Rep. Ruben Gallego calls on federal agency to help with lowering gas prices
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5)— Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to work with state leaders to lower high gas prices.
In a letter to EPA administrator Michael S. Regan, Gallego calls on the regulator to be more proactive in helping Arizona with gasoline issues by requesting waivers for the special blends earlier and aggressively monitoring the oil supply.
Arizona uses a special blend of gasoline in the summer and winter to reduce air pollution, but it costs more.
Last September, Arizona saw a surge in gas prices due to refinery maintenance, pipeline disruptions, and the effects of Tropical Storm Hillary. Arizona’s state average for a gallon of gas was $4.65, compared to the national average of $3.86.
The EPA granted a waiver for the summer gas blend requirements for 20 days, allowing Arizona to use different blends while the supply stabilized, but Gallego felt it could have been done sooner.
He also wants the EPA to confirm that the waivers don’t impact air quality.
“There are ways to protect our air quality and health while preventing sky-high gas prices – I am confident that we can do both,” Gallego said in the letter.
By: David Baker
Source: Arizona's Family (3TV/CBS 5)