BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

TELL THE EPA TO DENY WAIVER PETITION TO ALLOW E15
The increase in Ethanol in Fuel Blends has not had scientific testing!

Attention Action Alert Subscriber,

The alert concerns BRC members and supports who have marine engines (this means boats and Personal Water Craft (PWC) owners).  Please take action today!

As you may know, a pro-ethanol lobbying organization called Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers recently submitted a formal petition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting a waiver under the Clean Air Act to increase ethanol blend levels in gasoline up to 15 percent (E15) by volume. As is required by law, the EPA on April 21 published a Notice for Comment in the Federal Register, beginning a 30-day public comment period that closes on May 21, 2009. There is enormous political pressure on federal agencies to allow a high blend level despite well-known problems with mid-level ethanol gasoline.

We are asking all interested parties to submit comments to the EPA arguing that the waiver petition be denied. Although the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has been working with the EPA and Department of Energy (DOE) to initiate testing on marine engines and equipment and has formally submitted a test plan for our sector, there has been no testing to date by any federal agency on the impacts of mid-level ethanol blends on marine products. As you all know, marine engines are designed and certified to run on not more than E10, the current legal allowable blend limit. Increasing the limit will likely bring marine engines out of compliance with federal clear air laws, damage marine engines due to higher temperatures, pose safety risks to boaters and sportsmen and likely mean warranties will be voided.

We ask you to support a science-first approach and urge the EPA to deny the ethanol industry's E15 waiver request unless and until independent and comprehensive scientific testing is completed on a full range of marine engines and other products.

CLICK HERE to send comments (due before May 21) directly to the EPA. It doesn't have to take more than one minute. If you have a little more time and can customize your letter, it will make your message even stronger.  http://capwiz.com/nmma/issues/alert/?alertid=13199386

Thanks you for taking action before the May 21, 2009 deadline,
Jack Welch
Special Projects Consultant
BlueRibbon Coalition
Phone: (303) 324-7185