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EPA’s Wheeler says court decision could change small refinery program

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler says his agency is reviewing how it handles RFS small refinery exemptions in the wake of a recent Tenth Circuit Court ruling. 

“That has the potential of completely—of changing—the small refinery program,” Wheeler says. “So we’re taking a close look at the Tenth Circuit decisions and the ramifications to the program—and we’ll have something on that our shortly.”

The court’s ruling said that EPA did not have the authority to issue small refinery exemption extensions to three companies that were not previously granted waivers. The decision was applauded by corn growers and ethanol producers who say the exemptions have negatively impacted ethanol demand. 

Wheeler made his comments to reporters at last week’s Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio.

Brownfield’s Meghan Grebner contributed to this story.