EPA INDICATES STATE ETHANOL MANDATE NOT ELIMINATED UNTIL MARCH

U.S. EPA attorneys have told air board officials that they do not expect the reformulated gasoline (RFG) oxygen requirement to be lifted in California until March 2006, despite assumptions by state and industry representatives that the new federal energy act calls for the mandate to be repealed immediately. The delay is significant to state officials because of the potential implications of RFG blending flexibility, while the oil industry views the action as a critical factor in determining various production and...