Ernst Pushes EPA for Answers on Used Cooking Oil Imports

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) led their colleagues in demanding answers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the oversight of used cooking oil (UCO) imports, which is necessary for protecting the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the price of homegrown commodities like soybeans.

Since sending a letter to the agency in response to the dramatic increase in UCO imports driving down demand for America crops, Ernst has yet to receive a response from the EPA or any evidence they are regulating UCO entering the United States. The agency has instead shifted responsibility to their federal partners, like U.S. Customs and Border Protection which recently responded to Ernst's initial letter and made it clear they are not verifying imported UCO as a 100% pure, authentic product that would qualify for the RFS.

"The dramatic increase of used cooking oil imports demands attention and decisive quality-assurance measures, especially if it threatens to undermine the livelihoods of hardworking American farmers," said Senator Ernst. "We must ensure the EPA is properly enforcing policies under the Renewable Fuel Standard, which will both protect the biofuel market and our homegrown commodities."

Read the full letter here.

Background:

Since the U.S. has gone from importing less than 200 million pounds of UCO per year in 2020 to importing over 3 billion pounds in 2023, Ernst has been working to address concerns about the lack of regulation of UCO imports and its threat to American crops.

Throughout her time in Congress, Ernst has also been a strong advocate for homegrown, Iowa biofuels, including by calling on the Biden White House to make E15 available year-round and country-wide, adhere to the GREET model to provide domestic producers with a seat at the table, amend its harmful decision to set the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels well below industry production capacity, raise Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels, and issue timely guidance on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.

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