[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 875 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 875
To provide for a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and
technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol
blends, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2013
Mr. Sensenbrenner (for himself, Mr. Hall, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Broun
of Georgia, Mr. Smith of Texas, and Mr. Griffin of Arkansas) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and
technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol
blends, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Mid-level ethanol blend.--The term ``mid-level ethanol
blend'' means an ethanol-gasoline blend containing greater than
10 and up to and including 20 percent ethanol by volume that is
intended to be used in any conventional gasoline-powered motor
vehicle or nonroad vehicle or engine.
SEC. 2. EVALUATION.
(a) In General.--The Administrator, acting through the Assistant
Administrator of the Office of Research and Development at the
Environmental Protection Agency, shall--
(1) not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, enter into an agreement with the National Academy of
Sciences to provide, within 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, a comprehensive assessment of the
scientific and technical research on the implications of the
use of mid-level ethanol blends, comparing mid-level ethanol
blends to gasoline blends containing 10 percent or zero percent
ethanol; and
(2) not later than 30 days after receiving the results of
the assessment under paragraph (1), submit a report to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate on the findings of the assessment, together
with the agreement or disagreement of the Administrator with
each of its findings.
(b) Waivers.--Prior to the submission of the report under
subsection (a)(2), any waiver granted under section 211(f)(4) of the
Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545 (f)(4)) before the date of enactment of
this Act that allows the introduction into commerce of mid-level
ethanol blends for use in motor vehicles shall have no force or effect.
The Administrator shall grant no new waivers under such section
211(f)(4) until after the submission of the report described under
subsection (a)(2).
(c) Contents.--The assessment performed under subsection (a)(1)
shall include the following:
(1) An evaluation of the short-term and long-term
environmental, safety, durability, and performance effects of
the introduction of mid-level ethanol blends on onroad,
nonroad, and marine engines, onroad and nonroad vehicles, and
related equipment. Such evaluation shall consider the impacts
of qualifying mid-level ethanol blends or blends with higher
ethanol concentrations as a certification fuel. Such evaluation
shall include a review of all available scientific evidence,
including all relevant government and industry data and
testing, including that relied upon by the Administrator and
published at 75 Fed. Reg. 68094 et seq. (November 4, 2010), 76
Fed. Reg. 4662 et seq. (January 26, 2011), and 76 Fed. Reg.
44406 et seq. (July 25, 2011), and identify gaps in
understanding and research needs related to--
(A) tailpipe emissions;
(B) evaporative emissions;
(C) engine and fuel system durability;
(D) onboard diagnostics;
(E) emissions inventory and other modeling effects;
(F) materials compatibility;
(G) operability and drivability;
(H) fuel efficiency;
(I) fuel economy;
(J) consumer education and satisfaction;
(K) cost-effectiveness for the consumer;
(L) catalyst durability; and
(M) durability of storage tanks, piping, and
dispensers for retail.
(2) An identification of areas of research, development,
and testing necessary to--
(A) ensure that existing motor fuel infrastructure
is not adversely impacted by mid-level ethanol blends,
including an examination of potential impacts of mid-
level ethanol blends on metal, plastic, rubber, or any
other materials used in pipes or storage tanks; and
(B) reduce the risk of misfueling by users at
various points in the distribution and supply chain,
including at bulk storage, retail storage, and
distribution configurations by--
(i) assessing the best methods and
practices to prevent misfueling;
(ii) examining misfueling mitigation
strategies for blender pumps, including
volumetric purchase requirements and labeling
requirements;
(iii) assessing the adequacy of and ability
for misfueling mitigation plans approved by the
Environmental Protection Agency; and
(iv) examining the technical standards and
recommendations of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, the American National
Standards Institute, and the International
Organization for Standardization regarding fuel
pump labeling.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
In order to carry out this Act, the Administrator shall utilize up
to $900,000 from the funds made available for science and technology,
including research and development activities, at the Environmental
Protection Agency.
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