Letter to Gina McCarthy, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator - Approve Ethanol Produced by Winter Barley as Advanced Biofurl

Letter

The Honorable Gina McCarthy
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator McCarthy:

We write to encourage you to seriously consider approving ethanol produced from winter barley as an advanced biofuel. Barley is grown in the Chesapeake Bay region as a winter cover crop. It is planted in the fall after corn or soybeans to use any remaining nutrients from the previous crop, helping to prevent nutrient runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. With an ethanol plant in Hopewell, Virginia, expected to begin operation later this year, a determination that winter barley-to-ethanol is an advanced biofuel would help develop a new domestic fuel source, improve water quality, and generate economic benefits for Maryland's agricultural economy by creating a market for this highly effective winter cover crop.

For nearly two decades, Maryland grain farmers have provided financial support to small grains experts at Virginia Tech to develop barley cultivars with improved biofuel related traits. We understand that spring barley may not meet the standards for advanced biofuels, so we encourage you to consider winter barley separately. Approval of winter barley as an advanced biofuel would help diversify the operation of the Hopewell plant and contribute to its success in producing alternative fuels.

With environmental advantages as a biofuel feedstock and side benefits for Chesapeake Bay revitalization efforts, we believe EPA should have a strong interest in finalizing the status review of winter barley for ethanol.

Sincerely,

Chris Van Hollen
Member of Congress

Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator

Ben Cardin
United States Senator

Steny H. Hoyer
Member of Congress

Elijah E. Cummings
Member of Congress

C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger
Member of Congress

John Sarbanes
Member of Congress

Donna F. Edwards
Member of Congress

Andy Harris
Member of Congress

John Delaney
Member of Congress