Hawaii Fuel Ethanol Working Group

Next Meeting:

To be announced.
For more information, call 587-3809.

Action Item:

Fuel distributors who would be interested in
obtaining pump labels such as those shown here --->
please email mtome@dbedt.hawaii.gov
with the quantity wanted. We are looking into
acquiring some as soon as possible, although
it's not assured that it will be in time for the
deadline.

E10 Pump Labeling Requirements Announced

At the ethanol working group meeting on March 6, 2006, the Department of Agriculture's Measurement Standards Branch announced that pump labels are required on retail pumps dispensing E10 by April 2, 2006. Here are the details (provided after the meeting):

Hawaii Administrative Rules, chapter 4-94-2 (http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/adminrules/AR-94.pdf) adopted NIST handbook 130, 1993 edition:

NIST Handbook 130, Uniform Regulations

Section B: Uniform Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities

Section 2.20. Gasoline-Oxygenate Blends.--

2.20.1 Method of retail sale.--All spark ignition fuel kept, offered, or exposed for sale, or sold, at retail containing at least 1 percent by volume of any oxygenate or combination of oxygenates shall be identified as "with" or "containing" (or similar wording) the specific type of oxygenate(s) in the engine fuel. For example, the label may read "contains ethanol" or "with MTBE/ETBE." This information shall be posted on the upper 50 percent of the dispenser front panel in a position clear and conspicuous from the driver's position, in a type at least 1/2 inch in height, 1/16 inch stroke (width of type). (Added 1984; Amended 1986 and 1991)

Page 93.

NIST handbook website:
http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/230/235/pubs.htm#Handbooks

Fuel Distributor Reporting Forms Finalized

The 2-page form is available in Word and PDF:

• Fuel Distributor Reporting Form in MS Word: ethanolblendform-060309-final.doc (255 kb)
• Fuel Distributor Reporting Form in Adobe Acrobat: ethanolblendform-060309-final.pdf (992 kb)

Information on GET exemption distributed

Informal information from the State Department of Taxation on what would be considered a "reasonable" approach for the E-10 exemption from the State General Excise Tax on Retail Sales, during transition from non-ethanol gasoline to E10, was distributed: GET-E10-commingled.pdf (19 kb).

Rules:

The Final Rule (pdf file; 1,826 kb) was approved by the Governor on September 20, 2004; filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor on September 22, 2004; and has an effective date of October 2, 2004. Blending is to begin April 2, 2006.

Governor's Press Release

Background

The Hawaii Fuel Ethanol Working Group, comprised of representatives from a variety of public and private sector organizations, was formed in 2002. The group is intended to provide a forum for discussion and input on other ethanol-related issues and policies.

If your organization would like to participate, or if you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Maria Tome via telephone at 587-3809 or via email at mtome @ dbedt.hawaii.gov.

new-fuel.com

A website with ethanol-related publications, presentations, and links is available: new-fuel.com.

Action Items

(none)

How to participate:

Email your comments to mtome @ dbedt.hawaii.gov, or
Fax to 587-3820, or
Send via U.S. Mail to: PO Box 2359, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96804 Attention: SID - Energy Branch.

Comments will be compiled and distributed prior to the next meeting.

Working Group Communication

Several members from off-island - and even some members on Oahu - have said they prefer to provide their input via e-mail and telephone, rather than having to schedule and travel to face-to-face meetings. Indicated preferences were for e-mail (67%) over conference call (16%) and meet in person (16%). So, as much as possible will be done electronically. If a meeting is scheduled and you do not attend in person, you may provide input to mtome @ dbedt.hawaii.gov or via fax to 587-3820 and your input will be included.