Abstract  Seeds for the historic drought of 2012 were sown during the back-to-back La Niña episodes of 2010–11 and 2011–12. La Niña, a name given to anomalous cooling of the equatorial waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often correlates with drought development and expansion across the southern United States. Indeed, drought began to develop across the southern tier of the U.S. during the winter of 2010–11, and quickly intensified during the 2011 growing season. Effects of the 2011 drought were particularly severe in the south-central U.S.

Abstract  This report updates the findings of the first Report to Congress, published in 2011, with respect to environmental and resource conservation impacts, which together are intended to address the Section 204 statutory impacts since the passage of the EISA. This report reflects the current scientific understanding of the Section 204 impacts as presented in the published literature about biofuel use and production using data gathered through May 2017. Data on U.S. land use and the scientific literature through April 2017 were also reviewed. Greenhouse gas emission reductions that result from replacing biofuel with fossil fuel are not assessed in this report. This report does not make comparisons to estimated environmental impacts of other transportation fuels or energy sources.

Abstract  EPA is taking direct final action to interpret and clarify the 2006 default standard applicable under the Renewable Fuel Program set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Act requires that 2.78 volume percent of gasoline sold or dispensed to consumers in the U.S. in 2006 be renewable fuel if EPA does not promulgate comprehensive regulations to implement the Renewable Fuel Program by August 8, 2006. Given the short timeframe available and the need to provide certainty to the regulated community, the Agency is finalizing a limited set of regulations for the default standard for 2006 that will provide for collective compliance by refiners, blenders, and importers to meet the 2.78 volume percent requirement, with compliance determined by looking at the national pool of gasoline sold in 2006. The Agency will develop and promulgate the comprehensive program subsequent to this action.

Abstract  Section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to annually determine a renewable fuel standard (RFS) which is applicable to refiners, importers and certain blenders of gasoline, and publish the standard in the Federal Register. On the basis of this standard, each obligated party determines the volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is consumed as motor vehicle fuel. This standard is calculated as a percentage, by dividing the amount of renewable fuel that the Act requires to be used in a given year by the amount of gasoline expected to be used during that year, including certain adjustments specified by the Act. In this notice we are publishing an RFS of 10.21% for 2009. This standard is intended to lead to the use of 11.1 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2009, as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). As discussed below, we expect the 11.1 billion gallons of renewable fuel required in 2009 to include approximately 0.5 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Abstract  This is the first triennial Report to Congress required under Section 204 of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). EISA increases the renewable fuel standards (RFS) to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022. Section 204 requires an assessment of environmental and resource conservation impacts of the RFS program. Air and water quality, soil quality and conservation, water availability, ecosystem health and biodiversity, invasive species, and international impacts are assessed, as well as opportunities to mitigate these impacts. Feedstocks compared include corn starch, soybeans, corn stover, perennial grasses, woody biomass, algae, and waste. Biofuels compared include conventional and cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel. This report is a qualitative assessment of peer-reviewed literature. This report concludes that (1) the extent of negative impacts to date are limited in magnitude and are primarily associated with the intensification of corn production; (2) whether future impacts are positive or negative will be determined by the choice of feedstock, land use change, cultivation and conservation practices; and (3) realizing potential benefits will require implementation and monitoring of conservation and best management practices, improvements in production efficiency, and implementation of innovative technologies at commercial scales. This report provides a foundation for comprehensive environmental assessments of biofuel production.