EPA: Finally sees the light on E15?
#1
04-22-2014, 06:57 PM
EPA: Finally sees the light on E15?
I don't see where anyone else has posted this today, which came into my email this morning from the MRF (Motorcycles Rider Foundation)
U.S. EPA to FTC: Ethanol Harmful To Motorcycles
Recently the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a new rule regarding the labeling of ethanol blended fuels in order to “help fuel purchasers identify the correct fuel for their vehicles.” Ironically, the new rule would exempt any fuel meeting the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) E15 waiver from the proposed labeling requirements.
In the record section of the proposed rule, the EPA provides information under the “objections to the proposed labels” section openly stating that ethanol is harmful to motor vehicles, and specifically mentions that ethanol is damaging to motorcycles.
The EPA indicates two major ways that ethanol affects vehicles. First, ethanol enleans the air to fuel ratio by increasing the proportion of oxygen relative to hydrocarbons. This can lead to higher exhaust temperatures and can possibly cause catalyst failure by gradually deteriorating emission control equipment. Next, other component failures can occur due to materials compatibility issues with ethanol use.
The EPA also found, that ethanol can damage older conventional cars, heavy-duty engines, motorcycles, and non-road engines, explaining: “Older motor vehicles, heavy-duty gasoline engines and vehicles, motorcycles, and especially non-road products cannot fully compensate for the change in the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio as ethanol concentration increases. Over time, this enleanment caused by ethanol may lead to thermal degradation of the emissions control hardware and ultimately catalyst failure. Higher ethanol concentration will exacerbate the enleanment effect in these vehicles, engines, and equipment and therefore increase the potential of thermal degradation and risk of catalyst failure. In addition to enleanment, ethanol can cause materials compatibility issues, which may lead to other component failure and ultimately exhaust and/or evaporative emission increases. For older motor vehicles, heavy-duty gasoline engines and vehicles, motorcycles, and non-road products, the potential for materials compatibility issues increases with higher ethanol concentration.”
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation has been attempting to block the widespread sale of E15 and higher blends until they have been fully studied. The MRF supports U.S. House of Representatives bill H.R. 875, a bill that would halt the sale of E15 and commission an independent scientific study to determine all of the effects of E15 on an internal combustion motor.
The lack of demand for E15 has the EPA proposing that ethanol manufactures produce less ethanol than they have for the past few years.
Additionally a study done by the University of Nebraska, the third highest corn producing state in the country, found that using corn crop residue (considered a ready source for ethanol production) is harmful to the environment by generating more greenhouse gasses than traditional gasoline.
The Federal Trade Commission is still taking public comments on the labeling requirements. Simply slapping another label on a fuel pump is not the best way to prevent misfueling. Separate pumps, like diesel, need to be developed and installed. Let the FTC know that you don’t like the fact that fuels meeting the E15 EPA waiver are exempted, and more labels are not going to lead to less misfuels. The deadline is June 2nd and you can leave your polite public comments here: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitC...2014-0088-0001
More important than the labeling changes is the fact that the EPA is publicly admitting that ethanol is harmful to motorcycles, something the MRF has been stating for years. This revelation by the EPA is the sort of push we can use to rollback the sale of E15.
University of Nebraska study:
http://newsroom.unl.edu/releases/201...m+corn+residue
If any of you are looking for a good organization to join and pay dues to, to protect your rights as a biker, you can't do any better than the MRF.
U.S. EPA to FTC: Ethanol Harmful To Motorcycles
Recently the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a new rule regarding the labeling of ethanol blended fuels in order to “help fuel purchasers identify the correct fuel for their vehicles.” Ironically, the new rule would exempt any fuel meeting the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) E15 waiver from the proposed labeling requirements.
In the record section of the proposed rule, the EPA provides information under the “objections to the proposed labels” section openly stating that ethanol is harmful to motor vehicles, and specifically mentions that ethanol is damaging to motorcycles.
The EPA indicates two major ways that ethanol affects vehicles. First, ethanol enleans the air to fuel ratio by increasing the proportion of oxygen relative to hydrocarbons. This can lead to higher exhaust temperatures and can possibly cause catalyst failure by gradually deteriorating emission control equipment. Next, other component failures can occur due to materials compatibility issues with ethanol use.
The EPA also found, that ethanol can damage older conventional cars, heavy-duty engines, motorcycles, and non-road engines, explaining: “Older motor vehicles, heavy-duty gasoline engines and vehicles, motorcycles, and especially non-road products cannot fully compensate for the change in the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio as ethanol concentration increases. Over time, this enleanment caused by ethanol may lead to thermal degradation of the emissions control hardware and ultimately catalyst failure. Higher ethanol concentration will exacerbate the enleanment effect in these vehicles, engines, and equipment and therefore increase the potential of thermal degradation and risk of catalyst failure. In addition to enleanment, ethanol can cause materials compatibility issues, which may lead to other component failure and ultimately exhaust and/or evaporative emission increases. For older motor vehicles, heavy-duty gasoline engines and vehicles, motorcycles, and non-road products, the potential for materials compatibility issues increases with higher ethanol concentration.”
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation has been attempting to block the widespread sale of E15 and higher blends until they have been fully studied. The MRF supports U.S. House of Representatives bill H.R. 875, a bill that would halt the sale of E15 and commission an independent scientific study to determine all of the effects of E15 on an internal combustion motor.
The lack of demand for E15 has the EPA proposing that ethanol manufactures produce less ethanol than they have for the past few years.
Additionally a study done by the University of Nebraska, the third highest corn producing state in the country, found that using corn crop residue (considered a ready source for ethanol production) is harmful to the environment by generating more greenhouse gasses than traditional gasoline.
The Federal Trade Commission is still taking public comments on the labeling requirements. Simply slapping another label on a fuel pump is not the best way to prevent misfueling. Separate pumps, like diesel, need to be developed and installed. Let the FTC know that you don’t like the fact that fuels meeting the E15 EPA waiver are exempted, and more labels are not going to lead to less misfuels. The deadline is June 2nd and you can leave your polite public comments here: http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitC...2014-0088-0001
More important than the labeling changes is the fact that the EPA is publicly admitting that ethanol is harmful to motorcycles, something the MRF has been stating for years. This revelation by the EPA is the sort of push we can use to rollback the sale of E15.
University of Nebraska study:
http://newsroom.unl.edu/releases/201...m+corn+residue
If any of you are looking for a good organization to join and pay dues to, to protect your rights as a biker, you can't do any better than the MRF.
#2
04-22-2014, 08:40 PM
I got a message from AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) on Friday as well:
EPA acknowledges ethanol damages engines
Proposed new labeling rule would prove ineffective
Submit comments today!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has publicly acknowledged that ethanol in gasoline can damage internal combustion engines by increasing exhaust temperatures and indirectly causing component failures.
Yet, even with this knowledge, the Federal Trade Commission is recommending more labeling at the gas pump as its solution to the problem.
The American Motorcyclist Association believes that is not enough.
The Federal Trade Commission issued a rule proposal to provide requirements for rating and certifying ethanol blends and requirements for labeling blends of more than 10 percent ethanol.
But this rule exempts the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s E15-approved label.
This rule is for an additional label to be placed on the fuel pump “in response to the emergence of ethanol blends as a retail fuel and the likely increased availability of such blends.”
With this rule, it only means gasoline with higher blends of ethanol will emerge into the marketplace.
The AMA believes this proposal will cause even more confusion given the events surrounding the rollout of E15 into the marketplace. The AMA opposes E15 and any fuel containing more than ten percent ethanol because it can cause engine and fuel system failure to your motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle, and can void manufacturers’ warranties.
According to the EPA, “[e]thanol impacts motor vehicles in two primary ways. First ... ethanol enleans the [air/fuel] ratio (increases the proportion of oxygen relative to hydrocarbons) which can lead to increased exhaust gas temperatures and potentially increase incremental deterioration of emission control hardware and performance over time, possibly causing catalyst failure. Second, ethanol can cause materials compatibility issues, which may lead to other component failures.”
“In motorcycles and nonroad products [using E15 and higher ethanol blends], EPA raised engine-failure concerns from overheating.”
The FTC is seeking public comments now on the rule proposal that calls for the additional label to identify higher ethanol blended fuels. You can tell the agency how this proposal will cause even more confusion, given the events surrounding the rollout of E15 into the marketplace.
The AMA does not believe this new label will do what it is intended to do – keep users from misfueling with higher ethanol blended fuels. It simply does not provide clear direction. Another label on a blender pump that already has many labels will not be sufficient to avoid misfueling and could be easily overlooked.
The proposed rule provides no direction on where on the pump the label should be located. Moreover, the FTC is proposing that the label be rounded to the nearest factor of 10. How will this accurately inform the consumer of the type of fuel called for by the vehicle owner’s manual? Will a fuel containing 11 percent to 14 percent ethanol be labeled as 10 percent ethanol? Is the FTC aware that manufacturers’ warranties are valid only for the use of fuel containing 10 percent ethanol by volume or less?
Help protect 22 million motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles in America -- and the riders who depend on their safe operation -- from inadvertent misfueling. Tell the FTC you want safe access to fuel for motorcycles and ATVs!
The loser in any inadvertent misfueling event is the motorcyclist and ATV rider. The AMA stands behind its members, and all riders, in calling for more thorough safeguards against misfueling.
The deadline for comments is Jun. 2! Act today to ensure your voice is heard.
For the latest information on the AMA’s efforts to protect your access to safe fuel, go to http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/amafuelforthought.aspx.
Now more than ever, it is crucial that you and your riding friends become members of the AMA to help protect our riding freedoms. More members mean more clout against the opponents of motorcycling and ATV riding. That support will help fight for your rights – on the road, trail, racetrack, and in the halls of government. If you are a motorcycle rider, join the AMA at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join.
Proposed new labeling rule would prove ineffective
Submit comments today!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has publicly acknowledged that ethanol in gasoline can damage internal combustion engines by increasing exhaust temperatures and indirectly causing component failures.
Yet, even with this knowledge, the Federal Trade Commission is recommending more labeling at the gas pump as its solution to the problem.
The American Motorcyclist Association believes that is not enough.
The Federal Trade Commission issued a rule proposal to provide requirements for rating and certifying ethanol blends and requirements for labeling blends of more than 10 percent ethanol.
But this rule exempts the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s E15-approved label.
This rule is for an additional label to be placed on the fuel pump “in response to the emergence of ethanol blends as a retail fuel and the likely increased availability of such blends.”
With this rule, it only means gasoline with higher blends of ethanol will emerge into the marketplace.
The AMA believes this proposal will cause even more confusion given the events surrounding the rollout of E15 into the marketplace. The AMA opposes E15 and any fuel containing more than ten percent ethanol because it can cause engine and fuel system failure to your motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle, and can void manufacturers’ warranties.
According to the EPA, “[e]thanol impacts motor vehicles in two primary ways. First ... ethanol enleans the [air/fuel] ratio (increases the proportion of oxygen relative to hydrocarbons) which can lead to increased exhaust gas temperatures and potentially increase incremental deterioration of emission control hardware and performance over time, possibly causing catalyst failure. Second, ethanol can cause materials compatibility issues, which may lead to other component failures.”
“In motorcycles and nonroad products [using E15 and higher ethanol blends], EPA raised engine-failure concerns from overheating.”
The FTC is seeking public comments now on the rule proposal that calls for the additional label to identify higher ethanol blended fuels. You can tell the agency how this proposal will cause even more confusion, given the events surrounding the rollout of E15 into the marketplace.
The AMA does not believe this new label will do what it is intended to do – keep users from misfueling with higher ethanol blended fuels. It simply does not provide clear direction. Another label on a blender pump that already has many labels will not be sufficient to avoid misfueling and could be easily overlooked.
The proposed rule provides no direction on where on the pump the label should be located. Moreover, the FTC is proposing that the label be rounded to the nearest factor of 10. How will this accurately inform the consumer of the type of fuel called for by the vehicle owner’s manual? Will a fuel containing 11 percent to 14 percent ethanol be labeled as 10 percent ethanol? Is the FTC aware that manufacturers’ warranties are valid only for the use of fuel containing 10 percent ethanol by volume or less?
Help protect 22 million motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles in America -- and the riders who depend on their safe operation -- from inadvertent misfueling. Tell the FTC you want safe access to fuel for motorcycles and ATVs!
The loser in any inadvertent misfueling event is the motorcyclist and ATV rider. The AMA stands behind its members, and all riders, in calling for more thorough safeguards against misfueling.
The deadline for comments is Jun. 2! Act today to ensure your voice is heard.
For the latest information on the AMA’s efforts to protect your access to safe fuel, go to http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/rights/amafuelforthought.aspx.
Now more than ever, it is crucial that you and your riding friends become members of the AMA to help protect our riding freedoms. More members mean more clout against the opponents of motorcycling and ATV riding. That support will help fight for your rights – on the road, trail, racetrack, and in the halls of government. If you are a motorcycle rider, join the AMA at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join.
#4
04-22-2014, 08:55 PM
If you aren't a member already, please consider joining one or both of these organizations to help support their efforts to get our voices heard in Washington.
The AMA is also fighting the motorcycles-only checkpoints that some states have been setting up lately.
I don't know about the MRF, but the AMA has a 'defender' level membership for $10 more per year. The extra money paid goes to their legal/lobbying foundation. When you factor in the roadside assistance for all of your vehicles and travel-related discounts, the membership is a pretty good deal, anyway.
I would guess the MRF is similar?
The AMA is also fighting the motorcycles-only checkpoints that some states have been setting up lately.
I don't know about the MRF, but the AMA has a 'defender' level membership for $10 more per year. The extra money paid goes to their legal/lobbying foundation. When you factor in the roadside assistance for all of your vehicles and travel-related discounts, the membership is a pretty good deal, anyway.
I would guess the MRF is similar?
#7
04-22-2014, 09:39 PM
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I first became aware of the "Ethanol Sham" after reading my new HD owners manual last September. After some Internet research, I no longer burn anything but ethanol free (91 octane in NB Canada) gas in anything I own. MNPGRider has done us a service with this thread. As others have suggested, the government and media will treat this like the biggest secret since the Templar treasure.
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#8
04-22-2014, 10:04 PM
It's nearly impossible to find ethanol-free gas here.
I have to ride to Lake Geneva, about 30 miles away. Not that that's entirely a bad thing - there are many awesome backroads to ride on to get there, and it's basically a resort town with lots of activity in the summer.
There is a Shell station being built 3 blocks from my house right now; I can only hope they'll have ethanol-free gas, but it's not likely.
All of the gas stations around here that had ethanol-free gas, at least in premium, seem to have stopped selling it at all over the last 5 or 6 years.
I have to ride to Lake Geneva, about 30 miles away. Not that that's entirely a bad thing - there are many awesome backroads to ride on to get there, and it's basically a resort town with lots of activity in the summer.
There is a Shell station being built 3 blocks from my house right now; I can only hope they'll have ethanol-free gas, but it's not likely.
All of the gas stations around here that had ethanol-free gas, at least in premium, seem to have stopped selling it at all over the last 5 or 6 years.
#9
04-22-2014, 10:17 PM
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#10
04-22-2014, 10:46 PM
Stellar HDF Member