[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 38666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14042]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7224-4]


Notice of Web-Based Availability for Public Comments to the EPA 
White Paper Regarding Options for Addressing Boutique Fuels in the 
Longer Term

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of Web-based availability for public review of comments 
received in response to an EPA White Paper ``Study of Unique Gasoline 
Fuel Blends (Boutique Fuels), Effects on Fuel Supply and Distribution 
and Potential Improvements' (EPA420-P-01-004); hereafter referred to as 
``White Paper''. The ``white paper'' explores a number of options for 
addressing boutique fuels in the longer term.

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SUMMARY: The President's National Energy Policy issued on May 17, 2001, 
directed EPA to * * * study opportunities to maintain or improve the 
environmental benefits of state and local ``boutique'' clean fuel 
programs while exploring ways to increase the flexibility of the fuels 
distribution infrastructure, improve fungibility, and provide added 
gasoline market liquidity * * *.
    In response to this directive, EPA prepared a report that discusses 
the actions that EPA will take in the near term to ensure a smoother 
transition from winter to summer grade reformulated gasoline (RFG). 
That report, entitled: ``Study of Boutique Fuels and Issues Relating to 
Transition from Winter to Summer Gasoline'' was sent to the President 
and made publicly available. Based on the finding of the Transition 
Report, EPA recently completed several actions including elimination of 
cumbersome blendstock accounting provisions, modifying regulations 
dealing with previously certified gasoline and issuing enforcement 
guidance concerning initial tank turnover testing tolerance.
    In addition, EPA prepared a White Paper, entitled: ``Study of 
Unique Gasoline Fuel Blends (``Boutique Fuels''), Effects on Fuel 
Supply and Distribution and Potential Improvements,'' that addressed 
boutique fuels in the longer term and explored a number of options that 
could reduce the total number of fuels and lay the groundwork for 
further study. EPA continues to review the public comments received 
regarding the White Paper and will consider appropriate further 
actions. Today EPA is announcing the web-based availability of public 
comments received in response to the White Paper, ``Study of Unique 
Gasoline Fuel Blends (``Boutique Fuels''), Effects on Fuel Supply and 
Distribution and Potential Improvements.''
    EPA is publishing this notice of availability of public comments on 
the White Paper. The White Paper, as well as the Study of Boutique 
Fuels and Issues Relating to Transition from Winter to Summer Gasoline, 
are both available in the public docket A-2001-20. The docket is 
located at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Room 
1500, Washington, DC 20460. The telephone number of the docket office 
is (202) 260-7548.
    The public comments will be made available through EPA's Regulatory 
Public Access System (RPAS) at http://www.epa.gov/rpas. The docket ID 
is OAR-2002-0003 and the public comments are numbered OAR-2002-0003-
0050 through OAR-2002-0003-0081.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt Gustafson, Office of Air Quality 
and Transportation, (202) 564-2224, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

    Dated: May 30, 2002.
Margo T. Oge,
Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Environmental 
Protection Agency.
[FR Doc. 02-14042 Filed 6-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P