U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota says she and other members of Congress want to find out why federal officials have delayed a decision on allowing higher concentrations of ethanol in gasoline.
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced it will wait until fall to decide whether to increase the maximum blend from 10 to 15 percent. The agency said the delay would allow more testing of the higher blend in vehicles.
Herseth Sandlin says the delay is inexcusable. The Democratic congresswoman says allowing a 15 percent ethanol blend would help reduce the nation's dependence on imported oil and boost the economy in rural areas where ethanol is made from corn and other plants.
