[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70426-70427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26821]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 80 and 1090
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0324; FRL-9083-01-OAR]
RIN 2060-AV11
Public Hearing for RFS Annual Rules
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notification of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a
virtual public hearing to be held on January 4, 2022, on its proposal
for the ``Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program: RFS Annual Rules,''
which was signed on December 7, 2021. An additional session will be
held on January 5, 2022, if necessary, to accommodate the number of
testifiers that sign-up to testify. EPA is proposing the 2020, 2021,
and 2022 renewable fuel standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based
diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. EPA is also
proposing to address the remand of the 2016 standard-setting
rulemaking, extend certain RFS compliance and attest engagement
reporting deadlines for the 2019, 2020, and 2021 compliance years, and
several regulatory changes to the RFS program.
DATES: EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on January 4, 2022. An
additional session will be held on January 5, 2022, if necessary, to
accommodate the number of testifiers that sign-up to testify. Please
refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for additional
information on the public hearing.
ADDRESSES: The virtual public hearing will be held on January 4, 2022.
An additional session will be held on January 5, 2022, if necessary, to
accommodate the number of testifiers that sign-up to testify. The
hearing will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) and end when all parties
who wish to speak have had an opportunity to do so, but no later than 5
p.m. ET. All hearing attendees (including even those who do not intend
to provide testimony) should register for the public hearing by
December 20, 2021. Information on how
[[Page 70427]]
to register can be found at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/public-hearing-information-proposed-renewable-fuel-standards-2020. Additional information regarding the hearing appears
below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Parsons, Office of Transportation
and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards Division, Environmental
Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105;
telephone number: (734) 214-4479; email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is proposing to modify the 2021 and 2022
statutory volume targets for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and
total renewable fuel, and to establish the 2022 volume target for
biomass-based diesel, as well as to modify the previously established
cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volume
requirements for 2020. In addition, EPA is proposing the 2020, 2021,
and 2022 renewable fuel standards for all four of the above biofuel
categories. EPA is also proposing to address the remand of the 2016
standard-setting rulemaking, as well as several regulatory changes to
the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program including regulations for the
use of biointermediates to produce qualifying renewable fuel,
flexibilities for regulated parties, clarifications of existing
regulations, and an extension of certain RFS compliance and attest
engagement reporting deadlines. The RFS Annual Rules proposal was
signed on December 7, 2021, and will be published separately in the
Federal Register on a later date. The pre-publication version is
available at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/proposed-volume-standards-2020-2021-and-2022.
Participation in virtual public hearing. Please note that EPA is
deviating from its typical approach because the President has declared
a national emergency. Because of current Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, as well as state and local orders
for social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19, EPA cannot hold
in-person public meetings at this time.
Information on how to register for the hearing can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/public-hearing-information-proposed-renewable-fuel-standards-2020. The last day to
pre-register to speak at the hearing will be December 20, 2021.
Each commenter will have 3 minutes to provide oral testimony. EPA
may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, but will
not respond to the presentations at that time. Written statements and
supporting information submitted during the comment period will be
considered with the same weight as oral comments and supporting
information presented at the public hearing.
Please note that any updates made to any aspect of the hearing will
be posted online at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/public-hearing-information-proposed-renewable-fuel-standards-2020. While EPA expects the hearing to go forward as set forth above,
please monitor the website or contact the person listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to determine if there are any
updates. EPA does not intend to publish a document in the Federal
Register announcing updates.
If you require the services of a translator or special
accommodations such as audio description, please pre-register for the
hearing and describe your needs by December 20, 2021. EPA may not be
able to arrange accommodations without advance notice.
How can I get copies of the proposed action and other related
information? EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0324. EPA has also developed a website for the
RFS program, including the proposal, which is available at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program. Please refer to the notice
of proposed rulemaking for detailed information on accessing
information related to the proposal.
William Charmley,
Director, Assessment and Standards Division, Office of Transportation
and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2021-26821 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P