Biodiesel Challenges Waivers in Court

Biofuel, petroleum and environmental interests have filed legal briefs in a broader lawsuit challenging the EPA on its implementation of the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes, according to documents filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington. Petroleum, biodiesel and environmental interest groups are attacking the 2018 volumes rule on a number of fronts.Those include a challenge to EPA's granting of small-refinery waivers; an agency decision not to consider a petition to change the RFS point of obligation from refiners and importers of gasoline and diesel to ethanol blenders; the process used to set volumes for advanced biofuels, including biodiesel; and the agency's alleged lack of consideration for how the volumes could affect endangered species.EPA also faces separate lawsuits by biofuel and agriculture interest groups on the agency's granting of small-refinery waivers.