Senators scrap proposal to shield biofuels industry from EPA rules

Des Moines Register
by PHILIP BRASHER & DAN PILLER • business@dmreg.com • September 27, 2009

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., and six other senators won't go forward with legislation that would have protected the biofuel industry from some proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules.

The senators proposed an amendment to an agency spending bill that would have barred the agency from considering impacts on international land use in evaluating the carbon footprint of U.S.-produced ethanol and biodiesel.

Harkin received assurances that the agency would "carefully quantify and consider" the uncertainties around analyzing biofuels, spokesman Grant Gustafson said, citing a recent letter from agency Administrator Lisa Jackson.

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