Sen. Grassley seeks answers over ‘irreconcilable statements’ made by refiners pursuing RFS exemptions

Sen. Grassley

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, sent a letter Jan. 14 to the U.S. EPA and three other federal agencies seeking an update on actions they have taken to respond to serious concerns regarding Renewable Fuel Standard refinery exemptions raised by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and two of her neighboring colleagues. 

Bird, along with the attorney generals of South Dakota and Nebraska, sent a joint letter to four federal agencies in October to request an investigation into whether some refiners could be misleading regulators while seeking RFS exemptions. 

Their letter provided a myriad of examples of refiner statements about their strong fiscal position during the same timeframe in which they were claiming disproportionate economic harm while seeking RFS waivers. 

“Iowa Renewable Fuels Association members thank Sen. Grassley for this timely letter, keeping the pressure on EPA to get answers to these very serious questions,” said Monte Shaw, IRFA executive director. “As we continue to see RFS waivers granted, it is imperative that the integrity of the RFS stays intact and transparency is returned to the process. The rural economy is depending on a fully and properly enforced RFS.”

Steve Kuiper, vice president for the Iowa Corn Growers Association, added, “Iowa’s corn growers applaud Sen. Grassley, the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, for his letter seeking updated action on the EPA’s investigation into refiners seeking RFS exemptions, ensuring the EPA remains accountable on issues that directly affect Iowa corn farmers. Protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard is vital to Iowa’s corn industry and we must ensure it is not being taken advantage of.”