The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency met with farmers and biofuels producers in Iowa on Friday to show his support for agriculture and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Administrator Scott Pruitt was a guest of livestock producers and ethanol supporters Bill and Nancy Couser on their farm in Nevada, Iowa. Since the visit came just one day after EPA announced the final RFS renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018, that was Pruitt’s first topic to address. “We met the deadline, November 30, to actually get those volume obligations out, something the agency hasn’t done in a number of years,” he said, noting that combined with denial of the petition to change the point of obligation, that provides a lot more certainty for the industry.

Pruitt was also asked about another big issue for the ethanol industry, allowing E15 to be sold year round by treating it the same as E10 when it comes to RVP (Reid Vapor Pressure). “It practically doesn’t make sense, obviously, to be able to sell fuel during certain times of the year and not be able to sell it at other times,” he said. “What we have to do is assess whether the statute allows us to grant a waiver nationally throughout the year. We can do it regionally and we have.”

Pruitt also addressed issues such as WOTUS and what it’s like to work with President Trump – listen to his conversation with Couser here: EPA Admin Scott Pruitt and Bill Couser

Thanks to Iowa Agribusiness Network providing the audio.