DOE recommends EPA include partial “gap” SRE exemptions

In Washington, Reuters reports the Department of Energy recommended to the Environmental Protection Agency that it include partial exemptions from oil refiners seeking to reduce their RIN compliance under the Renewable Fuel Standard through “gap” requests. A total of 58 “gap” requests for small refinery hardship waivers have been submitted and the EPA now has less than 90 days to make decisions on those waiver requests. The rush to file for and get “gap” requests approved is in response to the 10th Circuit court ruling in January that rejected how the EPA had been approving some SRE requests, putting its methodology into doubt.