GAO Calls for Wider Environmental Reviews, Lower Federal Ethanol Subsidy

Congress should require U.S. EPA to consider more widely the environmental effects of biofuels production when deciding which fuels are eligible under the federal biofuels use mandate, according to congressional investigators.

The suggestion is one part of a wide-ranging Government Accountability Office report released today on increased biofuels production. A 2007 law requires the amount of biofuels in the nation's transportation fuels mix to reach 36 billion gallons by 2022.

"For the environment, many experts believe that increased biofuels production could impair water quality -- by increasing fertilizer runoff and soil erosion -- and also reduce water availability, degrade air and soil quality, and adversely affect wildlife habitat," the report states.

"However, the extent of these effects is uncertain and could be mitigated by such factors as improved crop yields, feedstock selection, use of conservation techniques, and improvements in biorefinery processing," it adds. Future increases in use of cellulosic feedstocks -- such as grasses and crop wastes -- can reduce harmful effects, GAO notes.

The 2007 law that boosted the renewable fuels standard requires biofuels to have lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, by varying degrees, than fossil fuels.

But GAO says Congress should weigh amending that law by requiring EPA to more widely assess the environmental effects of increased production. And EPA should use this wider review to determine which fuels qualify under the standard.

"This would ensure that all relevant environmental effects are considered concurrently with lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions," GAO states.

EPA, however, says in a response to the report that congressional action is not needed to ensure that the environmental footprint of biofuels is examined thoroughly. The agency says the recommendation might best be addressed through the administration's newly created interagency biofuels working group.

EPA's reply also notes that the agency has authority under other environmental laws to mitigate harmful effects, and that the 2007 law requires an EPA evaluation of the environmental effects of biofuels and a report to Congress.

But GAO notes that its suggestion would explicitly require EPA to not only assess the broad environmental footprint but also use the results in determining which biofuels are eligible under the RFS.

The report was requested by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). The EPW committee has jurisdiction over the RFS, and Collins is among the senators who have questioned expanded ethanol use.

Posted by

Scott Doggett October 2, 2009, 1:57 PM

Permalink

Categories:

Alternative Fuels, Biofuels, Emissions, Energy Companies, Ethanol, Legislation

Technorati Tags:

Alternate Fuel, Biofuels Funding, Ethanol, GOA