The comment period for the latest proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for years 2017 & 2018 has opened. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed 2017 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) proposal would reduce corn ethanol volumes by approximately 200 million gallons while other categories were slightly raised, but not yet at statue levels. The comment period goes through July 11, 2016, but for those interested in being heard in person, and the EPA is hosting a public hearing in Kansas City, Missouri June 9, 2016.

Now that the comment period is open, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is urging farmers, consumers and the ethanol industry to begin submitting comments right away. The corn farmer organization has created a webpage explaining EPA’s proposal. The site includes various drafts of comments that can be customized by the sender as well as a link to an email address to which the comments should be sent. NCGA is also calling on the industry to apply to testify during the EPA hearing and for strong attendance as a means to get the message heard that this proposal will hurt rural America.

“We are very clear to EPA about what we want,” said NCGA President Chip Bowling. “It is simple: EPA should follow the statute. For farmers and others in rural America, this new EPA proposal means low corn prices and ethanol plant and industry cutbacks. And for everyone else, it means higher gas prices and dirtier air.”