The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has published environmental regulatory rules and requirements for the construction and operation of biodiesel production facilities.
In a press release, the agency says it’s a user-friendly manual for the 176 biodiesel plants in operation nationwide:
Region 7 Administrator John B. Askew said, “We are taking steps to provide useful tools to help biodiesel facilities comply with environmental regulations. The manual serves as a road map of federal environmental information. EPA is addressing our nation’s growing energy demand in a way that supports our goals for a clean environment, supports farmers and rural America, and supports greater energy security.”
The Midwestern states are active on America’s renewable fuels frontier. Through the long-term efforts of the agricultural and biodiesel community, rural residents are seeing growth in the construction of biodiesel plants and the supporting infrastructure.
The manual provides practical examples to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. A contact directory of key federal and state officials is included in the manual. EPA Region 7 staff members are available to answer questions about the applicability of environmental requirements to renewable fuel facilities.
National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe commended the EPA for developing the manual for the industry:
“We appreciate that the document includes EPA’s recognition that biodiesel contributes to the wellbeing of the environment by ‘significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions’ and other pollutants,” he said. “Biodiesel use is a viable part of protecting the environment, and we look forward to working closely with the agency on future mutual goals.”
You can read the manual by clicking here.