WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that it has denied small refineries’ petitions for hardship relief under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Small refineries filed the petitions in response to a ruling by a federal court in January of this year.   

“The administration promised to protect small refineries. Today’s announcement by EPA breaks that promise,” said Barrasso. “It is one of many poor decisions, which have already contributed to the loss of one small refinery in my home state of Wyoming. If the administration doesn’t find an alternative means to provide relief quickly, our nation is likely to lose additional refineries. That would be a disaster for American workers and the refineries that fuel our economy.” 

Background Information: 

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has jurisdiction over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). 

On Feb. 27, 2020, Barrasso along with a dozen other senators sent a letter to President Trump urging him to file a petition for a rehearing of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit’s decision to invalidate hardship relief for small refineries under the RFS.  

On August 12, 2019, Barrasso praised the Trump administration’s decision to grant hardship relief to 31 small refineries under the RFS for compliance year 2018.

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