Americas News
U.S. EPA Green Lights Puerto Rican Request for Emergency Fuel Waiver
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that, in response to Hurricane Maria, the agency's Administrator Scott Pruitt Tuesday approved a request from Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló for an emergency fuel waiver through to October 15, 2017.
The waiver enables the sale, distribution, and use of bunkers designated for use in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) that exceed the 15 parts per million (ppm) sulfur standard, so long as the fuel meets certain conditions.
"As required by law, EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) evaluated the situation and determined that granting a short-term waiver was consistent with the public interest," explained EPA.
"EPA and DOE are continuing to actively monitor the fuel supply situation as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and will act expeditiously if extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist in other areas."
EPA further notes that waivers must be limited as much as possible in terms of geographic scope and duration.
The waiver came alongside a warning that the use of diesel fuel exceeding the 15 ppm sulfur standard in any engine equipped with exhaust gas scrubbers may cause serious damage to the engine and emissions control components.
