EPA delays decision on ethanol rules

WASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency is putting off a decision on Texas' request to waive ethanol requirements for gasoline.

A decision had been due Thursday. But EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said Tuesday the agency needs more time to review more than 15,000 public comments it has received. Texas Gov. Rick Perry asked the EPA in April to halve the ethanol requirement this year.

An energy bill passed last year requires 9 billion gallons of ethanol to be blended into gasoline this year. Perry, a Republican, wanted the EPA to drop the requirement to 4.5 billion gallons because the demand for ethanol is raising corn prices for livestock producers.

The agency said it hopes to have a decision in early August.