The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved emergency fuel waivers for Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan in an effort to alleviate gasoline shortages after the shutdown of an Illinois refinery, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. The shortages were followed by a spike in gas prices across the four states.
The Joliet, Illinois, Exxon Mobil shut down its refinery last month following a power outage due to tornadoes and severe storms in the region. While power has been restored, restarting the refinery could take weeks. The facility can produce around 9 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel daily.
Typically, federal rules mandate the sale of low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline over the summer months as a higher RVP evaporates more easily, contributing to ozone pollution and smog; however, that rule is being waived temporarily, along with the four Midwest states’ requirements for reformulated gasoline, which burns more cleanly than conventional gasoline.
The waiver will continue through Aug. 20. The EPA and Department of Energy are actively monitoring the fuel supply situation and considering additional measures to mitigate its impact.
