Barrasso Applauds Court’s Decision on Hardship Waivers for Small Refineries Under Biofuel Mandate

Source: By U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee • Posted: Thursday, August 17, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the following statement on the decisionof the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit to reject the Obama administration’s denial of hardship waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to Sinclair Oil’s two refineries in Wyoming.

‘The Obama administration’s EPA exceeded its authority when it ignored the Department of Energy’s recommendations and denied small refineries hardship waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard,’ said Barrasso. ‘I’m glad the Court has recognized this and given EPA an opportunity to follow the law.’

Under the RFS, a small refinery may petition the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator for a hardship waiver on the basis of ‘disproportionate economic hardship.’ Despite the Department of Energy’s recommendation that EPA grant Sinclair a partial waiver for 2014 and 2015, the EPA denied Sinclair’s petitions.

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