NMMA files suit challenging EPA ethanol rules

CHICAGO – The National Marine Manufacturers Association along with the Engine Products Group (EPG) recently filed a suit at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit challenging the EPA’s rules regarding gas pump warning labels and other misuse controls for gasoline pumps containing up to 15 percent ethanol.

The EPG is a coalition made up of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM).

These groups requested in June that the EPA ensure the sale and availability of ethanol/gasoline blends of less than 10 percent ethanol and develop stronger methods of preventing misfueling of marine engines and equipment.

The new rules would not do enough to prevent misfueling of marine engines and equipment, according to the NMMA and EPG. The groups are concerned that misfueling will not be mitigated solely by English-only labels and recommended that further measures, like physical misfueling controls and a consumer education campaign, would prevent damage to marine engines.

NMMA has also petitioned to require E10 (10 percent ethanol/gasoline blend) be sold at gas stations, as they are commonly used to refuel boats and power equipment. The NMMA fears that not requiring the sale of E10 could cause its price to rise, encouraging customers to misfuel with E15 gasoline.

The full petition is available in PDF here: 9/10 NMMA Petition for Review

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