[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 38666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14042]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7224-4]
Notice of Web-Based Availability for Public Comments to the EPA
White Paper Regarding Options for Addressing Boutique Fuels in the
Longer Term
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice of Web-based availability for public review of comments
received in response to an EPA White Paper ``Study of Unique Gasoline
Fuel Blends (Boutique Fuels), Effects on Fuel Supply and Distribution
and Potential Improvements' (EPA420-P-01-004); hereafter referred to as
``White Paper''. The ``white paper'' explores a number of options for
addressing boutique fuels in the longer term.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The President's National Energy Policy issued on May 17, 2001,
directed EPA to * * * study opportunities to maintain or improve the
environmental benefits of state and local ``boutique'' clean fuel
programs while exploring ways to increase the flexibility of the fuels
distribution infrastructure, improve fungibility, and provide added
gasoline market liquidity * * *.
In response to this directive, EPA prepared a report that discusses
the actions that EPA will take in the near term to ensure a smoother
transition from winter to summer grade reformulated gasoline (RFG).
That report, entitled: ``Study of Boutique Fuels and Issues Relating to
Transition from Winter to Summer Gasoline'' was sent to the President
and made publicly available. Based on the finding of the Transition
Report, EPA recently completed several actions including elimination of
cumbersome blendstock accounting provisions, modifying regulations
dealing with previously certified gasoline and issuing enforcement
guidance concerning initial tank turnover testing tolerance.
In addition, EPA prepared a White Paper, entitled: ``Study of
Unique Gasoline Fuel Blends (``Boutique Fuels''), Effects on Fuel
Supply and Distribution and Potential Improvements,'' that addressed
boutique fuels in the longer term and explored a number of options that
could reduce the total number of fuels and lay the groundwork for
further study. EPA continues to review the public comments received
regarding the White Paper and will consider appropriate further
actions. Today EPA is announcing the web-based availability of public
comments received in response to the White Paper, ``Study of Unique
Gasoline Fuel Blends (``Boutique Fuels''), Effects on Fuel Supply and
Distribution and Potential Improvements.''
EPA is publishing this notice of availability of public comments on
the White Paper. The White Paper, as well as the Study of Boutique
Fuels and Issues Relating to Transition from Winter to Summer Gasoline,
are both available in the public docket A-2001-20. The docket is
located at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Room
1500, Washington, DC 20460. The telephone number of the docket office
is (202) 260-7548.
The public comments will be made available through EPA's Regulatory
Public Access System (RPAS) at http://www.epa.gov/rpas. The docket ID
is OAR-2002-0003 and the public comments are numbered OAR-2002-0003-
0050 through OAR-2002-0003-0081.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt Gustafson, Office of Air Quality
and Transportation, (202) 564-2224, or by e-mail at
[email protected].
Dated: May 30, 2002.
Margo T. Oge,
Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Environmental
Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 02-14042 Filed 6-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P