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LEGISLATORS MEET WITH EPA, DOE HEADS TO DISCUSS PREDICTED GAS PRICE SPIKES   Sensenbrenner, Ryan; Wisconsin, Illinois Delegations Express Concern over Predicted Gas Price Increases

WASHINGTON – Wisconsin Congressmen Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) and F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Menomonee Falls), along with House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert and a bipartisan group of members of the Wisconsin and Illinois congressional delegations, today met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christine Todd Whitman and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to discuss what is being done to stem predicted gasoline price spikes in Wisconsin.

At today’s meeting, Administrator Whitman voiced the EPA’s willingness to compromise on an upward adjustment to the volatile organic compound (VOC) standard to .3 pounds per square inch Reid vapor pressure (PSIRVP).  This will make the blending of RFG cheaper and easier.  While there will be an increase in VOCs, they will be offset by reductions in carbon monoxide (CO). When added to gasoline, ethanol increases the evaporation rate, causing more VOC emissions, but ethanol also reduces CO emissions.

The legislators also received a commitment from Administrator Whitman to permit the coblending of fuels during the transition between RFG winter and summer blends, in order to avoid a repeat of a significant problem that occurred last summer.  Finally, Administrator Whitman has offered flexibility in case unforeseen problems arise in the transport of fuel to the Midwest.

On March 2, 2001, Congressmen Ryan and Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen (R-Town of Brookfield) and Wisconsin Assembly Majority Leader Steve Foti (R-Oconomowoc) sent a letter to Administrator Whitman and Secretary Abraham expressing concern regarding the findings of the recently released Final Report of the Illinois House Special Committee on Gas Pricing.  The letter noted the report’s prediction of possible gas price increases this summer which could cause Wisconsin and Illinois consumers to pay up to $3 per gallon for gasoline this summer.  It also described last year’s attempts to obtain relief from reformulated gas (RFG) mandates implemented by the EPA which contributed to last spring and summer’s price spikes.

“We made real progress in today's meeting," said Congressman Ryan.  “The EPA's flexibility and willingness to work with us is a welcome change from last year. Although we should continue to keep a close eye on the situation, the steps the Administration has taken to help make the blending of RFG cheaper and easier are good news for Wisconsin consumers. They also make sense in terms of protecting our air quality.”

“Last year, we had to take the previous Administration to court to even get the chance to propose rule changes in VOC performance standards and reductions in the Oxygen Content Floor for RFG.  I want to thank Administrator Whitman and the Bush Administration for being so responsive to our concerns and acting so quickly in these areas to try to reduce the volatility of gas prices in Wisconsin this summer,” said Speaker Jensen.

“It is important as we step into the new cycle that we are able to make advances to ward off the problems of last year," said Majority Leader Foti.  “It was through the efforts of everyone involved that we are moving toward a relief mechanism for the consumers of Wisconsin.”

“I am happy we finally have an Administration in Washington that is willing to listen to and address Wisconsin’s concerns with RFG.  Today’s meeting was a successful step in the ongoing process of alleviating the burden of high gas prices Wisconsin consumers face.  The agreements reached in today’s meeting will hopefully forestall drastic gasoline price spikes this Spring without compromising the environment,” concluded Congressman Sensenbrenner.

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