EPA Provides Guidance on Biofuels as Fossil Fuel Alternatives

June 23, 2003 - At the request of the National Renderers Association, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards has posted guidance documents outlining their assessment of biofuels such as yellow grease, lard, recycled cooking fat, and other animal derived products on the Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) Policy and Guidance web site.

The guidance paper states that these products have been used successfully to replace petroleum-based fuels while using essentially the same power-producing equipment (e.g. boiler, engines, etc.). Additionally, these fuels have been demonstrated effective with no adverse environmental consequences.

The guidance paper states, “The information presented in this memorandum, plus the availability of the tests reports that have already been completed, should provide state/local permitting authorities with sufficient information to make permit decisions regarding the substitution of biofuels for conventional fuels without the need for costly stack testing prior to issuing a permit.”

The EPA web site provides information to regulators, the regulated community, and members of the general public access to current and historical and regulatory information. The web site is intended to make the task of understanding and implementing and complying with the requirements of the new environmental regulations much easier.

This action by the EPA is the result of efforts from the National Renderers Association and the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation who formally requested EPA guidance for state and local officials in addressing the permitting of rendered products for fuel use.

Detailed information can be found at www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3ed.html.


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