The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced December 1 that it expects to make a final determination in mid-2010 regarding whether to increase the allowable ethanol content in fuel.

In a letter to Growth Energy―the biofuels trade association that had asked EPA to allow the use of up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline―EPA said "although all of the studies have not been completed, our engineering assessment to date indicates that the robust fuel, engine and emissions control systems on newer vehicles (likely 2001 and newer model years) will likely be able to accommodate higher ethanol blends, such as E15."

EPA also announced in the letter that it has begun the process of crafting the labeling requirements that will be necessary if the blending limit is raised. There was no mention of petroleum equipment compatibility.