Photo: Hurricane Sandy. Credit: NOAA
FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA
Approves Temporary Fuel Waivers to Assist States Impacted by Hurricane
Sandy
WASHINGTON
- EPA has exercised its authority under the Clean Air Act to
temporarily waive certain federal clean gasoline requirements for gasoline sold
and distributed in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi,
Georgia, Alabama, District of Columbia, New York, Maryland, Connecticut,
Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, and
Rhode Island. The waiver was granted by EPA in coordination with the Department
of Energy (DOE).
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson determined that, as a
result of effects of Hurricane Sandy, extreme and unusual supply circumstances
exist, which may result in a temporary shortage of gasoline compliant with
federal regulations. The federal waiver will help ensure an adequate supply of
fuels in the impacted states.
The waiver allows the sale and distribution
of conventional gasoline in a number of Eastern states that are required to use
reformulated gasoline, and allows a number of additional states to mix
reformulated gasoline and conventional gasoline to remove potential barriers to
the supply of gasoline to the region