I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3199 
To provide a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research 
on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 13, 2011 
Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for himself and Mr. BENISHEK) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology 
A BILL 
To provide a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and 
technical research on the implications of the use of mid- 
level ethanol blends, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) while blends of up to 10 percent ethanol are 
currently required in the American motor fuels mar-
ket as the result of renewable fuels mandates and in-
centives for ethanol production and use, significant 
environmental and energy research, development, 
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and demonstration is needed on the effects of higher 
percentage ethanol blends before permitting wide-
spread use in the United States; 
(2) government and industry testing suggests 
significant negative environmental, safety, durability, 
health, and performance effects for onroad and 
nonroad vehicles and infrastructure resulting from 
use of mid-level ethanol blends containing up to 15 
percent ethanol; and 
(3) the decision by the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency to allow the use of mid-level ethanol 
blends in model year 2001 and newer motor vehi-
cles— 
(A) failed to consider the full spectrum of 
available government and industry scientific 
and technical research on such effects; and 
(B) relied on the results of a single study 
thereby violating the Environmental Protection 
Agency’s scientific integrity principles. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
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(2) MID-LEVEL ETHANOL BLEND.—The term 
‘‘mid-level ethanol blend’’ means an ethanol-gasoline 
blend containing 15 or 20 percent ethanol by volume 
that is intended to be used in any conventional gaso-
line-powered motor vehicle or nonroad vehicle or en-
gine. 
SEC. 3. EVALUATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Prior to the implementation of 
any waiver, partial waiver, or decision pursuant to current 
law and not later than 45 days after enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator, acting through the Assistant Ad-
ministrator of the Office of Research and Development at 
the Environmental Protection Agency, shall enter into an 
agreement with the National Academies to provide a com-
prehensive assessment of the scientific and technical re-
search on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol 
blends. This assessment should compare mid-level ethanol 
blends to gasoline blends containing 10 and zero percent 
ethanol. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The assessment performed under 
subsection (a) shall— 
(1) evaluate the short-term and long-term envi-
ronmental, safety, durability, and performance ef-
fects of the introduction of mid-level ethanol blends 
on onroad, nonroad and marine engines, onroad and 
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nonroad vehicles, and related equipment. Such eval-
uation shall include a review of all available scientific 
evidence, including all relevant government and in-
dustry data and testing, including that relied upon 
by the Administrator and published at 75 Fed. Reg. 
68094 (November 4, 2010) and 76 Fed. Reg. 4662 
(January 26, 2011), gaps in understanding, and re-
search needs related to— 
(A) tailpipe emissions; 
(B) evaporative emissions; 
(C) engine and fuel system durability; 
(D) on-board diagnostics; 
(E) emissions inventory and other mod-
eling effects; 
(F) materials compatibility; 
(G) operability and drivability; 
(H) fuel efficiency; 
(I) catalyst durability; and 
(J) durability of storage tanks, piping and 
dispensers for retail; and 
(2) identify research and development, including 
testing, necessary to permit existing motor fuels 
(distribution and supply) infrastructure to handle 
mid-level ethanol blends while preventing or miti-
gating against adverse impacts such as corrosion of 
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metal, plastic, rubber, or any other materials used in 
pipes or storage tanks, ensuring fuel fungiblity, and 
protecting against intentional and unintentional 
misfueling by users at various points in the distribu-
tion and supply chain, including— 
(A) bulk storage; 
(B) retail storage and distribution configu-
rations; and 
(C) standardization of a label consistent 
with applicable technical standards and rec-
ommendations of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, the American Na-
tional Standards Institute, and the Inter-
national Organization for Standardization. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the en-
actment of this Act, the National Academies shall submit 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology a 
report on the results of such assessment, including nec-
essary research and development. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
In order to carry out this Act, the Administrator shall 
utilize up to $900,000 from the funds made available for 
research and development under Public Law 96–569. 
Æ 
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