation 

practices. This acreage estimate is based on the same methodology used to set the 2007 baseline 

acreage for Canadian agricultural land in the RFS2 response to petition. The data used to make 

this calculation can be found in the docket to this rule.
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VI. Comments Outside the Scope of This Rulemaking

 In their comments responding to the NPRM, a number of parties used the opportunity to 

raise concerns that were not directly related to the issues and provisions we were addressing in 

the NPRM, such as the proposed standards for 2012, the applicable volume of biomass-based 

diesel for 2013, and the various proposed changes to the regulations designed to clarify intent 

and streamline implementation. Neither did these comments address setting the price for 

cellulosic biofuel credits or EPA’s annual evaluation of the U.S. aggregate compliance approach 

for renewable biomass. In some cases, commenters requested EPA action in some other area, 

such as the following: 

• Request for EPA to implement a more robust biofuel quality assurance program 

• Request for EPA to mandate that 50% of all vehicles be E100 capable by 2017 

• Request for EPA to encourage legislation that allows corn ethanol to be 

categorized as advanced biofuel 

• Request for EPA to pursue changes to the statute that would make valid 

renewable fuels feedstock-neutral 

In other cases, commenters raised issues related to other areas not addressed in our NPRM, such 

as the following: 

• Other state and federal fuel regulations 

• Retail dispensing requirements and misfueling of E15 in non-flexible fueled 

vehicles 

• Need for continuing federal incentives for biofuels, such as tax subsidies 

• Relative energy security implications of imported petroleum versus imported 

biofuels 

• Delayed RINs 

• Definition of heating oil 

While we are taking these comments under consideration as we continue to implement the RFS2 

program, these comments are outside the scope of today’s action. In some cases, they are also 

outside our authority. Thus, we are not providing substantive responses to them at this time. 

 We also received comments in a number of other areas that, while outside the scope of 

this rulemaking, we believe would benefit from a response to clarify our position and/or 

intentions. These issues are addressed below. 
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 One commenter provided a copy of a copyrighted report, "Energy Life-Cycle Assessment 

Of Soybean Biodiesel Revisited". Similarly, both Monsanto and RFA provided comments on the 

lifecycle GHG impacts of corn ethanol, indicating that it should be a higher GHG reduction than 

what was calculated by EPA as part of the RFS2 final rule and that we should reevaluate corn 

ethanol lifecycle emissions based on new studies that are available. Another commenter 

requested that we investigate the GHG impacts of the oleochemical industry increasing the use of 

palm oil as a feedstock as animal fats are increasingly diverted to the production of biofuels. We 

will consider the information and analyses provided as part of any future updates to our lifecycle 

evaluations of these biofuels. 

 Another commenter urged EPA to quickly certify additional feedstocks for cellulosic 

biofuels under the RFS. We are moving forward responding to a series of petitions requesting 

EPA approval of other pathways, including both feedstock-specific pathways (e.g., palm oil and 

sorghum) and company- or process-specific pathways. A discussion of the process involved and 

a list of the current pathways we are currently evaluating can be found at: 

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/compliancehelp/rfs2-lca-pathways.htm 

We appreciate that multiple stakeholders are highly interested in the timeline on which 

EPA is conducting these analyses. We note that the analysis required for the RFS fuel pathway 

determinations as required under CAA 211(o) are comprehensive in nature, and EPA is 

committed to ensuring they are conducted in an appropriately rigorous fashion. 

Some commenters noted that regulated parties are having difficulty complying with the 

requirement that the RIN transfer date in EMTS and on product transfer documents (PTDs) be 

the actual title transfer date. Some of these commenters requested EPA enforcement discretion 

to allow biofuel producers and first purchasers to update their electronic systems in order to be in 

compliance with the title transfer date regulatory requirement. Two commenters specified that 

this enforcement discretion should be issued for six months in order to provide these companies 

with sufficient time to update their systems. EPA believes that the proposed enforcement 

discretion would likely introduce confusion for anyone who attempts to review and match 

transactions with records.

In contrast, several commenters requested that EPA reconsider its position that the RIN 

transfer date reported to EMTS and identified on PTDs must be the actual title transfer date. One 

commenter requested that EPA allow invoice dates to be used in lieu of title transfer dates as title 

transfer does not usually coincide with customer payments and ultimately place a burden on the 

selling company’s cash flow. While we understand that some parties would prefer to use a date 

other than the true title transfer date for purposes of EMTS reporting and PTDs, we believe this 

would violate the clear language and intent of the regulations.

 One commenter requested that EPA provide adjustment mechanisms to allow corrections 

in EMTS after noting that EMTS is a “forward looking” system, meaning that EMTS 

transactions cannot be modified once submitted. EPA is looking at several ways and has updated 

the RFS2 remedial action webpage since the comment period closed. EPA will continually 
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update its guidance for regulated parties to correct violations that true mistakes on the following 

webpage: 

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/compliancehelp/rfs2remedialactions.htm

Additionally, in this rule, EPA is finalizing a regulation amendment giving EPA discretion to 

allow invalidly generated RINs to be used for compliance purposes on a case-by-case basis (see 

Section IV). 

 Several commenters requested that EPA edit Q&As 7.8 and 10.6 as they conflict with the 

regulations. EPA will review and make edits to the RFS2 Q&As in order to ensure agreement 

with the regulations as appropriate at a later date. 
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VII. Public Participation 

 Many interested parties participated in the rulemaking process that culminates with this 

final rule. This process provided opportunity for submitting written public comments following 

the proposal that we published on July 1, 2011 (76 FR 38844), and we considered these 

comments in developing the final rule. Public comments and EPA responses are discussed 

throughout this preamble. 
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VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews 

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and Executive 

Order 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review 

 

 Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this action is a 

"significant regulatory action” because it raises novel legal or policy issues. Accordingly, EPA 

submitted this action to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under 

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011) and any changes made in 

response to OMB recommendations have been documented in the docket for this action. 

 The economic impacts of the RFS2 program on regulated parties, including the impacts 

of the required volumes of renewable fuel, were already addressed in the RFS2 final rule 

promulgated on March 26, 2010 (75 FR 14670). This action finalizes the percentage standards 

applicable in 2012 based on the volumes that were analyzed in the RFS2 final rule. This action 

is also finalizing technical amendments to the RFS2 regulations that have been determined to 

have no adverse economic impact on regulated parties since they generally clarify existing 

requirements. 

B. Paperwork Reduction Act 

 This action does not impose any new information collection burden. While there are 

three regulatory amendments in today's rule that affect the recordkeeping and reporting burdens 

for regulated parties, we believe that the information collections already approved for the RFS2 

program's general recordkeeping and reporting requirements, or the information collection 

already under review, would also cover the these technical amendments. 

 The regulatory changes are listed in Table VIII.B-1. 

Table VIII.B-1 

Technical Amendments Affecting Recordkeeping and Reporting 

Section Description 

80.1449(a) 

Amended Production Outlook Report due date; added 

allowance for unregistered renewable fuel producers and 

importers to submit Production Outlook Reports. 

80.1450(b)(1)(vi) 

Amended to require submission of additional evidence as part 

of registration to verify eligibility for exemptions in 

§80.1403(c) or (d). 

80.1450(d)(1)-(d)(3) 

Amended to add more specificity on when updates, addenda, 

or resubmittals are required for engineering reviews and to 

include references to foreign ethanol producers. 

With regard to Production Outlook Reports, the change in due date is not expected to have any 

impact on the reporting burden. In addition, EPA recently prepared an Information Collection 
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Request (ICR) document to permit the submission of voluntary Production Outlook Reports by 

domestic and foreign renewable fuels producers. The parties affected by the ICR are not 

regulated parties under the RFS2 program. The ICR has been submitted for approval to OMB 

under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. and may be identified by EPA ICR 

number 2409.01. Documents related to the ICR have been placed in docket number EPA-HQOAR-2005-0161, which is accessible at http://www.regulations.gov. 

On October 14, 2010, EPA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing our 

intent to submit the proposed ICR for voluntary Production Outlook Reports to OMB for 

approval. (See 75 FR 63173). The 60-day comment period closed on December 14, 2010. No 

comments were received. On February 8, 2011, EPA published a Federal Register notice 

announcing submission of the ICR to OMB. Additional comments were solicited via an 

additional comment period through March 10, 2011.47 

 The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has previously approved the information 

collection requirements contained in the existing regulations at 40 CFR Part 80, Subpart M under 

the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. This would include the 

following approved information collections (with OMB control numbers and expiration dates 

listed in parenthesis): “Renewable Fuels Standard Program: Petition and Registration” (OMB 

Control Number 2060-0367, expires March 31, 2013); “Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2)” 

(OMB Control Number 2060-0640, expires July 31, 2013); “Regulations of Fuels and Fuel 

Additives: 2011 Renewable Fuels Standard – Petition for International Aggregate Compliance 

Approach” OMB Control Number 2060-0655, expires February 28, 2014). Detailed and 

searchable information about these and other approved collections may be viewed on the Office 

of Management and Budget (OMB) Paperwork Reduction Act website, which is accessible at 

http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. With regard to the technical amendments in 

§80.1450, we believe that these information collections already approved for the RFS2 program's 

general recordkeeping and reporting requirements would also cover the amendments in today's 

final rule. 

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act 

 The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency to prepare a 

regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking 

requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act or any other statute unless the agency 

certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 

small entities. Small entities include small businesses, small organizations, and small 

governmental jurisdictions. 

 For purposes of assessing the impacts of today's rule on small entities, small entity is 

 

47 See “Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment 

Request; Production Outlook Reports for Un-Registered Renewable Fuel Producers (New Collection),” 76 FR 6781 

(February 8, 2011). The document identification number for this notice is EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0161-3221. The 

document identification number for the supporting statement is EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0161-3222. 
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defined as: (1) a small business as defined by the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 

regulations at 13 CFR 121.201; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of a 

city, county, town, school district or special district with a population of less than 50,000; and (3) 

a small organization that is any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and 

operated and is not dominant in its field. 

 After considering the economic impacts of today’s final rule on small entities, we certify 

that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 

entities. The impacts of the RFS2 program on small entities that are directly regulated under the 

RFS2 program were already addressed in the RFS2 final rule promulgated on March 26, 2010 

(75 FR 14670). This rule simply: 

• Reduces the applicable volume of cellulosic biofuels in 2012 based on our 

projection of 2012 production levels 

• Establishes percentage standards for 2012 based either on this production 

projection (for cellulosic biofuels) or statutory levels (for advanced biofuels, 

biomass-based diesel, and total renewable fuel) 

• Makes minor technical amendments to the regulations 

Therefore, this action will not impose any additional requirements on small entities beyond those 

which have already been evaluated. 

 D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

 This rule does not contain a Federal mandate that may result in expenditures of $100 

million or more for State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or the private sector in 

any one year. This rule simply: 

• Reduces the applicable volume of cellulosic biofuels in 2012 based on our 

projection of 2012 production levels 

• Establishes percentage standards for 2012 based either on this production 

projection (for cellulosic biofuels) or statutory levels (for advanced biofuels, 

biomass-based diesel, and total renewable fuel) 

• Makes minor technical amendments to the regulations 

Thus, this action is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 or 205 of UMRA. 

This action is also not subject to the requirements of section 203 of UMRA because it 

contains no regulatory requirements that might significantly or uniquely affect small 

governments. 
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 E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism 

 This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have substantial direct 

effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on 

the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as 

specified in Executive Order 13132. This action only applies to gasoline, diesel, and renewable 

fuel producers, importers, distributors and marketers and makes relatively minor corrections and 

modifications to the RFS2 regulations. A summary of the concerns raised, and EPA’s response 

to those concerns, is provided in this preamble. 

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 

Governments 

 This action does not have tribal implications, as specified in Executive Order 13175 (65 

FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This rule will be implemented at the Federal level and impose 

compliance costs only on transportation fuel refiners, blenders, marketers, distributors, 

importers, exporters, and renewable fuel producers and importers. Tribal governments would be 

affected only to the extent they purchase and use regulated fuels. Thus, Executive Order 13175 

does not apply to this action. 

 

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children from Environmental Health 

Risks and Safety Risks 

 EPA interprets EO 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) as applying only to those 

regulatory actions that concern health or safety risks, such that the analysis required under 

section 5-501 of the EO has the potential to influence the regulation. This action is not subject to 

EO 13045 because it does not establish an environmental standard intended to mitigate health or 

safety risks and because it implements specific standards established by Congress in statutes. 

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly 

Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use 

 This rule is not a “significant energy action” as defined in Executive Order 13211, 

“Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use” 

(66 FR 28355 (May 22, 2001)) because it is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the 

supply, distribution, or use of energy. This action simply finalizes the annual standards for 

cellulosic biofuels for 2012 and clarifying changes and minor technical amendments to the 

regulations. 

I. National Technology Transfer Advancement Act 
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 Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 

(‘‘NTTAA’’), Public Law 104–113, 12(d) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs EPA to use voluntary 

consensus standards in its regulatory activities unless to do so would be inconsistent with 

applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards 

(e.g., materials specifications, test methods, sampling procedures, and business practices) that are 

developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. NTTAA directs EPA to provide 

Congress, through OMB, explanations when the Agency decides not to use available and 

applicable voluntary consensus standards. 

 This action does not involve technical standards. Therefore, EPA did not consider the 

use of any voluntary consensus standards. 

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice 

in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations 

 Executive Order (EO) 12898 (59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes federal executive 

policy on environmental justice. Its main provision directs federal agencies, to the greatest 

extent practicable and permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission by 

identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or 

environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and lowincome populations in the United States. 

 EPA has determined that this final rule will not have disproportionately high and 

adverse human health or environmental effects on minority or low-income populations because it 

does not affect the level of protection provided to human health or the environment. This action 

does not relax the control measures on sources regulated by the RFS2 regulations and therefore 

will not cause emissions increases from these sources.

K. Congressional Review Act

The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business 

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take 

effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the 

rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA 

will submit a report containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the 

U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to 

publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after 

it is published in the Federal Register. This action is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 

804(2). Therefore, this rule will be effective on the date of publication. 
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IX. Statutory Authority 

Statutory authority for the rule finalized today can be found in section 211 of the Clean 

Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7545. Additional support for the procedural and compliance related aspects 

of today's rule, including the recordkeeping requirements, come from sections 114, 208, and 

301(a) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. sections 7414, 7542, and 7601(a). 

 

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 80 

Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, Air pollution control, 

Confidential Business Information, Diesel fuel, Fuel additives, Gasoline, Imports, Labeling, 

Motor vehicle pollution, Penalties, Petroleum, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. 

Dated: 

Lisa P. Jackson, 

Administrator. 
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For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 40 CFR part 80 is amended as follows: 

PART 80—REGULATION OF FUELS AND FUEL ADDITIVES 

1. The authority citation for part 80 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7414, 7542, 7545, and 7601(a). 

§80.1275—[Amended]

2. In §80.1275, remove paragraph (d)(3). 

Subpart M—[Amended] 

3. Section 80.1401 is amended by revising the definitions of “Annual cover crop” and 

“Naphtha” to read as follows: 

§ 80.1401 Definitions. 

* * * * * 

Annual cover crop means an annual crop, planted as a rotation between primary planted crops, or 

between trees and vines in orchards and vineyards, typically to protect soil from erosion and to 

improve the soil between periods of regular crops. An annual cover crop has no existing market 

to which it can be sold except for its use as feedstock for the production of renewable fuel. 

* * * * * 

Naphtha means a blendstock falling within the boiling range of gasoline which is composed of 

only hydrocarbons, is commonly or commercially known as naphtha, and is used to produce 

gasoline. 

* * * * * 

4. Section 80.1405 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) through (d) to read as follows: 

 

§ 80.1405 What are the Renewable Fuel Standards? 

(a) (1) Renewable Fuel Standards for 2010.

(i) The value of the cellulosic biofuel standard for 2010 shall be 0.004 percent. 

(ii) The value of the biomass-based diesel standard for 2010 shall be 1.10 percent. 

(iii) The value of the advanced biofuel standard for 2010 shall be 0.61 percent. 

(iv) The value of the renewable fuel standard for 2010 shall be 8.25 percent. 

(2) Renewable Fuel Standards for 2011.

(i) The value of the cellulosic biofuel standard for 2011 shall be 0.003 percent. 

(ii) The value of the biomass-based diesel standard for 2011 shall be 0.69 percent. 

(iii) The value of the advanced biofuel standard for 2011 shall be 0.78 percent. 

(iv) The value of the renewable fuel standard for 2011 shall be 8.01 percent. 

(3) Renewable Fuel Standards for 2012.

(i) The value of the cellulosic biofuel standard for 2012 shall be 0.006 percent. 

(ii) The value of the biomass-based diesel standard for 2012 shall be 0.90 percent. 

(iii) The value of the advanced biofuel standard for 2012 shall be 1.20 percent. 

(iv) The value of the renewable fuel standard for 2012 shall be 9.10 percent. 
*** E.O. 12866 Review - Revised Ve

(b) EPA will calculate the value 

Federal Register by November 30 of

(c) EPA will calculate the annual

equations: 

Where: 

StdCB,i = The cellulosic biofuel

StdBBD,i= The biomass-based di

StdAB,i= The advanced biofuel

StdRF,i= The renewable fuel st

RFVCB,i= Annual volume of cel

i, or volume as adjusted pursuant to 4

RFVBBD,i= Annual volume of bio

year i, in gallons. 

RFVAB,i= Annual volume of adv

i, in gallons. 

RFVRF,i= Annual volume of ren

in gallons. 

Gi= Amount of gasoline projected

in gallons. 

Di= Amount of diesel projected to

gallons. 

RGi= Amount of renewable fuel ble

48 contiguous states and Hawaii, in y

RDi= Amount of renewable fuel ble

contiguous states and Hawaii, in year

GSi= Amount of gasoline projected

state or territory has opted-in or optsRGSi= Amount of renewable fuel ble

Alaska or a U.S. territory, in year i, i

DSi= Amount of diesel projected to

or territory has opted-in or opts-in, in

RDSi= Amount of renewable fuel ble

or a U.S. territory, in year i, if the sta

ersion - Do Not Cite, Quote, or Release During Re

Pa

of the annual standards and publish these values i

f the year preceding the compliance period. 

l renewable fuel percentage standards using the fo

l standard for year i, in percent. 

iesel standard for year i, in percent. 

 standard for year i, in percent. 

andard for year i, in percent. 

lulosic biofuel required by 42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(2)(

42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(7)(D), in gallons. 

omass-based diesel required by 42 U.S.C. 7545 (o

vanced biofuel required by 42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(2)(

newable fuel required by 42 U.S.C. 7545(o)(2)(B)

d to be used in the 48 contiguous states and Hawa

o be used in the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii, 

ended into gasoline that is projected to be consum

year i, in gallons. 

ended into diesel that is projected to be consumed

r i, in gallons. 

d to be used in Alaska or a U.S. territory, in year i

-in, in gallons. 

ended into gasoline that is projected to be consum

f the state or territory opts-in, in gallons. 

o be used in Alaska or a U.S. territory, in year i, if

n gallons. 

ended into diesel that is projected to be consumed

ate or territory opts-in, in gallons. 

eview ***

age 83 of 92 

in the 

ollowing 

(B) for year 

)(2)(B) for 

B) for year 

) for year i, 

aii, in year i, 

in year i, in 

med in the 

d in the 48 

i, if the 

med in 

f the state 

d in Alaska 
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Page 84 of 92 

GEi= The amount of gasoline projected to be produced by exempt small refineries and small 

refiners, in year i, in gallons in any year they are exempt per §§80.1441 and 80.1442. 

 DEi= The amount of diesel fuel projected to be produced by exempt small refineries and small 

refiners in year i, in gallons, in any year they are exempt per §§80.1441 and 80.1442. 

(d) (1) The 2010 price for cellulosic biofuel waiver credits is $1.56 per waiver credit. 

 (2) The 2011 price for cellulosic biofuel waiver credits is $1.13 per waiver credit. 

 (3) The 2012 price for cellulosic biofuel waiver credits is $0.78 per waiver credit. 

5. Section 80.1415 is amended by revising paragraph (c)(2) to read as follows: 

§ 80.1415 How are equivalence values assigned to renewable fuel? 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(2) The application for an equivalence value shall include a technical justification that 

includes all the following: 

(i) A calculation for the requested equivalence value according to the equation in paragraph 

(c)(1) of this section, including supporting documentation for the value of EC used in the 

calculation such as a certificate of analysis from a laboratory that verifies the lower heating value 

in Btu per gallon of the renewable fuel produced. 

(ii) For each feedstock, component, or additive that is used to make the renewable fuel, 

provide a description, the percent input, and identify whether or not it is renewable biomass or is 

derived from renewable biomass. 

(iii) For each feedstock that also qualifies as a renewable fuel, state whether or not RINs have 

been previously generated for such feedstock. 

(iv) A description of the renewable fuel and the production process, including a block 

diagram that shows all inputs and outputs at each step of the production process with a sample 

quantity of all inputs and outputs for one batch of renewable fuel produced. 

* * * * * 

6. Section 80.1426 is amended as follows: 

 a. By revising paragraph (f)(1). 

 b. By revising paragraphs (f)(5)(ii)(A) and (f)(5)(ii)(B). 

§ 80.1426 How are RINs generated and assigned to batches of renewable fuel by 

renewable fuel producers or importers? 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(1) Applicable pathways. D codes shall be used in RINs generated by producers or importers 

of renewable fuel according to the pathways listed in Table 1 to this section, paragraph (f)(6) of 

this section, or as approved by the Administrator. In choosing an appropriate D code, producers 

and importers may disregard any incidental, de minimis feedstock contaminants that are 
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impractical to remove and are related to customary feedstock production and transport. Tables 1 

and 2 to this section do not apply to, and impose no requirements with respect to, volumes of fuel 

for which RINs are generated pursuant to paragraph (f)(6) of this section. 

* * * * * 

(5) * * * 

(ii) (A) A feedstock qualifies under paragraph (f)(5)(i)(A) or (f)(5)(i)(B) of this section 

only if it is collected according to a plan submitted to and accepted by U.S. EPA under the 

registration procedures specified in §80.1450(b)(1)(vii). 

(B) A feedstock qualifies under paragraph (f)(5)(i)(C) of this section only if it is collected 

according to a plan submitted to and approved by U.S. EPA. 

* * * * * 

7. Section 80.1429 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(9) introductory text to 

read as follows: 

§ 80.1429 Requirements for separating RINs from volumes of renewable fuel. 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(6) of this section, any party that owns a volume of 

renewable fuel must separate any RINs that have been assigned to that volume once the volume 

is blended with gasoline or fossil-based diesel to produce a transportation fuel, heating oil, or jet 

fuel. A party may separate up to 2.5 RINs per gallon of blended renewable fuel. 

* * * * * 

(9) Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(2) through (b)(5) and (b)(8) of this section, parties 

whose non-export renewable volume obligations are solely related to either the importation of 

products listed in §80.1407(c) or §80.1407(e) or to the addition of blendstocks into a volume of 

finished gasoline, finished diesel fuel, RBOB, or CBOB, can only separate RINs from volumes 

of renewable fuel if the number of gallon-RINs separated in a calendar year is less than or equal 

to a limit set as follows: 

* * * * * 

8. Section 80.1431 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows: 

§ 80.1431 Treatment of invalid RINs. 

* * * * * 

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this section, improperly generated RINs may be used 

for compliance provided that all of the following conditions and requirements are 

satisfied and the renewable fuel producer or importer who improperly generated the RINs 

demonstrates that the conditions and requirements are satisfied through the reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements set forth below, that: 

(1) The number of RINs generated for a batch exceeds the number of RINs that should have 

been properly generated. 
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(2) The RINs were improperly generated as a result of a broken meter, an inadvertent 

temperature correction error, or an inadvertent administrative error. 

(3) The renewable fuel producer or importer had in place at the time the RINs were 

improperly generated a quality assurance / quality control plan designed to ensure that process 

measuring equipment such as meters and temperature probes are properly maintained and to 

prevent inadvertent administrative errors. 

(4) The renewable fuel producer or importer has taken any appropriate additional steps to 

prevent similar violations from occurring in the future. 

(5) The improperly generated RINs have been transferred to another party. 

(6) The renewable fuel producer or importer has not improperly generated RINs for the 

reasons described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section on more than five batches during any 

calendar year. 

(7) All of the following remedial actions have been implemented within 30 days of the 

EMTS submission date of the improper RIN generation: 

(A) The renewable fuel producer or importer retires an equal number of valid RINs with the 

same D Code and RIN year as the properly generated RINs, using an EMTS retire code of 110. 

(B) The renewable fuel producer or importer reports all the following information to EPA via 

EMTS, which EPA may make publicly available: 

(i) Company name. 

(ii) Company ID. 

(iii) Facility name. 

(iv) Facility ID. 

(v) The date the renewable fuel was produced. 

(vi) The date the RINs were originally generated. 

(vii) The number of RINs generated. 

(vii) The number of RINs improperly generated. 

(ix) RIN year. 

(x) D codes of generated RINs. 

(xi) Batch numbers. 

(xii) EMTS Transaction ID of the original generation. 

(xiii) An explanation of how the violation occurred, and why the improperly generated RINs 

meet the criteria in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. 

(xiv) Steps taken to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future. 

(xv) Information under paragraphs (c)(3), (c)(4), and (c)(5) of this section. 

(xvi) Any additional information the Administrator may require. 

(8) The renewable fuel producer or importer maintains all records relating to the improper 

RIN generation and the associated remedial actions taken, including but not limited to any of the 

following: 

 (A) All information regarding the generation of invalid RINs, including information that is 

sufficient to demonstrate that the improperly generated RINs meet the criteria in paragraph (c)(2) 

of this section. 

(B) Documents demonstrating that the renewable fuel producer or importer has implemented 

the quality control / quality assurance plan required in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, and has 

taken all appropriate additional steps to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future. 

(C) All correspondence with EPA. 
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(D) All EMTS transactions (Generation, Buy, Sell and Retire). 

(E) All Product Transfer Documents (PTDs). 

(d) If EPA determines that a renewable fuel producer improperly generated RINs but did not 

meet the requirements set forth in paragraph (c) of this section, then the requirements of 

paragraph (b) of this section apply from the moment that the invalid RINs were generated in 

EMTS. Once the RIN generator has identified improperly generated RINs to EPA, then EPA 

may remove these improperly generated RINs from EMTS. 

9. Section 80.1449 is amended by revising paragraph (a) introductory text to read as 

follows: 

§ 80.1449 What are the Production Outlook Report requirements? 

(a) By June 1 of each year (September 1 for the report due in 2010), a registered renewable 

fuel producer or importer must submit and an unregistered renewable fuel producer may submit 

all of the following information for each of its facilities, as applicable, to EPA: 

* * * * * 

10. Section 80.1450 is amended by revising paragraphs (d)(1)-(d)(3) to read as follows: 

 

§ 80.1450 What are the registration requirements under the RFS program? 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(1) Any producer of renewable fuel, and any foreign ethanol producer who makes changes to 

his facility that will allow him to produce renewable fuel, as defined in §80.1401 that is not 

reflected in the producer's registration information on file with EPA must update his registration 

information and submit a copy of an updated independent third-party engineering review on file 

with EPA at least 60 days prior to producing the new type of renewable fuel. The producer may 

also submit an addendum to the independent third-party engineering review on file with EPA 

provided the addendum meets all the requirements in paragraph (b)(2) of this section and verifies 

for EPA the most up-to-date information at the producer’s existing facility. 

(2) Any producer of renewable fuel and any foreign ethanol producer who makes any other 

changes to a facility that will affect the producer's registration information but will not affect the 

renewable fuel category for which the producer is registered per paragraph (b) of this section 

must update his registration information 7 days prior to the change. 

(3) All producers of renewable fuel and foreign ethanol producers must update registration 

information and submit an updated independent third-party engineering review according to the 

schedule in paragraph (d)(3)(i) or (d)(3)(ii) of this section, and including the information 

specified in paragraph (d)(3)(iii) of this section: 

(i) For all producers of renewable fuel and foreign ethanol producers registered in calendar 

year 2010, the updated registration information and independent third-party engineering review 

shall be submitted to EPA by January 31, 2013, and by January 31 of every third calendar year 

thereafter; or 
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(ii) For all producers of renewable fuel and foreign ethanol producers registered in any 

calendar year after 2010, the updated registration information and independent third-party 

engineering review shall be submitted to EPA by January 31 of every third calendar year after 

the first year of registration. 

(iii) In addition to conducting the engineering review and written report and verification 

required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the updated independent third-party engineering 

review shall include a detailed review of the renewable fuel producer's calculations used to 

determine VRIN of a representative sample of batches of each type of renewable fuel produced 

since the last registration. The representative sample shall be selected in accordance with the 

sample size guidelines set forth at §80.127. 

* * * * * 

11. Section 80.1451 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(1)(xi) to read as follows: 

§ 80.1451 What are the reporting requirements under the RFS program? 

(a) * * * 

(1) * * * 

(xi) A list of all RINs generated prior to July 1, 2010 that were retired for compliance in the 

reporting period. 

* * * * * 

12. Section 80.1452 is amended revising paragraphs (b)(2), (b)(4), and (b)(5) to read as 

follows: 

§ 80.1452 What are the requirements related to the EPA Moderated Transaction 

System (EMTS)? 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(2) The EPA company registration number of the renewable fuel producer or foreign ethanol 

producer, as applicable. 

* * * * * 

(4) The EPA facility registration number of the facility at which the renewable fuel producer 

or foreign ethanol producer produced the batch, as applicable. 

(5) The EPA facility registration number of the importer that imported the batch, if 

applicable. 

* * * * * 

13. Section 80.1460 is amended by adding a new paragraph (b)(6) to read as follows: 

§ 80.1460 What acts are prohibited under the RFS program? 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(6) Generate a RIN for fuel for which RINs have previously been generated. 
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* * * * * 

14. Section 80.1464 is amended as follows: 

 a. By revising paragraphs (a)(2) introductory text and (a)(2)(i). 

 b. By adding paragraphs (a)(2)(iii) and (a)(2)(iv). 

 c. By revising paragraph (a)(3)(ii). 

 d. By revising paragraphs (b)(2) introductory text and (b)(2)(i). 

 e. By adding paragraphs (b)(2)(iii) and (b)(2)(iv). 

 f. By revising paragraph (b)(3)(ii). 

 g. By revising paragraph (c)(1) introductory text. 

 h. By adding paragraphs (c)(1)(iii) and (c)(1)(iv). 

§ 80.1464 What are the attest engagement requirements under the RFS program? 

* * * * * 

(a) * * * 

(2) RIN Transaction Reports and Product Transfer Documents.

(i) Obtain and read copies of a representative sample, selected in accordance with the 

guidelines in §80.127, of each RIN transaction type (RINs purchased, RINs sold, RINs retired, 

RINs separated, RINs reinstated) included in the RIN transaction reports required under 

§80.1451(a)(2) for the compliance year. 

* * * * * 

(iii) Verify that the product transfer documents for the representative samples under 

paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section of RINs sold and the RINs purchased contain the applicable 

information required under §80.1453 and report as a finding any product transfer document that 

does not contain the required information. 

(iv) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the product transfer documents 

reviewed pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section and report as a finding any exceptions. 

(3) * * * 

(ii) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation used to generate the 

information in the RIN activity reports; compare the RIN transaction samples reviewed under 

paragraph (a)(2) of this section with the corresponding entries in the database or spreadsheet and 

report as a finding any discrepancies; compute the total number of current-year and prior-year 

RINs owned at the start and end of each quarter, purchased, separated, sold, retired and 

reinstated, and for parties that reported RIN activity for RINs assigned to a volume of renewable 

fuel, the volume and type of renewable fuel (as defined in §80.1401) owned at the end of each 

quarter; as represented in these documents; and state whether this information agrees with the 

party's reports to EPA. 

(b) * * * 

(2) RIN Transaction Reports and Product Transfer Documents.

(i) Obtain and read copies of a representative sample, selected in accordance with the 

guidelines in §80.127, of each transaction type (RINs purchased, RINs sold, RINs retired, RINs 

separated, RINs reinstated) included in the RIN transaction reports required under 

§80.1451(b)(2) for the compliance year. 

* * * * * 
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(iii) Verify that the product transfer documents for the representative samples under 

paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section of RINs sold and the RINs purchased contain the applicable 

information required under §80.1453 and report as a finding any product transfer document that 

does not contain the required information. 

(iv) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the product transfer documents 

reviewed pursuant to paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section and report as a finding any exceptions. 

(3) * * * 

(ii) Obtain the database, spreadsheet, or other documentation used to generate the 

information in the RIN activity reports; compare the RIN transaction samples reviewed under 

paragraph (b)(2) of this section with the corresponding entries in the database or spreadsheet and 

report as a finding any discrepancies; report the total number of each RIN generated during each 

quarter and compute and report the total number of current-year and prior-year RINs owned at 

the start and end of each quarter, purchased, separated, sold, retired and reinstated, and for 

parties that reported RIN activity for RINs assigned to a volume of renewable fuel, the volume of 

renewable fuel owned at the end of each quarter, as represented in these documents; and state 

whether this information agrees with the party's reports to EPA. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(1) RIN Transaction Reports and Product Transfer Documents.

* * * * * 

(iii) Verify that the product transfer documents for the representative samples under 

paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section of RINs sold and RINs purchased contain the applicable 

information required under §80.1453 and report as a finding any product transfer document that 

does not contain the required information. 

(iv) Verify the accuracy of the information contained in the product transfer documents 

reviewed pursuant to paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section and report as a finding any exceptions. 

* * * * * 

15. Section 80.1465 is amended by revising paragraph (h)(2) to read as follows: 

§ 80.1465 What are the additional requirements under this subpart for foreign small 

refiners, foreign small refineries, and importers of RFS–FRFUEL? 

* * * * * 

(h) * * * 

(2) Bonds shall be posted by any of the following methods: 

(i) Paying the amount of the bond to the Treasurer of the United States. 

(ii) Obtaining a bond in the proper amount from a third party surety agent that is payable to 

satisfy United States administrative or judicial judgments against the foreign refiner, provided 

EPA agrees in advance as to the third party and the nature of the surety agreement. 

* * * * * 

16. Section 80.1466 is amended by revising paragraph (h)(2) to read as follows: 
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§ 80.1466 What are the additional requirements under this subpart for RINgenerating foreign producers and importers of renewable fuels for which RINs have been 

generated by the foreign producer?

* * * * * 

(h) * * * 

(2) Bonds shall be posted by any of the following methods: 

(i) Paying the amount of the bond to the Treasurer of the United States. 

(ii) Obtaining a bond in the proper amount from a third party surety agent that is payable to 

satisfy United States administrative or judicial judgments against the foreign producer, provided 

EPA agrees in advance as to the third party and the nature of the surety agreement. 

* * * * * 

17. Section 80.1467 is amended by revising paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(2), and (g)(2) to read as 

follows: 

 

§ 80.1467 What are the additional requirements under this subpart for a foreign RIN 

owner? 

* * * * * 

(e) * * * 

(1) The foreign entity shall post a bond of the amount calculated using the following 

equation: 

 Bond = G * $ 0.01 

Where: 

Bond = Amount of the bond in U.S. dollars. 

G = The total of the number of gallon-RINs the foreign entity expects to obtain, sell, transfer 

or hold during the first calendar year that the foreign entity is a RIN owner, plus the number of 

gallon-RINs the foreign entity expects to obtain, sell, transfer or hold during the next four 

calendar years. After the first calendar year, the bond amount shall be based on the actual 

number of gallon-RINs obtained, sold, or transferred so far during the current calendar year plus 

the number of gallon-RINs obtained, sold, or transferred during the four calendar years 

immediately preceding the current calendar year. For any year for which there were fewer than 

four preceding years in which the foreign entity obtained, sold, or transferred RINs, the bond 

shall be based on the total of the number of gallon-RINs sold or transferred so far during the 

current calendar year plus the number of gallon-RINs obtained, sold, or transferred during any 

immediately preceding calendar years in which the foreign entity owned RINs, plus the number 

of gallon-RINs the foreign entity expects to obtain, sell or transfer during subsequent calendar 

years, the total number of years not to exceed four calendar years in addition to the current 

calendar year. 

(2) Bonds shall be posted by any of the following methods: 

(i) Paying the amount of the bond to the Treasurer of the United States. 

(ii) Obtaining a bond in the proper amount from a third party surety agent that is payable to 

satisfy United States administrative or judicial judgments against the foreign RIN owner, 

provided EPA agrees in advance as to the third party and the nature of the surety agreement. 

* * * * * 

(g) * * * 
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(2) Any RIN that is obtained, sold, transferred, or held that is in excess of the number for 

which the bond requirements of this section have been satisfied is an invalid RIN under 

§80.1431. 

* * * * *