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4/4/2011-Ethanol blend concerns grow

Industry groups were among a number of recreational players that have filed a petition asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure the continued sale and availability of gasoline blends of no greater than 10 percent ethanol (E10).
The groups behind the petition are concerned retailers are not prepared to offer both E10 and E15 at their stations, and given the choice, may opt to offer E15 only.
Recreational groups are concerned their products were not designed, built or warrantied to run on any fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol.
“Misfueling is our prime concern, and we foresee that consumers will be forced to fuel with E15 unless EPA requires stations to carry both legacy (E10) and new E15 fuels,” Kris Kiser, speaking on behalf of the organizations, said in a press release.
The organizations point out that EPA’s prior experience with fuel transitions and misfueling demonstrates that labeling alone is insufficient to prevent misfueling. In 1974, as EPA led the transition to unleaded fuels, the agency reported a misfueling rate of 15 percent over 10 years after the introduction of unleaded gasoline.
The organizations include groups from the motorcycle, outdoor power equipment, PWC, snowmobile, auto and marine industries.
The petition requests the EPA?ensure continued consumer choice by requiring the continued sale of gasoline blends of no greater than E10 fuel. PSB

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