Document Lo8BrqLg9q1zJwrD379gy61Nw

May 3, 2017 The Honorable Donald J. Trump The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Trump, On behalf of 12 million U.S. recreational boat owners, 46 million recreational anglers and 35,000 recreational boating businesses, the following 26,713 citizens write to express our concern with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). As you know, the RFS sets ambitious goals to introduce renewable fuels into the nation's energy market. For nearly a decade it has transitioned the country towards alternative energy sources, predominantly in the form of conventional, corn-based ethanol. While the RFS has achieved success in reaching such goals, the administration of the program and its impacts on ordinary Americans has not been without controversy. In particular, it has discriminatorily affected the boating public--groups of boaters and anglers who purchase fuel for their boats. Boaters need access to safe and approved fuels in order to enjoy one of our nations' most treasured pastimes. Unfortunately, blends of fuel with greater than 10 percent ethanol are incompatible with marine engines and the marine environment. As proven through extensive testing in coordination with the Department of Energy, and reaffirmed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibition on the usage of higher ethanol blends in marine engines, boat owners depend on access to fuels with less than 10 percent ethanol. In one of the final actions by your predecessor, EPA finalized a rule to increase the amount of ethanol sold throughout the country. In fact, EPA mandated that more ethanol be introduced into the fuel supply than ever before, fulfilling the maximum allotment by law. While EPA has repeatedly heard from our industry, and thousands of our stakeholders, the agency's November decision continued to ignore our concerns--unfortunately that decision has endangered the safety of every boat owner in America. We write to ask that you to set a new course for the RFS--one that takes into account the objective concerns expressed by the boating community. The RFS can be an important driver of our nation's energy policy, but it can only continue if it accurately reflects market conditions and works in a way as to not discriminate against any American consumer. Specifically, the recreational boating industry hopes that your Administration can reform the RFS by: Ensuring that any future ethanol volumes do not exceed 9.7 percent of the nation's total fuel supply Protecting true consumer choice at the pump by not artificially decreasing the supply of ethanol free gasoline 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA - 6/22 Production ED 001523 00007788-00001 U Implementing new and more effective misfueling mitigation protections that will educate and protect all consumers These common-sense reforms will lead to a better and safer energy supply that is inclusive of all consumers. Sincerely, [Please see enclosure for list of 26,713 signatories. CC: The Honorable Scott Pruitt Environmental Protection Agency Office of the Administrator - 1101A 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20460 The Honorable Greg Walden Chairman Energy and Commerce Committee 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Lisa Murkowski Chairman Energy and Natural Resources Committee 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable John Barrasso Chairman Environment and Public Works Committee 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Frank Pallone Ranking Member Energy and Commerce Committee 2322A Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Maria Cantwell Ranking Member Energy and Natural Resources Committee 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Tom Carper Ranking Member Environment and Public Works Committee 456 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 17cv1906 Sierra Club v. EPA - 6/22 Production ED 001523 00007788-00002