The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on a waiver application from Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers (earlier post) to increase the amount of ethanol that can be blended into a gallon of gasoline to up to 15 volume percent (E15).
Since 1978, the limit has been at ten volume percent ethanol (E10) for conventional (non flex-fuel) vehicles. To approve the higher ethanol blend request, the EPA needs to determine that ethanol blends up to 15% will not affect the emission control systems in vehicles. The comment period will be open for 30 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.
Growth Energy submitted the E15 application to EPA on 6 March 2009. Current statute calls for EPA to make a decision within 270 days of receipt, which is 1 December 2009.