To provide for a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, and for other purposes.

Bill: 113-hr-875
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]
Introduced: 2013-02-27
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative remedies

Air quality

Alternative and renewable resources

Congressional oversight

Consumer affairs

Energy efficiency and conservation

Energy research

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Motor fuels

Motor vehicles

Research administration and funding

Research and development
Latest action: action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 499.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-02-27
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Requires the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to provide a comprehensive assessment of research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends (defined as an ethanol-gasoline blend containing greater than 10% and up to and including 20% ethanol by volume that is intended to be used in any conventional gasoline-powered motor vehicle or nonroad vehicle or engine), comparing mid-level ethanol blends to gasoline blends containing 10% and 0% ethanol; and (2) report on the findings of such assessment and on the agreement or disagreement of the Administrator of EPA with each of such findings. </p> <p>Nullifies waivers granted under the Clean Air Act before this Act's enactment that allow the introduction into commerce of mid-level ethanol blends for use in motor vehicles and prohibits the Administrator from granting any new waivers until after such report is submitted. Requires such assessment to include: (1) an evaluation of the environmental, safety, durability, and performance effects of the introduction of mid-level blends on onroad, nonroad, and marine engines, onroad and nonroad vehicles, and related equipment; and (2) an identification of areas of research, development, and testing necessary to ensure that existing motor fuel infrastructure is not adversely impacted by mid-level ethanol blends and to reduce the risk of misfueling by users at various points in the distribution and supply chain.</p>

action_date: 2014-12-12
action_desc: Reported to House amended, Part I
text: <p>(Sec. 2) Requires the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to:</p> <ul> <li>enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to make a comprehensive assessment of research on the implications of using mid-level ethanol blends, comparing mid-level ethanol blends to gasoline blends containing 10% and 0% ethanol; and</li> <li>report on assessment findings and whether the EPA Administrator agrees or disagrees with each of them. </li> </ul> <p>Defines a mid-level ethanol blend as an ethanol-gasoline blend containing greater than 10% and up to and including 20% ethanol by volume that is intended to be used in any conventional gasoline-powered onroad, nonroad, or marine engine, or onroad or nonroad vehicle.</p> <p>Nullifies waivers granted under the Clean Air Act before the enactment of this Act that allow the introduction into commerce of mid-level ethanol blends for use in motor vehicles, and prohibits the Administrator from granting any new waivers until after the report is submitted.</p> <p>Requires the assessment to include: (1) an evaluation of the environmental, safety, durability, and performance effects of the introduction of mid-level blends on onroad, nonroad, and marine engines, onroad and nonroad vehicles, and related equipment; and (2) an identification of areas of research, development, and testing necessary to ensure that existing motor fuel infrastructure is not adversely impacted by mid-level ethanol blends and to reduce the risk of misfueling by users at various points in the distribution and supply chain.</p> <p>Requires the evaluation to review all available scientific evidence and identify gaps in understanding and research needs related to tailpipe emissions, evaporative emissions, engine and fuel system durability, onboard diagnostics, emissions inventory and other modeling effects, materials compatibility, operability and drivability, fuel efficiency, fuel economy, consumer education and satisfaction, cost-effectiveness for the consumer, catalyst durability, and durability of storage tanks, piping, and dispensers for retail.</p> <p>(Sec. 3) Directs the Administrator to use certain funds made available to the EPA for science and technology, including research and development activities, to carry out this Act.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 875 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 27, 2013 Mr. Sensenbrenner (for himself, Mr. Hall , Mr. Westmoreland , Mr. Broun of Georgia , Mr. Smith of Texas , and Mr. Griffin of Arkansas ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide for a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, and for other purposes.

1. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (2) Mid-level ethanol blend The term mid-level ethanol blend means an ethanol-gasoline blend containing greater than 10 and up to and including 20 percent ethanol by volume that is intended to be used in any conventional gasoline-powered motor vehicle or nonroad vehicle or engine. 2. Evaluation (a) In general The Administrator, acting through the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency, shall— (1) not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to provide, within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, comparing mid-level ethanol blends to gasoline blends containing 10 percent or zero percent ethanol; and (2) not later than 30 days after receiving the results of the assessment under paragraph (1), submit a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate on the findings of the assessment, together with the agreement or disagreement of the Administrator with each of its findings. (b) Waivers Prior to the submission of the report under subsection (a)(2), any waiver granted under section 211(f)(4) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545 (f)(4)) before the date of enactment of this Act that allows the introduction into commerce of mid-level ethanol blends for use in motor vehicles shall have no force or effect. The Administrator shall grant no new waivers under such section 211(f)(4) until after the submission of the report described under subsection (a)(2). (c) Contents The assessment performed under subsection (a)(1) shall include the following: (1) An evaluation of the short-term and long-term environmental, safety, durability, and performance effects of the introduction of mid-level ethanol blends on onroad, nonroad, and marine engines, onroad and nonroad vehicles, and related equipment. Such evaluation shall consider the impacts of qualifying mid-level ethanol blends or blends with higher ethanol concentrations as a certification fuel. Such evaluation shall include a review of all available scientific evidence, including all relevant government and industry data and testing, including that relied upon by the Administrator and published at 75 Fed. Reg. 68094 et seq. (November 4, 2010), 76 Fed. Reg. 4662 et seq. (January 26, 2011), and 76 Fed. Reg. 44406 et seq. (July 25, 2011), and identify gaps in understanding and research needs related to— (A) tailpipe emissions; (B) evaporative emissions; (C) engine and fuel system durability; (D) onboard diagnostics; (E) emissions inventory and other modeling effects; (F) materials compatibility; (G) operability and drivability; (H) fuel efficiency; (I) fuel economy; (J) consumer education and satisfaction; (K) cost-effectiveness for the consumer; (L) catalyst durability; and (M) durability of storage tanks, piping, and dispensers for retail. (2) An identification of areas of research, development, and testing necessary to— (A) ensure that existing motor fuel infrastructure is not adversely impacted by mid-level ethanol blends, including an examination of potential impacts of mid-level ethanol blends on metal, plastic, rubber, or any other materials used in pipes or storage tanks; and (B) reduce the risk of misfueling by users at various points in the distribution and supply chain, including at bulk storage, retail storage, and distribution configurations by— (i) assessing the best methods and practices to prevent misfueling; (ii) examining misfueling mitigation strategies for blender pumps, including volumetric purchase requirements and labeling requirements; (iii) assessing the adequacy of and ability for misfueling mitigation plans approved by the Environmental Protection Agency; and (iv) examining the technical standards and recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the American National Standards Institute, and the International Organization for Standardization regarding fuel pump labeling. 3. Authorization of appropriations In order to carry out this Act, the Administrator shall utilize up to $900,000 from the funds made available for science and technology, including research and development activities, at the Environmental Protection Agency.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 499 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 875 [Report No. 113–667, Part I] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 27, 2013 Mr. Sensenbrenner (for himself, Mr. Hall , Mr. Westmoreland , Mr. Broun of Georgia , Mr. Smith of Texas , and Mr. Griffin of Arkansas ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned December 12, 2014 Additional sponsors: Mr. Campbell , Mr. Hanna , Mr. Walberg , Mr. Stockman , Mr. Petri , Mr. Duncan of South Carolina , Mr. Posey , Mr. Salmon , Mr. Harris , Mr. Jones , Mr. DeFazio , Mr. Runyan , Mr. Nugent , Mr. Lankford , Mr. Benishek , Mr. Wilson of South Carolina , Mr. Ribble , Mr. Perry , and Mr. Crawford December 12, 2014 Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic December 12, 2014 The Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 27, 2013 A BILL To provide for a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, and for other purposes.

1. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (2) Mid-level ethanol blend The term mid-level ethanol blend means an ethanol-gasoline blend containing greater than 10 and up to and including 20 percent ethanol by volume that is intended to be used in any conventional gasoline-powered onroad, nonroad, or marine engine, or onroad or nonroad vehicle. 2. Evaluation (a) In general The Administrator, acting through the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency, shall— (1) not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to provide, within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, comparing mid-level ethanol blends to gasoline blends containing 10 percent or zero percent ethanol; and (2) not later than 30 days after receiving the results of the assessment under paragraph (1), submit a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate on the findings of the assessment, together with the agreement or disagreement of the Administrator with each of its findings. (b) Waivers Prior to the submission of the report under subsection (a)(2), any waiver granted under section 211(f)(4) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7545(f)(4) ) before the date of enactment of this Act that allows the introduction into commerce of mid-level ethanol blends for use in motor vehicles shall have no force or effect. The Administrator shall grant no new waivers under such section 211(f)(4) until after the submission of the report described under subsection (a)(2). (c) Contents The assessment performed under subsection (a)(1) shall include the following: (1) An evaluation of the short-term and long-term environmental, safety, durability, and performance effects of the introduction of mid-level ethanol blends on onroad, nonroad, and marine engines, onroad and nonroad vehicles, and related equipment. Such evaluation shall consider the impacts of qualifying mid-level ethanol blends or blends with higher ethanol concentrations as a certification fuel, and shall consider the effect mid-level ethanol blends have on carbon emissions, taking into account carbon emissions from their life-cycle production, as compared to gasoline blends containing 10 percent or zero percent ethanol. Such evaluation shall include a review of all available scientific evidence, including all relevant government and industry data and testing, including that relied upon by the Administrator and published at 75 Fed. Reg. 68094 et seq. (November 4, 2010), 76 Fed. Reg. 4662 et seq. (January 26, 2011), and 76 Fed. Reg. 44406 et seq. (July 25, 2011), and identify gaps in understanding and research needs related to— (A) tailpipe emissions; (B) evaporative emissions; (C) engine and fuel system durability; (D) onboard diagnostics; (E) emissions inventory and other modeling effects; (F) materials compatibility; (G) operability and drivability; (H) fuel efficiency; (I) fuel economy; (J) consumer education and satisfaction; (K) cost-effectiveness for the consumer; (L) catalyst durability; and (M) durability of storage tanks, piping, and dispensers for retail. (2) An identification of areas of research, development, and testing necessary to— (A) ensure that existing motor fuel infrastructure is not adversely impacted by mid-level ethanol blends, including an examination of potential impacts of mid-level ethanol blends on metal, plastic, rubber, or any other materials used in pipes or storage tanks; and (B) reduce the risk of misfueling by users at various points in the distribution and supply chain, including at bulk storage, retail storage, and distribution configurations by— (i) assessing the best methods and practices to prevent misfueling; (ii) examining misfueling mitigation strategies for blender pumps, including volumetric purchase requirements and labeling requirements; (iii) assessing the adequacy of misfueling mitigation plans approved by the Environmental Protection Agency; and (iv) examining the technical standards and recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the American National Standards Institute, and the International Organization for Standardization regarding fuel pump labeling. 3. Authorization of appropriations In order to carry out this Act, the Administrator shall utilize up to $900,000 from the funds made available for science and technology, including research and development activities, at the Environmental Protection Agency.

December 12, 2014 Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an amendment December 12, 2014 The Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed