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| Marine Board Encourages Boaters to Comment on Proposed Increase to E-15 |
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For Immediate Release - 6/5/09
It’s become a well-known fact that gasoline blended with ethanol is not good for boats, airplanes, power tools and ATV’s, but the Environmental Protection Agency wants to increase the allowable ethanol content of gasoline to 15 percent (“E-15”) nationwide. The Marine Board is encouraging the boating community to submit public comment to the EPA on how this would negatively impact their boat’s performance, maintenance and operation.
The public comment period was to end on May 21, 2009 but was extended an additional 60 days –until July 20, 2009, to allow the public additional time to respond to the legal and technical issues raised in the EPA application. “This is an opportunity for Oregon’s boaters to voice their concerns about ethanol in gasoline,” says Paul Donheffner, Director for the Marine Board. “Many boat engines were not designed for use with gasoline with more than 10 percent ethanol, and using any greater concentration above that level may void engine warranties, damage motors and fuel systems and potentially lead to significant safety issues.”
The BoatUS Vice President of Government Affairs, Margaret Podlich says, “We support renewable energy, however; our recent experience with a nationwide roll-out of E10 lead us to believe there has to be a lot more science and unbiased testing before we can universally accept E15.” Podlich is referring to the widely-known problems with ethanol’s ability to attract water into gasoline, degrade fiberglass gas tank walls to the point of failure, and its solvent capabilities which has led to catastrophic boat engine failures and major repair or replacement costs.
BoatUS, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the Marine Board, other states, and environmental groups such as the Sierra Club have submitted written comment on the proposed E-15 increase.
To read the official notice and to learn how to submit comments, visit http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/news/E10.shtml, or go directly to http://www.regulations.gov and submit your comments using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0211.
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