U.S. eases air pollution rule to boost fuel supply (Reuters)

[Up2Late]

(Tell me you didn't see this move coming.)

U.S. eases air pollution rule to boost fuel supply

Wed Aug 31, 2005 02:51 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - To make more fuel available in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Bush administration said on Wednesday it will waive certain air pollution regulations for gasoline and diesel in all 50 states.

The temporary easing of regulations will end on September 15, said Stephen Johnson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency. "This action will result in an immediate increase in fuel supply. These waivers are necessary to ensure that fuel is available throughout the country," Johnson told reporters.

The waivers will allow gasoline with higher evaporation rates and diesel fuel with a higher sulfur content to be sold. Gasoline futures traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose sharply on Wednesday to a record high of $2.90 a gallon on growing concerns about the U.S. supply.

Katrina's powerful winds and flooding shut nine Gulf Coast refineries with combined capacity of nearly 2 million barrels per day (bpd). Four others were running at reduced rates and two major Gulf Coast pipelines that ship gasoline to northern markets were closed.

<http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=9524838&src=rss/politicsNews>
(more at link above)

[etherealtruth]

1. Heard this on MSNBC , but wanted more detail ...

Thank you!

[Erika]

2. Bush has wanted to do away with EPA rules since he

took office. Can't he back immediate alternatives instead?

Solar panels, wind farms, tax credits to those who purchase electric cars, etc.

[ReadTomPaine]

3. Why would he back alternatives?

This is perfectly in line with his standard policy. I'm surprised you even asked - it's sort of like wondering why the scorpion stings or the snake bites. It's the nature of these creatures to do so, just as it's the GOP's nature to bite and poison some for the sake of others.

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. Poison our Air so we can burn more gas?? (to poison the air even MORE)

.
.
.

Amerika has surely gone insane

(sigh)

[htuttle]

5. Yes, this will assure there are no more big hurricanes!

More CO2 and sulfur dioxide will help a whole lot there.

:eyes:

[uncertainty1999]

6. US Govt waives clean air rules for gasoline, diesel

article

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration said on Wednesday it will waive for all 50 U.S. states certain federal environmental regulations through September 15 for gasoline and diesel due to a disruption in supplies caused by Hurricane Katrina.

[Joebert]

7. And will we see one dime difference in price?

Nope.

Will we have higher profits from cheaper production for a certain set of the administration's largest donors?

Yep.

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

8. The only thing left that will drive prices

is a change in demand

1) Mandatory 55 mph higway limit with doubled fines
2) Make weekly or longer mass-transit passes tax deductible
3) Stongly encourage businesses to adopt a 10 hour x 4 day workweek, where Monday and Friday only 1/2 the workforce is required.

This ought to change demand significantly enough to make up about 10% of demand. Of course cows will fly and fart blueberries before this happens

And of course this will do nothing to change the hugh increase in heating bills this winter. Although if people need to heat theor homes OR drive, I suppose gasoline demand will go down significantly in coming months anyway.

DBDB

[Conservativesux]

15. 55 MPH speed limit is and was a big mistake. Most cars are designed

for 65-70 MPH.

My econobox gets better milage at 70 then 55 for instance.

55 MPH is just another no good reason for police to give us tickets again and make the insurance companies rich.

Jumping to assumptions about ways to save fuel is what gave us the first mandatory 55MPH rule.

Never again!

[Clovis Sangrail]

9. amazing

just fricken' amazing

[Lorien]

10. WTF?

What does one have to do with the other?

Geez-seems like these people are just trying to kill us off as quickly as possible (and so many of my friends have asthma)!

[skids]

11. For all 50 states? What's that gonna do to my emissions system?

The announcement I saw earlier today said just the affected states.

Is using fuel that is below normal U.S. standards going to violate my warranty? How can I tell what fuel is up to standards and what isn't?

[Joebert]

12. Excellent point

I will catapult my car through the White House's front window if this kills my new engine.

[high density]

14. I doubt your car is going to notice the difference

It will still be 87 octane unleaded gas, it just might not have additives like MTBE in it.

[Conservativesux]

16. MTBE is a ground water polluter. Most gasoline no longer contains it.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

13. How long before he says the waivers need to be permanent?

My guess is September 14.

I'm still trying to figure out how waiving the regs for two weeks will make any difference in the current deficit in fuel.

[Sgent]

17. There are

approximately 30 different feul blends used around the country, depending on location, political issues, etc.

This allows for for any blend to be used anywhere in the country. Seeing how we are already seeing rationing this is a good idea IMHO for the short term.

Until the gulf cost refineries and gas piplines get back online, it will allow more flexibility.

[durablend]

18. Seventeen different boutique blends

May be a few more that are mandated by individual municipalities that aren't reflected in the map.

As I said in a different thread, if we can manage to get back into power, I think it's imperative that one standard for gasoline (low pollution) be mandated throughout the entire country (climate adjusted for volatility) so as to lessen the chances of individual market shortages.

[Up2Late]

19. Cool, I've always wondered about this.

I see why they keep pushing MTBE, "Hey, If it's good enough for Texas..."