The National Marine Manufacturers Association cautioned the Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday against doing too little to establish meaningful misfueling controls to protect boaters from incompatible ethanol blends now that E15 has been approved for some later models of cars.
NMMA legislative director Mat Dunn spoke to the agency during a public hearing in Chicago.
Last month, the agency approved the sale of gasoline containing as much as 15 percent ethanol for model-year 2007 and newer motor vehicles.
"While this decision excludes marine engines and other non-road engines such as snowmobiles, lawn and garden equipment, NMMA remains concerned that EPA is not taking sufficient steps to combat a significant risk of consumer confusion and misfueling once E15 becomes available at gas stations," the association said in a statement.
Dunn noted at the hearing that the EPA does not outline plans or funding for a consumer education program or take steps to ensure that compatible fuels remain available to the owners of non-road engines such as boats.
Representatives of Mercury Marine and the National Boating Federation, among other boating groups, testified at the hearing and expressed similar concerns, the NMMA reported.
The NMMA will submit full written comments on the EPA's proposed pump label next month.
Click here to read the NMMA's full testimony.
