Overview

Title

To amend the Clean Air Act with respect to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure under that Act, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H.R. 9885 is a plan to change some rules about adding certain kinds of gas to our cars, making it easier to use more corn-based fuel, but some people worry it might not be healthy for the air we breathe.

Summary AI

H.R. 9885 aims to amend the Clean Air Act in relation to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure. The bill proposes changes to make it easier to introduce certain fuels or fuel additives into the market by establishing conditions under which these fuels would be permissible. It also addresses the generation of credits for small refineries under the renewable fuel program, providing specific provisions for credits related to compliance in the years 2016 to 2018.

Published

2024-09-27
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-09-27
Package ID: BILLS-118hr9885ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
3
Words:
1,130
Pages:
6
Sentences:
14

Language

Nouns: 326
Verbs: 67
Adjectives: 29
Adverbs: 2
Numbers: 60
Entities: 100

Complexity

Average Token Length:
3.64
Average Sentence Length:
80.71
Token Entropy:
4.79
Readability (ARI):
39.06

AnalysisAI

Summary of the Bill

The legislative piece, titled the "Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2024," seeks to amend existing provisions of the Clean Air Act, particularly in relation to ethanol fuel regulations and emission standards. The bill primarily addresses the ethanol waiver concerning Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), which is significant in regulating air pollutants emanating from vehicles. It aims to offer increased regulatory flexibility for ethanol blends used in fuels. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions that affect small refineries, allowing them certain credits related to renewable fuel compliance.

Significant Issues

One major issue centers around the proposed changes to Reid Vapor Pressure standards. By expanding the acceptable range from a strict 10 percent to 10 to 15 percent, there are concerns about potential negative impacts on air quality and public health. This regulatory change could be seen as favoring ethanol producers by broadening the usage of ethanol-enhanced fuels, possibly at the cost of environmental integrity.

Another problematic aspect involves the bill's reference to the "Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2024," without adequately explaining its context or existing status. Such omission provides insufficient clarity and might lead to confusion or difficulty in the law’s implementation or intersection with other laws.

The technical language used throughout the bill presents barriers for the general public, making comprehension difficult for those without a specialized background. The complexity could hinder public understanding of the possible impacts and benefits of these legislative changes.

Potential Public Impact

Broadly, the bill might result in varying consequences for public interest and national fuel policy. By adjusting the RVP specifications, there could be both positive and negative outcomes. On one hand, increasing the availability and use of ethanol could enhance energy independence and support American agriculture. On the other hand, it might exacerbate air pollution and environmental health issues, which remain a concern for the general populace.

Impact on Stakeholders

For ethanol producers and farmers, this bill could represent an economic boon, potentially facilitating greater market access for corn-based ethanol products and driving demand. Retailers might also benefit from expanded fuel offerings and consumer choices.

Conversely, environmental groups may express significant concern about the implications of looser RVP limits, as they might contribute to higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during warmer months, which can worsen ozone pollution.

Small refineries potentially stand to gain from provisions allowing reclamation or transfer of credits for past compliance years, a concession possibly reflecting challenges these entities face in satisfying renewable fuel standards. However, disparities in eligibility criteria for credit reclaim might arise, risking uneven application and perceived unfair benefits to certain refineries.

From a regulatory perspective, there remains an absence of clarity on cost implications for the EPA and related stakeholders, which poses questions regarding fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Conclusion

While the "Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2024" proffers certain flexibility and economic benefits, these advantages must be carefully balanced with environmental protection and health outcomes. The terminology and structural complexity of the legislative text could lead to misunderstandings and necessitate further clarification to ensure all stakeholders have a comprehensive grasp of its ramifications. As such, stakeholders may need to actively engage in its implementation and offer input to optimize the regulatory balance intended by the bill.

Issues

  • The amendment in Section 2 regarding the increase in Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) limit from 10 percent to a range of 10 to 15 percent may raise environmental concerns. This change could significantly impact air quality and may favor ethanol producers at the expense of environmental health, thus raising questions about the implications for public health and whether adequate environmental assessments have been conducted.

  • Section 2 also references the 'Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2024' without providing sufficient context or details, creating ambiguity about the status or implications of its provisions. This lack of clarity might lead to uncertainty in its implementation or potential conflicts with existing legislation.

  • The language in Sections 2 and 3 is complex and full of legal and technical jargon, which might make the document inaccessible to the general public and non-experts. This complexity can result in misunderstandings about the legislation and its potential impact.

  • In Section 3, the provision that allows for the return or application of credits from past compliance years (2016-2018) could be seen as favoring certain small refineries, potentially undermining consistency and fairness in regulatory enforcement. There are concerns that this provision might unjustly benefit those who did not comply on time.

  • Section 3 lacks clarity on the criteria for small refineries to be eligible for returned credits, particularly relating to the submission and status of petitions. This ambiguity could lead to inconsistent application of the rule and might disadvantage small refineries that cannot meet the unclear criteria.

  • The potential financial impact or cost implications for the EPA or other stakeholders involved in the process described in Section 3 are not addressed. The lack of fiscal accountability or transparency about the economic consequences could be concerning for both government stakeholders and taxpayers.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the Act states that the official name of this legislation is the "Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2024."

2. Ethanol waiver Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section amends the Clean Air Act to modify the rules concerning waivers for ethanol fuels and the Reid Vapor Pressure requirements. It updates the criteria for allowing certain fuels into commerce and adjusts the percentage limits on vapor pressure, particularly for ethanol blends, to support broader use and regulatory flexibility.

3. Generation of credits by small refineries under the renewable fuel program Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section outlines a new rule for small refineries under the Clean Air Act, allowing them to regain or reuse credits from compliance years 2016-2018 for future use or apply them to their EPA accounts. This applies to refineries that had outstanding petitions or had their petitions denied, as long as specific conditions about retired credits and dates are met.