Ethanol E15 - 36 group oppose US Senate proposal

''The Clean Air Act mandates a detailed scientific review before new fuels, additives, or fuel blends are introduced into commerce.''

Thirty-six US environmental and industry groups signed a letter that went to the US senate majority and minority leaders on Monday urging opposition to any amendment to the proposed energy bill that would allow the sale of gasoline with more than 10 percent ethanol.

Some groups within the US ethanol industry are seeking approval before the US Congress for proposals to increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline (petroleum) by 50 percent - from the current 10 percent to 15 percent.

Marine industry groups signing the letter were

American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI),
American Lung Association
American Meat Institute (AMI),
American Petroleum Institute (API),
American Sportfishing Association (ASA)
American Watercraft Association (AWA),
Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM)
Association of Marina Industries
Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society/ESPN Outdoors
Boat Owners Association of the United States (Boat U.S.)
Center for Coastal Conservation
Clean Air Task Force
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF)
Earthjustice
Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA)
Environmental Working Group
Friends of the Earth
Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA)
The Hispanic Institute
Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC)
National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)
National Boating Federation (NBF)
National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR)
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)
National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA)
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)
Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA)
Sierra Club
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council)
Snack Food Association (SFA)
Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA)

The text of the letter reads as follows:

The undersigned organizations urge you to oppose any amendment to the upcoming Senate energy bill
that would authorize legislatively the introduction into commerce of ethanol blends higher than ten
percent (so-called mid-level ethanol blends) for use in conventional gasoline-powered engines.

Such an amendment would short-circuit existing two- year joint Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Department of Energy and industry research projects designed to insure that mid-level ethanol blends
do not harm gasoline-powered engines, defeat emissions control devices, pose safety risks to
consumers, or increase emissions from these engines.

Sound science, environmental protection and consumer safety -- not politics – must guide this important
decision. Section 211(f) of the Clean Air Act mandates a detailed scientific review before new fuels,
additives, or fuel blends are introduced into commerce.

EPA is in the midst of carrying out this review, including soliciting public comment from all stakeholders on the introduction of mid-level ethanol blends. This review must be allowed to continue and must not be pre-empted by Congress.

We collectively urge you to reject any attempt to attach a mid-level ethanol authorization amendment
during the Senate’s consideration of energy legislation in the coming weeks and months.

Such an amendment would be bad for consumers, bad for safety, bad for the environment, and, by placing
politics over sound science, bad public policy.

source: sail-world