EPA and DOJ settle with Utah biodiesel producer over RIN fraud

In Utah, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement with Utah-based Washakie Renewable Energy, LLC, that resolves allegations that the company generated more than 7.2 million invalid renewable fuel credits worth more than $2 million.

From January to October of 2010, Washakie generated more than 7.2 million Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs, and reported to EPA that it produced biodiesel associated with those RINs at its Plymouth, Utah facility. During that time, however, Washakie did not produce any biodiesel at the Plymouth facility. The biodiesel associated with the 7.2 million RINs would have accounted for a reduction of emissions equivalent to more than 30,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Washakie has purchased and retired from the market an equivalent number of RINs, which achieved this reduction of emissions.