EPA Issues a Final Rule to Expand the Definition of Heating Oil under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program
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Rule Summary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues a final rule to expand the definition of heating oil in the regulations for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The new definition of heating oil adds a category to include all fuel oils that are used to generate heat to warm buildings or other facilities where people live, work, recreate, or conduct other activities. All fuels previously included in the original definition of heating oil continue to be included in the expanded definition. Fuel oils in the new category of the expanded definition that are used to generate process heat, power, or other functions are not approved for RIN generation.
EPA also finalizes specific registration, reporting, product transfer document, and recordkeeping requirements applicable specifically to the new category of fuel oils, which are necessary to demonstrate that the fuel oil was or will be used to heat buildings for climate control for human comfort in order to generate RINs.
Additional Resources
- Fact Sheet: EPA Issues Final Rule to Expand the Definition of Heating Oil Under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program (PDF) (2 pp, 200 K, September 2013, EPA-420-F-13-045)
- Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Modifications to Renewable Fuel Standard Program, Response to Comments (PDF) (16 pp, 149 K, September 2013, EPA-420-R-13-010)
- Final Rule (PDF) (10 pp, 251K, published October 22, 2013)