Dear Mr. MikeGyver,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the mandate by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that all consumers purchase at least four gallons of gasoline from specified gas pumps after the new E15 ethanol-gasoline blend is introduced into the market. I appreciate the opportunity to learn your views on this issue.
According to a response to an American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) inquiry, the EPA explained that this mandate is an effort to mitigate both E15's extremely dangerous and destructive impact on small and off-road engines found in motorcycles, boats, and lawnmowers. This minimum mandate attempts to dilute residual amounts of E15, which will be left in the shared hose and pumped in to small engines, from having a disastrous effect on such engin es that are not approved for E15 use.
This mandate by the EPA appears problematic because one can certainly envision the situation where the motorcycle rider has less than a four- gallon tank or a where the canister for one's lawnmower only holds two or three gallons. With such scenarios in mind, it can be seen that this mandate, while it may have good intentions behind it, would ultimately prove to be unworkable.
Please be assured I will continue to monitor this situation closely and I will keep your views in mind should any related legislation come up in the committees on which I serve or for a vote in the House of Representatives.
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your views with me.
If you would like to stay informed about federal legislation introduced in the 112th Congress, as well as local issues that may interest you, please take a moment to subscribe to my weekly e-newsletter at
www.lungren.house.gov .
I look forward to discussing this or any other issue affecting our Congressional District with you in the future. For upcoming Town Hall meetings, or for information on issues or legislation pending before Congress, please visit my website at
www.lungren.house.gov . If you need assistance with a federal agency, please call my Gold River office at (916) 859-9906. My staff and I are always available to address your concerns, answer your questions, and listen to your ideas.
Sincerely,
Daniel E. Lungren
Member of Congress