"The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday sought to calm a furor over its apparent proposal to reduce ethanol use in gasoline next year, saying that no final decisions had been made about the contentious mandate."
"On Thursday, Reuters and other news outlets reported on EPA documents that showed the agency proposing an unexpected drop in the amount of corn-based ethanol that would be required for blending next year, a historic retreat from the 2007 biofuel law and a major victory for the oil industry.
'At this point, EPA is only developing a draft proposal,' EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said in a statement in the agency's first public response to the reports.
She said the Obama administration remained 'firmly committed' to developing biofuels as a part of the plan to reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil."
Chuck Abbott and Cezary Podkul report for Reuters October 15, 2013.
SEE ALSO:
"Analysis: Lawsuits Likely As EPA declares US Ethanol Blend Wall a 'Reality'" (Reuters)
"EPA May Reduce Ethanol Blending Volumes for 2014 -- Sources" (Reuters)
"EPA Proposes Big Reduction in 2014 Ethanol Blend Volume -- Document" (Reuters)
"EPA’s McCarthy Says No Decision Made on Renewable Mandate" (Bloomberg)
"Ethanol’s Discount Narrows on Low Inventories, EPA Mandate" (Bloomberg)
