The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require all consumers to buy at least four gallons of gasoline from certain gas pumps after the new E15 ethanol-gasoline blend is introduced into the market. The agency revealed the mandate to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in an Aug. 1 letter responding to AMA concerns that consumers…
DetailsThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Friday dismissed challenges to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of a partial waiver for E15 allowing it to be used in light-duty vehicles manufactured beginning in 2001. The court ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring action against the EPA for granting a…
DetailsThe ongoing drought in the Midwest will soon trigger a global food crisis, Bloomberg reports. In response, the International Food Policy Research Institute is asking the United States to stop its biofuel production because it uses 40% of its corn crop. “The major problem is policy,” said Shenggen Fan, the institute’s director-general, on Bloomberg Television.…
DetailsThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is boosting its compliance inspections and making retailer compliance checks a priority. In recent years the agency has increased its number of inspectors from 1,218 in 2008 to 1,600 in 2011, and has conducted more than 91,000 retailer compliance checks on tobacco-related regulations. “FDA’s retailer compliance inspections are increasing…
DetailsAgriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon recently announced new strategies to further improve program integrity in SNAP and hold those misusing benefits accountable. The measures include tougher financial sanctions for the small number of retailers that defraud the program, as well as new requirements and tools for states to ensure benefits go solely to eligible individuals.…
DetailsThe National Association of Tobacco Outlets joined the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce in calling for a detailed response from Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Health and Human Services Department Secretary, about the potential illegal use of federal tax dollars to support lobbying efforts. “For more than two years, members of Congress, as well as…
DetailsLast week, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned an injunction preventing the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) from treating retailers with RYO machines as tobacco manufacturers. By lifting the trial court’s injunction, the court paved the way for TTB to begin enforcing federal tax and regulatory requirements against RYO retailers, thereby…
DetailsFollowing pressure from four governors and more than 150 lawmakers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it is considering whether to suspend the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and is requesting public feedback, Congressional Quarterly reports. The agency’s 30-day comment period will begin when the notice is published in the Federal Register. “This notice is…
DetailsA U.S. appeals court last week struck down a law that requires tobacco companies to use graphic health warnings, such as of a man exhaling smoke through a hole in his throat. The 2-1 decision by the court in Washington, D.C., contradicts another appeals court’s ruling in a similar case earlier this year, setting up…
DetailsNACS is again representing the convenience and fuel retailing industry in the standards development arena, having been accepted as a full voting member onto the International Code Council (ASC A117) Consensus Committee on Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. The committee is responsible for setting minimum building codes that are accepted in all 50 states…
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