Notice2021-28079
Announcing Upcoming Virtual Meeting on Biofuel Greenhouse Gas Modeling
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 28, 2021
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency announces an upcoming workshop on biofuel greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling. This is a virtual meeting and open to the public. The purpose of this workshop is to solicit information on the current scientific understanding of greenhouse gas modeling of land-based biofuels used in the transportation sector. The information gathered as part of this workshop will be used to inform a range of current and future actions, including EPA's methodology for quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions under the Renewable Fuels Standard. Through this workshop, we will initiate a public process for getting input on (i) how to incorporate the best available science into an update of our lifecycle analysis (LCA) of biofuels, and (ii) what steps EPA should take next in this work area. The meeting is being conducted by EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73756-73757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28079]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9307-01-OAR]
Announcing Upcoming Virtual Meeting on Biofuel Greenhouse Gas
Modeling
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency announces an upcoming
workshop on biofuel greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling. This is a virtual
meeting and open to the public. The purpose of this workshop is to
solicit information on the current scientific understanding of
greenhouse gas modeling of land-based biofuels used in the
transportation sector. The
[[Page 73757]]
information gathered as part of this workshop will be used to inform a
range of current and future actions, including EPA's methodology for
quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions under the Renewable Fuels
Standard. Through this workshop, we will initiate a public process for
getting input on (i) how to incorporate the best available science into
an update of our lifecycle analysis (LCA) of biofuels, and (ii) what
steps EPA should take next in this work area. The meeting is being
conducted by EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality in
consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department
of Energy.
DATES: EPA will hold a virtual public meeting on Monday, February 28,
2022 and Tuesday, March 1, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time (EST) each day. Please monitor the website <a href="https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/workshop-biofuel-greenhouse-gas-modeling">https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/workshop-biofuel-greenhouse-gas-modeling</a> for any changes to meeting logistics. The final
meeting agenda will be posted on the website. In addition, EPA will be
accepting comments related to the questions described in the
Supplementary Information section below via the federal docketing
system. Comments identified by docket ID number: OAR-2021-0921, must be
received on or before April 01, 2022.
ADDRESSES: For information on the public meeting or to register to
attend, please visit <a href="https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/workshop-biofuel-greenhouse-gas-modeling">https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/workshop-biofuel-greenhouse-gas-modeling</a>. Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID) number: OAR-2021-0921, using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not electronically
submit any information you consider to be Confidential Business
Information (CBI) or information whose disclosure is restricted by
statute. Comments submitted to the EPA, including any personal
information that is in the body of the submission, will be publicly
posted to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and are also made available for
in-person viewing at the EPA Docket Center's Reading Room. There are
some exceptions. Please see additional instructions on commenting or
visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets
generally, available at <a href="http://www.epa.gov/">http://www.epa.gov/</a>dockets.
Please note that due to the public health concerns related to
COVID-19, the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Public Reading Room are
closed to visitors with limited exceptions. The EPA/DC staff continue
to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. For
the latest status information on EPA/DC services and docket access,
visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public who wishes to
attend the meeting please visit <a href="https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/workshop-biofuel-greenhouse-gas-modeling">https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/workshop-biofuel-greenhouse-gas-modeling</a> to register
for the workshop no later than February 27, 2022.
Further information concerning this public meeting and general
information can be found at: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/workshop-biofuel-greenhouse-gas-modeling">https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/workshop-biofuel-greenhouse-gas-modeling</a>. Other
related inquiries can be directed to Diana Galperin, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality, at 202-564-5687 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4601272a3623342f2868222f2728270623362768212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f6b1979a8693849f98d8929f979897b6938697d8919980">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Participation in virtual public meetings. Please note that EPA is
deviating from its typical approach because the President has declared
a national emergency. Because of current CDC recommendations, as well
as state and local orders for social distancing to limit the spread of
COVID-19, EPA cannot hold in-person public meetings at this time.
For individuals with disabilities: For information on access or
services for individuals with disabilities, please email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7a283c290a1b0e120d1b03093a1f0a1b541d150c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1e3f7e2c1d0c5d9c6d0c8c2f1d4c1d09fd6dec7">[email protected]</span></a>. To request accommodate of a disability, please
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9dcfdbceedfce9f5eafce4eeddf8edfcb3faf2eb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6e4f0e5c6d7c2dec1d7cfc5f6d3c6d798d1d9c0">[email protected]</span></a>, preferably at least 10 business days prior
to the meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your
request.
Background: Biofuel greenhouse gas modeling is used by EPA and
other federal agencies for research and policy decision purposes across
a variety of programs. For example, EPA is required to model the
lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels under the RFS Program
when determining whether an individual biofuel meets the greenhouse gas
emission reduction requirement established by the Clean Air Act. In
addition, EPA is required to more broadly evaluate the greenhouse gas
emissions associated with the overall RFS program when setting future
volume obligations. Finally, the greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels
are an important consideration of emerging policies designed to meet
deep decarbonization goals.
This workshop seeks to solicit information on the current
scientific understanding of greenhouse gas modeling of land-based
biofuels and how this information can be applied to a range of current
and future actions. EPA is explicitly seeking comment on the following
questions: (1) What sources of data exist and how can they be used to
inform the assumptions that drive GHG estimates; (2) how best to
characterize the sources of uncertainty associated with quantifying the
GHG emissions associated with biofuels; and (3) what model(s) are
available to evaluate the lifecycle GHG emissions of land-based
biofuels, and do the model(s) meet the Clean Air Act requirements for
quantifying the direct and significant indirect emissions from
biofuels.
Dated: December 21, 2021.
Sarah Dunham,
Office of Transportation and Air Quality.
[FR Doc. 2021-28079 Filed 12-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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