EPA Scott Pruitt Visits Iowa

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt was in Iowa December 1 and PMCI President Dawn Carlson was there to hear first-hand his thoughts and goals for the Agency. Pruitt spoke to mostly farmers at an “invite-only” meeting about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), water quality issues and his deregulation plans for the Agency. The day before, EPA released their 2018 RFS volume obligations, 19.29 billion gallons total which included an increase for ethanol, reduction for advanced biofuels and flatline for biomass-based diesel. This announcement left biodiesel fans extremely disappointed. Pruitt told the audience if Congress did not act on the RVP waiver for E15 and if it provided EPA with such authority, he would allow the 1# waiver [so E15 could be legally dispensed in all 2001 and newer vehicles during the summertime RVP period]. When asked his opinion of the Trump Administration, Pruitt responded that his role is to bless the presidency and bless the administration with his work. He was straight forward with his answers to questions and left the audience with a sense that he was committed to bringing common-sense to the Agency, particularly when it comes to regulation of waterways.