New SEMA alert (E15)

[bull]

Court's Ethanol Decision Jeopardizes Historic Vehicles, Specialty Parts

SAN Urges Congress to Ban E15 http://www.semasan.com/page.asp?content=aa_2012Fed4&g=SEMAGA

The U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit which challenged the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to permit 15% ethanol (E15) content in gasoline for 2001 and newer model year cars and light trucks.  Over a year ago, the EPA raised the amount of ethanol permitted in gasoline from 10% (E10) to 15% (E15).  The agency has approved applications to sell the fuel and it may soon appear at a gas station near you.  The SEMA Action Network (SAN) opposes E15 based on scientific evidence that it causes corrosion with incompatible parts.  In light of the court's decision, the SAN is now seeking passage of congressional legislation (H.R. 3199) that would prevent the EPA from permitting E15 sales until the National Academies has conducted a study on how E15 may impact gas-powered vehicles.  The bill has been approved by the U.S. House Science Committee and is pending on the House floor.  With little time to address the bill before the fall elections, it is important that lawmakers hear from you on this important issue.

We Urge You to Contact Your Members of Congress to Request Their Support for H.R. 3199
• The EPA permits ethanol in gasoline to be increased from 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15).  Ethanol increases water formation that can then create formic acid and corrode metals, plastics and rubber.  Older cars and certain high performance specialty parts are not constructed with corrosion-resistant materials or able to tolerate the higher temperatures at which E15 may burn.  
 
• The EPA has acknowledged the dangers and made it "illegal" to put E15 in pre-2001 vehicles.  However, the EPA is willing to risk destruction of the vehicle/parts by relying solely on a gas pump label cautioning motorists not to misfuel their older vehicles.  The EPA estimates that there are 74 million such vehicles in harm's way, along with millions more boats, lawnmowers and other gas-powered engine products.
 
• Many auto enthusiasts have complained for years about damage caused by E10, which is now in over 90% of gas sold in the U.S.  For example, corrosion has time to damage the engine, fuel line, fuel tank and exhaust systems when classic cars are infrequently driven.  E15 increases the risk of corrosion by 50 percent.
 
• The EPA permitted the sale of E15 before there was conclusive information with respect to materials compatibility, tailpipe emissions and fuel efficiency.
 
• H.R. 3199 would stop the sale of E15 until the National Academies has conducted a study on how gasoline blended with 15 to 20% ethanol may impact gas-powered vehicles.

DON'T DELAY!  Contact your members of Congress immediately by phone or e-mail to request their support of HR 3199.  To identify your federal Representative and Senators in the U.S. Congress, click here: http://semasan.com/lookup.asp?g=semaga

Please e-mail a copy of your e-mail to Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.  Also, please forward this Alert to your fellow car enthusiasts.  Urge them to join the SAN and help defend the hobby! Thank you for your assistance.

[hatersaurusrex]

E10 eats small engines like nobody's business and I can only imagine the havoc it wreaks on older mills.    Ethanol in gas has nothing to do with the environment, it's about trading OPEC for Monsanto and the associated dollars involved.

[bull]

The bill that needs our support: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3199:

112th CONGRESS


1st Session



H. R. 3199

To provide a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, and for other purposes.



IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES



October 13, 2011

Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for himself and Mr. BENISHEK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



A BILL

To provide a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) while blends of up to 10 percent ethanol are currently required in the American motor fuels market as the result of renewable fuels mandates and incentives for ethanol production and use, significant environmental and energy research, development, and demonstration is needed on the effects of higher percentage ethanol blends before permitting widespread use in the United States;
(2) government and industry testing suggests significant negative environmental, safety, durability, health, and performance effects for onroad and nonroad vehicles and infrastructure resulting from use of mid-level ethanol blends containing up to 15 percent ethanol; and
(3) the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to allow the use of mid-level ethanol blends in model year 2001 and newer motor vehicles--
(A) failed to consider the full spectrum of available government and industry scientific and technical research on such effects; and
(B) relied on the results of a single study thereby violating the Environmental Protection Agency's scientific integrity principles.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) ADMINISTRATOR- The term `Administrator' means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) MID-LEVEL ETHANOL BLEND- The term `mid-level ethanol blend' means an ethanol-gasoline blend containing 15 or 20 percent ethanol by volume that is intended to be used in any conventional gasoline-powered motor vehicle or nonroad vehicle or engine.

SEC. 3. EVALUATION.

(a) In General- Prior to the implementation of any waiver, partial waiver, or decision pursuant to current law and not later than 45 days after enactment of this Act, the Administrator, acting through the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development at the Environmental Protection Agency, shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies to provide a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends. This assessment should compare mid-level ethanol blends to gasoline blends containing 10 and zero percent ethanol.
(b) Contents- The assessment performed under subsection (a) shall--
(1) evaluate the short-term and long-term environmental, safety, durability, and performance effects of the introduction of mid-level ethanol blends on onroad, nonroad and marine engines, onroad and nonroad vehicles, and related equipment. Such evaluation shall include a review of all available scientific evidence, including all relevant government and industry data and testing, including that relied upon by the Administrator and published at 75 Fed. Reg. 68094 (November 4, 2010) and 76 Fed. Reg. 4662 (January 26, 2011), gaps in understanding, and research needs related to--
(A) tailpipe emissions;
(B) evaporative emissions;
(C) engine and fuel system durability;
(D) on-board diagnostics;
(E) emissions inventory and other modeling effects;
(F) materials compatibility;
(G) operability and drivability;
(H) fuel efficiency;
(I) catalyst durability; and
(J) durability of storage tanks, piping and dispensers for retail; and
(2) identify research and development, including testing, necessary to permit existing motor fuels (distribution and supply) infrastructure to handle mid-level ethanol blends while preventing or mitigating against adverse impacts such as corrosion of metal, plastic, rubber, or any other materials used in pipes or storage tanks, ensuring fuel fungiblity, and protecting against intentional and unintentional misfueling by users at various points in the distribution and supply chain, including--
(A) bulk storage;
(B) retail storage and distribution configurations; and
(C) standardization of a label consistent with applicable technical standards and recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the American National Standards Institute, and the International Organization for Standardization.
(c) Report- Not later than 18 months after the enactment of this Act, the National Academies shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology a report on the results of such assessment, including necessary research and development.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

In order to carry out this Act, the Administrator shall utilize up to $900,000 from the funds made available for research and development under Public Law 96-569.

[myk]

I can only imagine that the tree huggers will force this thing in and the ignorant politicians will pass it because it "sounds good for the little planet."  In other news, I'm going to have to go out and buy my AR-15 type rifle sooner than I was planning because I'm being told that there are new bills and movements towards banning assault weapons again. 

I thought growing up was supposed to be more fun?

[Ghoste]

The problem is all of the stupid people grew up too and some of them found employment in positions which affect us all.  (politicians, "green" lobbyists etc.)