EPA granted 49 RFS exemptions for 2016, 2017 to small refiners

EPA said it has granted 49 exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for small refiners, according to a letter sent by EPA to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. The pace was about double the 10-12 annual exemptions typically granted by the Obama administration.Under departed EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, EPA granted 20 exemptions for the 2016 compliance year representing 790 billion Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) in blending, and it denied one. The agency granted 29 exemptions for the 2017 compliance year, and it is considering four more, according to the letter.The letter said the agency has received no applications for 2018.EPA would not reveal the names of companies getting the exemptions, saying that information is confidential, though reports have indicated that Andeavor and HollyFrontier have received them.“The idea that disclosing to Congress the names of waiver recipients somehow reveals confidential business information doesn’t make any sense and isn’t acceptable,” Grassley said in a statement. “Providing Congress with the names of recipients wouldn’t reveal any details about their operations or finances. It’s a necessary first step to making sure the law is being followed."Grassley said he looks forward to meeting with acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to discuss this and other RFS issues.