News Releases from Headquarters

EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waivers for Texas and Georgia

WASHINGTON -- Following Hurricane Harvey’s landfall, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has approved emergency fuel waiver requests from the Texas Comptroller and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

EPA has waived the highway diesel fuel red dye requirements to allow the use of non-road diesel fuel for on-highway vehicles involved in emergency response and disaster recovery in Texas as a result of Hurricane Harvey, though September 15.

EPA has also waived the requirement for low volatility gasoline for 13 counties in the Atlanta Metro Area, as a result of the disruption in the supply to that area caused by Hurricane Harvey.  The waiver will allow the higher volatility fuel to be sold in the Atlanta area through September 15.

The waiver authority was exercised under the Clean Air Act and was granted by EPA Administrator Pruitt, in coordination with the U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. The requests were made by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on behalf of Governor Greg Abbott and Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Richard E. Dunn on behalf of Governor Nathan Deal.

As required by law, EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) evaluated the situation and determined that granting a short-term waiver was consistent with the public interest.  EPA and DOE are continuing to actively monitor the fuel supply situation as a result of Hurricane Harvey, and will act expeditiously if extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist in other areas.

To mitigate any impacts on air quality, the Clean Air Act provides strict criteria for when fuels waivers may be granted, and requires that waivers be limited as much as possible in terms of their geographic scope and duration.

More information: www.epa.gov/enforcement/fuel-waivers