Royal Watkins

Bill 119 hr 1346, also known as the Ethanol Waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure Act, aims to make changes to the Clean Air Act in regards to the ethanol waiver for Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). The RVP is a measure of how quickly fuel evaporates, and higher RVP levels can contribute to air pollution.

This bill seeks to amend the Clean Air Act to allow for a waiver for ethanol blends with a higher RVP during the summer months. Currently, the Clean Air Act restricts the RVP of gasoline blends containing ethanol to 9.0 pounds per square inch (psi) during the summer months, which limits the amount of ethanol that can be blended into gasoline.

The purpose of this bill is to provide more flexibility for fuel producers and retailers to blend ethanol into gasoline during the summer months, which could help increase the use of ethanol as a renewable fuel source. Proponents of the bill argue that this change could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of renewable fuels. Opponents of the bill, however, argue that increasing the RVP waiver for ethanol blends could lead to higher levels of air pollution and harm public health. They also raise concerns about the impact on the oil industry and potential disruptions to the fuel market. Overall, Bill 119 hr 1346 seeks to address the issue of ethanol blending restrictions under the Clean Air Act and promote the use of renewable fuels, while also considering potential impacts on air quality and public health.

H.R. 4214 from the 119th Congress, introduced on June 27, 2025, aims to compel the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator to release regulations and guidance alongside any final rule adjusting a national ambient air quality standard. This would include details on implementing the standard and the process for submitting and evaluating preconstruction permit applications under the updated standard, among other related objectives.