Hawkeye Reporter

BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), along with U.S. Rep John Joyce (R-Pa.) and 82 bicameral colleagues, in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw portions of a proposal which would place more stringent vapor emissions requirements on small gasoline bulk plants.

The rule would lower compliance thresholds using plants’ theoretical maximum design capacities, rather than their actual throughput. If finalized, it could drive up compliance costs, impact regular service and choke off supplies to entire communities during emergencies. Given these adverse effects, the group also suggested the EPA convene a Small Business Advocacy Review panel to engage energy marketers in a conversation about the proposal’s consequences 

“We see this proposal inevitably and implicitly leading to higher fuel costs or eliminating intermediate gasoline storage at small bulk plants, impacting supply to end users offering vital services to their local communities and potentially cutting off whole communities during an emergency,” the lawmakers wrote 

“We understand that the EPA takes its mission seriously. However, we hope the EPA will be mindful of its statutory obligation to understand the impact of this rule on small business interests and the American people,” the lawmakers conclude 

A full list of cosigners can be found HERE and text of the letter can be found HERE. 

Original source can be found here.