More than 30 organizations are requesting an extension of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comment period for a petition that would increase the permitted amount of ethanol in gasoline from its current 10 percent level to 15 percent. The organizations signing on to the request range from livestock and meat associations to food processors, environmental groups and representatives of boats and small engine makers.

In a letter addressed to the EPA Docket Clerk, the organizations expressed their appreciation of agency’s efforts in soliciting comments on this waiver application. However, “because of the complexity and highly technical nature of the application’s potential implications, a 60-day extension would be needed, given the diverse array of parties that would be impacted, as well as the limited time to review.”

The EPA Docket No: [EPA–HQ–OAR–2009–0211; FRL–8894–5], “Notice of Receipt of a Clean Air Act Waiver Application to Increase the Allowable Ethanol Content of Gasoline to 15 Percent; Request for Comment,” was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2009.