NACS and seven organizations say changing the point of obligation under the RFS would add complexity and uncertainty.
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) along with other organizations in the fuel marketing community, petroleum producers and renewable fuels producers have urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny recent petitions to move the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, pointing out that such a change would add complexity and uncertainty to the current RFS program.
On Nov. 22, the EPA formally announced that it plans to retain the existing “point of obligation” under the RFS program in a Federal Register notice.
“The fact that stakeholders with different points of view of the RFS have joined together to oppose efforts to change the point of obligation is significant,” said Paige Anderson, director of government relations at NACS. “Petitioners’ arguments just do not hold water and EPA should follow its well-supported conclusion and formally reject a change to the RFS.”
In addition to NACS, signatories to the letter opposing a change in the point of obligation included:
Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA)
American Petroleum Institute (API)
Growth Energy
National Association of Truckstop Operators (NATSO)
Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA)
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)
Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA)
NACS said it commends EPA for protecting the American consumer and for preventing an unnecessary upheaval in the nation’s fuel market.
As part of the Nov. 22 Federal Register notice, EPA will be accepting public comments through January 23, 2017. NACS said it intends to file detailed comments with EPA in support of its proposed denial and that it will provide its members with information on how to file their own comments with EPA in the near future.
