EPA: No new small refinery waivers filed, approved in past month

By Erin Voegele | November 16, 2018

On Nov. 16, the U.S. EPA released updated data on small refinery hardship waivers filed under the Renewable Fuel Standard showing that no new petitions were filed or approved between Oct. 10 and Nov. 10.

As of Nov. 10, the EPA has received 15 petitions seeking small refinery waivers for the 2018 compliance year. All 15 petitions are still pending.

For the 2017 compliance year, EPA has received 36 small refinery petitions. To date, the agency has approved 29 petitions, with seven currently pending. The 29 petitions approved to date have exempted approximately 1.46 billion renewable identification numbers (RINs), or approximately 13.62 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel from meeting the RFS blending targets.

For compliance year 2016, the EPA has received 20 small refinery petitions, with 19 approved to date and one still pending. The 19 approved petitions have exempted approximately 790 RINs, or 7.84 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel from meeting RFS blending targets.

For compliance year 2015, the EPA received 14 petitions. The agency approved seven petitions and denied eight. One petition was declared ineligible or withdrawn. The seven approved petitions have exempted approximately 290 million RINs, or 3.07 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel from meeting RFS blending targets.

The EPA received 13 small refinery petitions for compliance year 2014. The agency approved eight petitions, but denied the remaining five. The eight approved petitions exempted 210 million RINs, or approximately 2.3 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel from meeting RFS blending targets.

For the 2013 compliance year, EPA received 16 petitions. The agency approved eight and denied seven. One petition was declared ineligible or withdrawn. The eight approved petitions exempted 190 million RINs, or approximately 1.98 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel form meeting RFS blending obligations.

The EPA is expected to update data on small refinery hardship waivers monthly, with the next updated expected to be released in mid-December.