A bill to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study of the feasibility of increasing the consumption in the United States of certain ethanol-blended gasoline.

Bill: 110-s-1828
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]
Introduced: 2007-07-19 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Alcohol as fuel
All terrain vehicles
Energy
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental assessment
Fuel consumption
Fuel storage
Gasoline
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Law
Marine engines
Motor vehicle pollution control
Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
action_date: 2007-07-19
text: 
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the feasibility of increasing consumption in the United States of ethanol-blended gasoline with levels of ethanol of not less than 10% and not more than 40%.

Requires the study to evaluate: (1) production and infrastructure constraints on increasing consumption; (2) the economic, market, and energy impacts of state and regional differences in ethanol blends and of separate and distinctly-labeled fuel storage facilities and dispensers; (3) the environmental impacts of mid-level ethanol blends on evaporative and exhaust emissions from, and on the operation, durability and performance of, on-road, off-road, and marine engines, recreational boats, vehicles, and equipment (engines); and (4) the safety impacts of mid-level ethanol blends on consumers that own and operate such engines.

Amends the Clean Air Act to authorize the Administrator to approve an application to waive specified prohibitions concerning new fuels and fuel additives only after providing for notice and an opportunity for public comment (repeals a provision treating an application as granted if the Adminsitrator fails to act on it within 180 days).

action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of increasing consumption in the United States of ethanol-blended gasoline with levels of ethanol of not less than 10% and not more than 40%.

Requires the study to evaluate: (1) production and infrastructure constraints on increasing consumption; (2) the economic, market, and energy impacts of state and regional differences in ethanol blends and of separate and distinctly-labeled fuel storage facilities and dispensers; (3) the environmental impacts of mid-level ethanol blends on evaporative and exhaust emissions from, and on the operation, durability and performance of, on-road, off-road, and marine engines, recreational boats, vehicles, and equipment (engines); and (4) the safety impacts of mid-level ethanol blends on consumers that own and operate such engines.

Authorizes appropriations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1070.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer with an amendment. With written report No. 110-494.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer with an amendment. With written report No. 110-494.
action_date: 2008-09-17
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-07-19
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2007-07-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9619-9620)
action_date: 2007-07-19
text: Introduced in Senate