Biofuels and the Environment: Second Triennial Report to Congress (Final Report, 2018)

This report updates the findings of the first Report to Congress, published in 2011, concerning environmental and resource conservation impacts of the RFS Program, which are intended to address the Section 204 statutory impacts since the passage of the EISA. This report reflects the current scientific understanding of the impacts of Section 204, as presented in the published literature about biofuel use and production, using data gathered through May 2017. Data on U.S. land use and the scientific literature through April 2017 were also reviewed. This report does not assess potential greenhouse gas emission reductions resulting from replacing biofuel with fossil fuel. This report does not compare the estimated environmental impacts of other transportation fuels or energy sources.

This is the second triennial Report to Congress required under Section 204 of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). EISA increases the renewable fuel standards (RFS) to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022. Section 204 requires an assessment of the environmental and resource conservation impacts of the RFS Program. Air and water quality, soil quality and conservation, water availability, ecosystem health and biodiversity, invasive species, and international impacts are assessed, as well as opportunities to mitigate these impacts.

The feedstocks compared in this qualitative assessment of peer-reviewed literature focused on the dominant feedstocks - corn and soybeans – with a more brief assessment of other feedstocks (e.g., corn stover, algae, etc.). Biofuels compared include conventional and cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel. This report concludes that (1) the extent of adverse impacts to date are limited in magnitude and are primarily associated with the intensification of corn production; (2) whether future impacts are positive or negative will be determined by choice of feedstock, land use change, cultivation, and conservation practices; and (3) realizing potential benefits will require implementation and monitoring of conservation and best management practices, improvements in production efficiency, and implementation of innovative technologies at commercial scales. This report provides a foundation for comprehensive environmental assessments of biofuel production.

Impact/Purpose

EISA Section 204 calls for EPA to report to Congress on the environmental and resource conservation impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, specifically air and water quality, water quantity, ecosystem health and biodiversity, soil quality, invasive species, and international impacts. This report is the second of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) reports to Congress required under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA).

Citation

U.S. EPA. Biofuels and the Environment: Second Triennial Report to Congress (Final Report, 2018). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-18/195, 2018.

This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

• Biofuels and the Environment: Second Triennial Report to Congress (PDF)  (161  pp, 3.9 MB, about PDF)

Related Link(s)

• Biofuels and the Environment: First Triennial Report to Congress (Final Report, 2011)
• Biofuels and the Environment: Third Triennial Report to Congress (Final Report, 2025)