Recent Federal Actions
This list includes recent federal actions, such as Federal Register notices and rulemaking actions, agency directives or agency communications, that are all publicly available. These actions relate to alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction and fuel economy measures. When rulemakings are finalized, they will move to the list of Federal Laws and Incentives.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized the “One National Program Rule” previously proposed in 2018 under “The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks.” Per this rule, EPA withdraws the Clean Air Act preemption waiver previously granted to California for greenhouse gas (GHG) and low emission vehicle (LEV) programs. NHTSA finalized the regulatory text implementing its statutory authority to set nationally applicable fuel economy standards, which makes explicit that State programs would also be preempted under NHTSA's authorities. Pursuant to this September 19, 2019 final rule, the agencies anticipate issuing a final rule on GHG and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for model year 2021 to 2026 light duty vehicles in the near future.
For more information, refer to the final rule and EPA’s One National Program Rule website.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the 2020 volume requirements and associated percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that must be blended into transportation fuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2). EPA also proposed the 2021 volume requirements for biomass-based diesel.
The proposed renewable fuel volumes are as follows:
| 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cellulosic biofuel (million gallons) | 540 | N/A |
| Biomass-based diesel (billion gallons) | 2.43 | 2.43 |
| Advanced biofuel (billion gallons) | 5.04 | N/A |
| Renewable fuel (billion gallons) | 20.04 | N/A |
| 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Cellulosic biofuel | 0.29% |
| Biomass-based diesel | 1.99% |
| Advanced biofuel | 2.75% |
| Renewable fuel | 10.92% |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule to modify the volatility requirements for gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol (E15) during the summer season and to implement additional requirements for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2). E15 is granted a waiver to exceed the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements for gasoline that are detailed in the Clean Air Act Section 211(h)(1) by 1 pound per square inch from May 1 through September 15. In addition, E15 is defined as “substantially similar” to gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol (E10), which is used to certify light-duty vehicles under the Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards program.
EPA also finalized additional requirements for RINs, including requiring public disclosure when D6 RIN holdings exceed specified thresholds, the reporting of additional price and affiliate data to EPA, and that obligated parties report new RIN holding information quarterly.
For more information, refer to the final rule and EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard Program website.