Learn the Issues
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If an oxygenate blender adds oxygenate only to conventional gasoline downstream of the refinery, please confirm that the oxygenate blender is not considered a "refiner" and therefore is not subject to record keeping, reporting, or attest engagement requirements.
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. This party would not be considered a "refiner" for purposes of the anti-dumping requirements, and is not required to meet the anti-dumping requirements specified in the question. (7/1/94) This question and answer was posted at
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If one company acquires foreign product in transit, then sells it to a second company while still in transit, who is the importer?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. The importer is the party identified above, the party primarily liable for payment of duties for Customs purposes when the gasoline enters the United States. (7/1/94) This question and answer was posted at
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If an obligated party (a refiner) imports non-denatured ethanol and denatures it, is the refiner considered a renewable fuel producer and is the refiner obligated to establish RIN numbers and file quarterly reports for the ethanol it denatures?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. The party would be identified as a renewable fuel importer rather than a renewable fuel producer, and would need to establish RIN numbers and file reports required of an importer. The party in this example would also be required…
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If an importer registers in a PADD, may the importer use a starting point other than zero, within the range of valid batch numbers, for generating the sequential batch numbers at each of its import facilities?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Yes. As long as no batches are assigned duplicate numbers this would be acceptable. (7/1/94) This question and answer was posted at
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If I have a renewable fuel that was assigned a specific Equivalence Value in regulation Section 80.1115, but I don't think that Equivalence Value is right for my product, what options do I have?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Producers or importers of renewable fuel may submit a petition to the EPA requesting a different Equivalence Value from that assigned in the regulations. However, the petition must use the calculation methodology described in regulation Section 80.1115(d). In short…
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If an independent lab temporarily cannot run a required test, may the independent lab use a substitute lab for the test until the independent lab regains its testing capacity? May a refiner use one independent lab to collect samples at a refinery, and another independent lab to analyze those samples? If a second lab is used, must the primary independent lab notify EPA of the role of the second lab?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. An independent lab may use a second lab to collect samples or perform required tests, provided that: (1) the second lab is independent as defined in § 80.65(f)(2)(iii); (2) the primary independent lab is responsible for the quality of…
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If a new area decides to opt-in to the reformulated gasoline program, what determines the effective date that reformulated gasoline must be supplied to that area?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. The effective date of the program in any area which opts into the program is January 1, 1995, or one year after EPA receives the request to include the area in the program, whichever is later. EPA will announce…
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If an importer has more than two import terminals, may the importer of record elect "per gallon" compliance for some import terminals and "average" compliance for other import terminals, or must all imported RFG be designated consistently?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. All RFG must be designated consistently. For each of the RFG parameters, an importer must elect compliance on either a per-gallon basis or an average basis. These elections apply to all of the importer's facilities. (7/1/94) This question and…
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If I am registered for the RFS program, do I have to receive RINs with the renewable fuel I purchase?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Being registered for the RFS program does not mean that a party must receive RINs with the renewable fuel they purchase. Being registered for the RFS program means that a party is eligible under the regulations to receive RINs…
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If foreign product is acquired by an importer through an exchange agreement instead of a sale, does it change identification of the importer for RFG reporting purposes?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. No. The person who is the importer of record for Customs purposes should be the importer for RFG purposes, and this is usually the gasoline owner, regardless of how that ownership was acquired. (7/1/94) This question and answer was…
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Region 7 Media
EPA Region 7's public affairs team has pooled our decades of collective media experience to bring you our tips and advice for reporting accurate, timely, and meaningful environmental news in the Heartland.
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How does an auditor verify computer data if no hard copies exist?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. The only option is to make do with the data available. If it seems clear to the auditor that data is in error or otherwise false but this cannot be verified, that data should be excluded from the calculations…
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How do you certify a splash blended batch before proper mixing occurs (where mixing occurs during transport)?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. An oxygenate blender "certifies" RFG produced by combining RBOB with oxygenate by adding the proper type and amount of oxygenate. In the case of an oxygenate blender who meets the oxygenate standard on a per-gallon basis, the oxygenate blender…
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How do we handle results from two different labs (refinery and outside) which differ?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Technical and engineering judgment must be used to develop an explanation for and/or solution to the discrepancy. This explanation/solution must be supported by the baseline auditor, and is subject to EPA review and approval. (7/1/94) This question and answer…
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How is data excluded, i.e., are there statistically abnormal requirements, like 3 standard deviation?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. There are no specific provisions in the regulation for excluding data. If a submitter feels data should be excluded, they must petition for EPA approval. (7/1/94) This question and answer was posted at
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How and when will refiners and gasoline distributors be notified of new areas which opt-in to the RFG program? How much advanced notice will be provided?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. New areas electing to opt-in to the reformulated gasoline program will be announced in a Federal Register notice. (7/1/94) This question and answer was posted at
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How Do I Recycle Common Recyclables
Ways of recycling common recyclables such as paper, batteries, plastics, tires, glass.
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Has EPA issued guidelines for security and audit procedures for electronic recordkeeping systems?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. No. The Agency does not plan to issue such guidelines. EPA recommends that recordkeeping systems be audited by an independent auditing firm to verify the efficacy of security and audit controls. (7/1/94) This question and answer was posted at
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Given that the number of surveys required in later years (after 1995) will, in part, be determined by survey failures, when will EPA announce the adjusted number of required surveys for 1996 (or subsequent years)? How can a survey plan be submitted by September 1, 1995, if the adjusted number of surveys for 1996 is not known?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. The survey plan will have to take into account whatever contingencies may occur. Any change in the total number of surveys which may be triggered by areas "passing" or "failing" surveys (see section 80.68(b)(2)(ii)) will not result in any…
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In general, how are the properties determined for blendstocks that fall outside the scope of the regulatory methods?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Some gasoline blendstocks have properties that cause them to fall outside the scope of the regulatory methods. If properties need to be obtained for these blendstocks, they must be determined by a different route, that being an interpolation based…