Contact:

Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797

Katie Brown Katie_Brown@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-2160        

Inhofe Statement on EPA Refusal To Grant Waiver on RFS Mandate

 Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today commented on the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to reject a waiver requested by several states for relief from an ethanol mandate under the Renewable Fuels Standard. Senator Inhofe joined six of his Senate colleagues in August on a letter requesting that EPA grant the waiver.

“This is what we should expect now that Obama has been reelected:  Costly mandates with no flexibility - even in the face of compliance difficulties and rising prices,” Senator Inhofe said. “The benefits of the RFS mandate are exaggerated and are now imposing substantial costs on the production of transportation fuels and food.  In response to these concerns five state governors petitioned the EPA to either reduce or waive the RFS mandates. Further, nearly 200 members of Congress - from both the Senate and House - publicly supported a waiver.

“It appears our concerns have fallen on deaf ears. Congress gave EPA the waiver authority to use in instances of hardship.  If not now, when?”

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