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• Please clarify whether oxygenates blended into either conventional gasoline or Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (RBOB) downstream of the refinery need to be included in sulfur compliance calculations.

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Section 80.205(c) provides that a refiner or importer may include oxygenates added downstream from the refinery or import facility if the requirements under § 80.69(a) or § 80.101(d)(4)(ii) of the RFG/CG regulations are met. Therefore, a refiner or…

  • Last published: August 2, 2024

• What sources make up the Tier 1 categories used in the emissions trends?

  Tier 1 categories are assigned by source classification codes (SCCs) that are the most specific processes available in the NEI. The latest SCC list with the Tier 1 assignments can be downloaded from the EPA SCC website in Comma Separate Values (CSV) format.

  • Last published: May 1, 2024

• What is the cause of the large decrease in electric utility emissions, particularly sulfur dioxide, starting in 1995?

  SO2 emissions reductions from utilities during this time are primarily attributed to the impacts of the acid rain program. As described on EPA’s Acid Rain Program web page, Phase 1 of this program began in 1995 and affected 263 units at 110 most coal-burning electric utility plants in 21 eastern…

  • Last published: May 1, 2024

• Can I get access to the Emissions Inventory System if I am not a data provider to EPA?

  The Emission Inventory System (EIS) is a secured database for EPA and State/Local and Tribal Air Agencies only. The EIS is used to develop the National Emission Inventory (NEI). While you cannot have access to EIS, you can have access to the current and past NEIs through EPA’s NEI website…

  • Last published: May 28, 2024

• In the NPRM, the sulfur standards were expressed without decimal places, but the final rule provides that the standards are expressed with two decimal places (§§ 80.195, 205). Why did EPA include this change?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . EPA included the decimal places to ensure that the sulfur standards are not exceeded by rounding down actual average sulfur levels. We do not believe reporting the average sulfur level to two decimals creates any additional burden as…

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• It is our understanding that, if a portion of the gasoline produced by a refinery located within the GPA is sold outside of the United States, that gasoline is not subject to the sulfur standards and it only has to meet the standards of the country to whi

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Gasoline that is exported for sale outside the United States is not subject to the requirements of the gasoline sulfur rule, including gasoline produced by a refiner located within the GPA. See § 80.200(c).

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• 6. Is commingling of different types of ethanol permitted? If so, what systems must be employed?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . With one exception, the RFS program places no restrictions on the mixing of ethanol produced in different facilities, by different feedstocks, or through different processes. Also, RINs assigned to ethanol are fungible, in that a specific assigned RIN…

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• If a facility is grandfathered, is it also exempt from the requirement that feedstocks must be renewable biomass?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Even if a facility is exempt from the 20% GHG reduction requirement, in order to generate RINs, the facility is still required to use feedstocks that meet the definition of renewable biomass. The definition of renewable fuel in…

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• How do I get access to the Emissions Inventory System?

  Access to the Emissions Inventory System (EIS) is available to state, local, tribal agencies, their representatives (such as contractors), to multijurisdictional organizations (MJOs), and to EPA staff. The EIS is not available to the public. Instructions for access to the EIS is available in the Emissions Inventory System (EIS) User’s…

  • Last published: January 7, 2025

• Is corn oil extracted from distiller?s grains and solubles (DGS) eligible for RINs under RFS2?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Biodiesel or renewable diesel made from non-food grade corn oil extracted from DGS that is made from renewable biomass is eligible to generate RINs. See Table 1 to 80.1426.

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• Why do mobile source NOx emissions jump higher between 2001 and 2002 on the emissions trends?

  The emissions model used for mobile sources changed from MOBILE6.2 to MOVES 2010 in December 2009. This change included a notable increase in NOx emissions. The EPA adjusted data back to 2002 to reflect the change in models. The higher emissions in 2002 are because of this method change and…

  • Last published: May 1, 2024

• Why do the PM2.5 emissions for the electric utilities source category jump up between 1998 and 1999?

  The estimation method for PM emissions from fuel combustion sources was enhanced beginning with the 1999 National Emissions Inventory. Prior to 1999, the emissions measurement data methodology only included the filterable portion (which means the solid particle matter at elevated stack temperatures). Beginning with the 1999 NEI, both the filterable…

  • Last published: August 15, 2024

• How do I reset my password for the Emissions Inventory System?

  Instructions for resetting your password are available in the Emissions Inventory System (EIS) User’s Manual and How To’s section on “How Do I Update My Password?” Follow the instructions to reset your password.

  • Last published: January 7, 2025