The upper chamber is working to confirm the President’s pick to lead the EPA.
Michael Regan has headed the environmental agency in North Carolina for four years. Before that he served as a regulator under the Clinton and Bush administrations.
His nomination hearing is this afternoon, and Sen. Chuck Grassley says that he will ensure Regan adheres to the Renewable Fuel Standard.
According to Sen. Grassley, “By 2022, the statutory requirements of the RFS run out and will be up to EPA to set those, and I urge Regan not to do anything less than what the law requires now and hopefully more requirements for biofuels.”
Senator Joni Ernst also had the opportunity to discuss Renewable Fuels with the EPA nominee, but was concerned with his answers on small refinery waivers.
“I had a conversation with the EPA nominee the other day and he basically is saying just let the courts play it out,” Sen. Ernst states. “I would love to see the EPA take a little more affirmative action by saying we support renewable fuels but he wasn’t ready to do that during our conversation, but we do have to see how it plays out in courts and then we go from there.”
The Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which replaced the Obama Era WOTUS rule is also expected to come under scrutiny. Sen. Grassley noted Regan has a good track record of listening to farmers.
