FARMERS ASK EPA TO RECONSIDER ETHENOL; CORN GROWERS TAKE PROMOTION TO PUMP AND TO THE PEOPLE

Corn growers have urged the Environmental Protection Agency to take a second look at ethanol as a fuel alternative, following a ruling that the corn-based fuel could harm the ozone layer.

The federal agency has initiated new tests and has extended a public comment period until the results are in.

On Friday, local corn growers were washing windows and talking about ethanol at D-Mart at Route K and I-55 in Cape Girardeau.

Roger Schwab, who is on the board of directors of the Missouri Corn Growers Association and also chairman of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, said Friday, "We're out here today answering questions about ethanol and promoting that it's a clean burning fuel."

About once a year, the farmers take time to do this type of promotion. Schwab said they have talked with motorists at several different stations which sell ethanol-blended fuels.

Ethanol could provide a major new market for corn, but oil companies favor an additive made from natural gas over ethanol.

Now, some states and the Environmental Protection Agency say that a blend of 10 percent alcohol would exacerbate summer ozone pollution by causing gasoline to release harmful vapors.

Ethanol had previously been granted a waiver for those vapors because of the significant reduction in carbon monoxide levels achieved with a 10 percent ethanol blend, explained Schwab. Ethanol helps lower carbon monoxide emissions from most cars by more than 25 percent, say corn growers.

But now the EPA is saying the waiver does not apply to the section of the law governing reformulated fuels sold in ozone cities.

"Corn growers were one group instrumental in getting the Clean Air Act passed," Schwab said. "We believe it was the intent of Congress that ethanol would be part of the reformulated gasoline.

"Then, when the EPA wrote the rules and regulations for the Clean Air Act, the problem really developed."

He said the EPA tests found that ethanol caused some additional vapors to be released from gasoline. "But the tests the corn growers are looking at don't show the same results. We're trying to get them to look at some of our tests also."

As a result of lobbying efforts, Schwab said, the EPA is running a new set of tests.

In the meantime, corn growers are continuing to promote use of ethanol in fuels.

"Ethanol is totally safe for cars," Schwab said. "It also helps cut down on dependence on foreign oil and helps the price farmers get for their corn," Schwab said.

Missouri is ranked 10 in production of corn. The majority of corn in the state is grown in Southeast Missouri.

The top priority of the Missouri Corn Growers Association is to see corn processing facilities built in the state.

"It also helps rural economic development," Schwab said. "It would create jobs.

"We have really seen an increase in the usage of ethanol blends in Missouri," Schwab said. Three years ago, about 5 percent of gasoline contained ethanol. It has grown to about 15 percent.

"You will only find ethanol at independent stations, not at oil company stations" he said. "We are replacing 10 percent of their fuel with corn, so they are working to keep our product out of the market."