Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0240-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Proposed Anti-backsliding Determination for Renewable Fuels and Air Quality
Posted Date: 2020-06-08T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 110 (Monday, June 8, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34688-34689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11991]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 80

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0240; FRL-10009-02-OAR]

Proposed Anti-Backsliding Determination for Renewable Fuels and 
Air Quality

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing that no 
additional measures are necessary pursuant to Clean Air Act (CAA) 
section 211(v) to mitigate the adverse air quality impacts of the 
renewable fuel volumes required under CAA section 211(o). EPA is 
providing an opportunity for the public to comment on this proposed 
determination.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2020-0240, at https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot 
be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. EPA may publish any comment 
received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 
Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a 
written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment 
and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will 
generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of 
the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing 
system). For additional submission methods, the full

[[Page 34689]]

EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia 
submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please 
visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Cook, Office of Transportation 
and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards Division, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; 
telephone number: 734-214-4827; email address: cook.rich@epa.gov. 
Comments on this proposal should not be submitted to this email 
address, but rather through https://www.regulations.gov as discussed in 
the ADDRESSES section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    CAA section 211(v) requires EPA to take two actions. First, EPA 
must complete ``a study to determine whether the renewable fuel volumes 
required under [CAA section 211(o)] will adversely impact air quality 
as a result in changes of vehicle and engine emissions of air 
pollutants.'' The study, commonly known as the ``anti-backsliding 
study,'' must include consideration of different blend levels, types of 
renewable fuels, and available vehicle technologies, as well as 
appropriate national, regional, and local air quality control measures. 
EPA has completed the required study, which is available in the docket 
for this action and at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/anti-backsliding-determination-and-study.
    Second, considering the results of the study, EPA must proceed down 
one of two paths: Either ``promulgate fuel regulations to implement 
appropriate measures to mitigate, to the greatest extent achievable . . 
. any adverse impacts on air quality, as a result of the renewable 
volumes required by [Section 211]'' or ``make a determination that no 
such measures are necessary.''

II. Proposed Determination

    We are proposing to determine that no additional appropriate fuel 
control measures are necessary to mitigate adverse air quality impacts 
of required renewable fuel volumes. More information on this 
determination can be found in the supporting document, which is 
available in the docket for this action and at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/anti-backsliding-determination-and-study. We seek comment on this proposed determination.

Andrew Wheeler,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-11991 Filed 6-5-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P