[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70426-70427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26821]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 80 and 1090

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0324; FRL-9083-01-OAR]
RIN 2060-AV11


Public Hearing for RFS Annual Rules

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notification of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 
virtual public hearing to be held on January 4, 2022, on its proposal 
for the ``Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program: RFS Annual Rules,'' 
which was signed on December 7, 2021. An additional session will be 
held on January 5, 2022, if necessary, to accommodate the number of 
testifiers that sign-up to testify. EPA is proposing the 2020, 2021, 
and 2022 renewable fuel standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based 
diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. EPA is also 
proposing to address the remand of the 2016 standard-setting 
rulemaking, extend certain RFS compliance and attest engagement 
reporting deadlines for the 2019, 2020, and 2021 compliance years, and 
several regulatory changes to the RFS program.

DATES: EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on January 4, 2022. An 
additional session will be held on January 5, 2022, if necessary, to 
accommodate the number of testifiers that sign-up to testify. Please 
refer to the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for additional 
information on the public hearing.

ADDRESSES: The virtual public hearing will be held on January 4, 2022. 
An additional session will be held on January 5, 2022, if necessary, to 
accommodate the number of testifiers that sign-up to testify. The 
hearing will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) and end when all parties 
who wish to speak have had an opportunity to do so, but no later than 5 
p.m. ET. All hearing attendees (including even those who do not intend 
to provide testimony) should register for the public hearing by 
December 20, 2021. Information on how

[[Page 70427]]

to register can be found at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/public-hearing-information-proposed-renewable-fuel-standards-2020. Additional information regarding the hearing appears 
below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Parsons, Office of Transportation 
and Air Quality, Assessment and Standards Division, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; 
telephone number: (734) 214-4479; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is proposing to modify the 2021 and 2022 
statutory volume targets for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and 
total renewable fuel, and to establish the 2022 volume target for 
biomass-based diesel, as well as to modify the previously established 
cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volume 
requirements for 2020. In addition, EPA is proposing the 2020, 2021, 
and 2022 renewable fuel standards for all four of the above biofuel 
categories. EPA is also proposing to address the remand of the 2016 
standard-setting rulemaking, as well as several regulatory changes to 
the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program including regulations for the 
use of biointermediates to produce qualifying renewable fuel, 
flexibilities for regulated parties, clarifications of existing 
regulations, and an extension of certain RFS compliance and attest 
engagement reporting deadlines. The RFS Annual Rules proposal was 
signed on December 7, 2021, and will be published separately in the 
Federal Register on a later date. The pre-publication version is 
available at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/proposed-volume-standards-2020-2021-and-2022.
    Participation in virtual public hearing. Please note that EPA is 
deviating from its typical approach because the President has declared 
a national emergency. Because of current Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, as well as state and local orders 
for social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19, EPA cannot hold 
in-person public meetings at this time.
    Information on how to register for the hearing can be found at 
https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/public-hearing-information-proposed-renewable-fuel-standards-2020. The last day to 
pre-register to speak at the hearing will be December 20, 2021.
    Each commenter will have 3 minutes to provide oral testimony. EPA 
may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, but will 
not respond to the presentations at that time. Written statements and 
supporting information submitted during the comment period will be 
considered with the same weight as oral comments and supporting 
information presented at the public hearing.
    Please note that any updates made to any aspect of the hearing will 
be posted online at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/public-hearing-information-proposed-renewable-fuel-standards-2020. While EPA expects the hearing to go forward as set forth above, 
please monitor the website or contact the person listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to determine if there are any 
updates. EPA does not intend to publish a document in the Federal 
Register announcing updates.
    If you require the services of a translator or special 
accommodations such as audio description, please pre-register for the 
hearing and describe your needs by December 20, 2021. EPA may not be 
able to arrange accommodations without advance notice.
    How can I get copies of the proposed action and other related 
information? EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket 
ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0324. EPA has also developed a website for the 
RFS program, including the proposal, which is available at https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program. Please refer to the notice 
of proposed rulemaking for detailed information on accessing 
information related to the proposal.

William Charmley,
Director, Assessment and Standards Division, Office of Transportation 
and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2021-26821 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


