EPA waives fuel regs in storm states

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. environmental regulators say they are waiving federal clean gasoline requirements for gasoline sold and distributed in states hit by Hurricane Sandy.

The waiver -- granted by the Environmental Protection Agency in coordination with the Department of Energy -- covers Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, District of Columbia, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

As a result of the effects of Hurricane Sandy, extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist that may result in a temporary shortage of gasoline compliant with federal regulations, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said in an agency release Wednesday.

The federal waiver will help ensure an adequate supply of fuels in states affected by the storm, the release said.

The waiver will temporarily allow the mixing of reformulated gasoline and conventional gasoline to remove potential barriers to the supply of gasoline to the region, officials said.