WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the following statement in response to reports that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) will appeal a recent court ruling affecting small refineries under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). On Jan. 24, 2020, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit invalidated hardship relief for three small refineries, including a small refinery in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
“I applaud President Trump for his decision to fight for small refinery workers in Wyoming and across the country," said Barrasso. “If allowed to stand, the court's decision would effectively end hardship relief for small refineries under the Renewable Fuel Standard. In communities across the country, small refineries employ tens of thousands of Americans and support local economies. By appealing the court's decision, the president is fighting to protect these communities."
Background Information:
On Feb. 27, 2020, Barrasso along with a dozen other senators sent a letter to President Trump urging him to file a petition for a rehearing of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit's decision to invalidate hardship relief for small refineries under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
On Dec. 2, 2019, Barrasso sent a letter to EPA Administrator Wheeler to express his opposition to the agency's proposal regarding the RFS. EPA proposed to reallocate the blending obligations of small refineries, which receive hardship relief under the RFS, to refineries (small and large), which do not receive or are ineligible for hardship relief.
On Aug. 12, 2019, Barrasso praised the Trump administration's decision to grant hardship relief to 31 small refineries under the RFS for compliance year 2018.
