U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, both representing Mississippi, have joined other lawmakers in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reverse a Biden administration rule that places new requirements on fuel marketers transporting gasoline from supply terminals to gas stations.
The senators signed a letter led by Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota addressed to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. The letter requests the repeal of the 2024 regulation concerning annual cargo tank vapor tightness under the Clean Air Act. The rule was modeled after standards set by California and has reportedly created difficulties for small business fuel marketers.
“In discussions with small business owners in our respective states, we were made aware of the technical challenges and costly operational changes required to comply with this Biden EPA mandate. These challenges are already materializing as some operators at liquid fuel terminals are prematurely enforcing the revised vapor tightness standards ahead of the 2027 compliance date, creating confusion and imposing unexpected costs on small business fuel marketers,” wrote the senators. “Industry stakeholders have warned that, absent corrective action by the Trump administration, these standards could result in fuel supply disruptions if charge tank vehicles are denied terminal access due to an inability to immediately comply with these unnecessary requirements.”
The letter also stated: “Small businesses in our states should not be subject to California’s regulatory overreach.” The senators called for collaboration between EPA and industry stakeholders to revise the rule and return to previous standards.
“Reverting to this standard will support fuel supply continuity and ensure that first responders, motorists, farmers, ranchers, and other industries critical to America’s success have reliable access to an adequate fuel supply,” they added.
Other signatories include Senators John Boozman (Arkansas), Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia), Cynthia Lummis (Wyoming), John Curtis (Utah), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), Jon Husted (Ohio), Pete Ricketts (Nebraska), and Dan Sullivan (Alaska).
Senator Wicker serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Senator Hyde-Smith is a member of several committees including Energy and Natural Resources. According to her official website, Hyde-Smith marked a milestone as the first woman elected from Mississippi to Congress. Her office focuses on issues such as agriculture, jobs, infrastructure, energy policy, education, health care, veterans’ support, public safety, national security, Second Amendment rights, pro-life policies and foreign affairs (source). She maintains offices in Washington D.C., Ridgeland, Gulfport and Oxford (source).
For more information or to read the full letter referenced by lawmakers visit their official websites.
