In Washington, Maritec says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched investigations into the supply chains of at least two renewable fuel producers amid industry concerns that some may be using fraudulent feedstocks for biodiesel to secure lucrative government subsidies. The action by the EPA comes as farm groups and a growing number of lawmakers press the government to address worries that Used Cooking Oil (UCO), a valuable ingredient for making renewable fuels, could be fraudulent.
The investigations primarily focus on auditing UCO supply chains of domestic renewable fuel / biofuel producers to verify whether the feedstock qualifies under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
The audits seek to track the source of the UCO following the suspicions that the UCO supply entering from Asia may not be authentic and is instead being mixed with fresh vegetable oils, such as palm oil, which is potentially distorting commodity values and undermining US biofuel laws.
Tags: EPA, UCO biofuel, Washington
Category: Fuels
