News Briefs: (1) EPA Proposes More Consistent Regulation of Ethanol Production Plants; (2) EPA Scientists Share Innovations with Public and Businesses
*News Briefs* If you need more information on any of these subjects, call the listed Press Officer. For Release: (Washington, D.C. -- Wednesday, March 1, 2006) *(1) EPA Proposes More Consistent Regulation of Ethanol Production Plants* *(2) EPA Scientists Share Innovations with Public and Businesses* *(1) EPA Proposes More Consistent Regulation of Ethanol Production Plants *Contact: John Millett, (202) 564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov EPA is proposing to apply the same air permitting requirements for facilities that produce ethanol for fuel or human consumption. Ethanol, a clean-burning renewable fuel, can be used to meet the requirements of the Renewable Fuels Standard Program, which is designed to reduce dependence on foreign oil by doubling the use of vehicle fuels from American crops by 2012. Ethanol is produced at corn milling facilities for use as fuel or human consumption. While the processes are similar, these facilities are currently treated differently under Clean Air Act permitting programs. EPA's proposal would provide equal treatment for corn milling facilities, regardless of whether they produce ethanol for fuel or human consumption. Currently, corn milling facilities that produce fuel and emit less than 100 tons per year of air pollutants are not subject to the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting program. Conversely, corn milling facilities that produce products for human consumption do not trigger PSD until they emit more than 250 tons per year. The proposal would establish the same emissions limits under the PSD program - 250 tons per year - regardless of whether the ethanol end product is used for fuel or human consumption. The thresholds for the New Source Review and Title V permitting programs would remain at current levels, which vary from 10 to 100 tons per year depending on the area in which the facility is located. EPA will accept comment on this proposal for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. For more information about PSD and this proposal, visit: http://www.epa.gov/nsr/actions.html [ http://www.epa.gov/nsr/actions.html ] *(2) EPA Scientists Share Innovations with Public and Businesses *Contact: Suzanne Ackerman, (202) 564-4355 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov* *More than 130 EPA scientific patents of technologies that benefit the environment can now be viewed at the new EPA TechMatch web site. Under the Federal Technology Transfer Act (FTTA) of 1986, government agencies may patent and license inventions, which assist new ideas from government laboratories to enter the marketplace. Entrepreneurs can view and license EPA technologies to develop new products that offer both environmental protection and economic growth. For example, EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., has patented several inventions related to hybrid motor vehicles, that could result in greater fuel mileage in new vehicles manufactured in the U.S. "EPA is fortunate to have some of the best scientists in the world who do cutting-edge environmental research," said Dr. George Gray, EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Research and Development. "TechMatch will encourage entrepreneurs to license technologies developed by EPA scientists for new products that both strengthen environmental protection and improve the growth of our economy." TechMatch includes third-party independent analyses of the commercial potential of the technologies, information on in-house research, and links to the full U.S. Patent and Trademark Office description of each patent. Technologies that have been assessed to have particularly high market potential are also featured. TechMatch was developed by EPA in coordination with the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, and is available at: http://www.epatechmatch.com/ [ http://www.epatechmatch.com/ ] More information on legislative history of patents in the federal government is at: http://www.epa.gov/osp/ftta.htm [ http://www.epa.gov/osp/ftta.htm ] R050 [ http://service.govdelivery.com/service/edition.html?code=USAEPA_16&format=Web&email_type=bulletin ] You can update or cancel your subscription at any time [ https://www.govdocs.com/service/user.html?code=USAEPA ]. You need only your e-mail address (and your password if you have selected one). This service is provided free of charge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If you have any questions or problems about this service, please contact help@govdelivery.com [ mailto:help@govdelivery.com ] for assistance. Sent by the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency . 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW . Washington DC 20460 . 202-564-4355