United Refining Sues EPA for Renewable Fuel Exemption (1)

The Environmental Protection Agency is failing to act exempting Pennsylvania-based United Refining Co. from the Clean Air Act’s renewable fuel standards, the company says in a D.C. federal court lawsuit.

The act mandates that fuel sold in the U.S. contain a certain amount of renewable fuel, and the EPA implements that requirement through its Renewable Fuel Standard program. But strict adherence to RFS regulations would create a “disproportionate economic hardship,” and would impact its ability to “remain competitive and profitable,” United Refining said in its 2019 petition to the agency for an exemption.

Factors included the company’s inability to access...