The Biden administration lifted some environmental regulations governing the sale of gasoline in three states and the nation’s capital on tuesday, as the Colonial Pipeline shutdown stretched into its fourth day, causing fuel shortages along the east Coast. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it was waiving volatility requirements governing gasoline in maryland, virginia, pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., through May 18. The move could help bring more fuel to the area that is normally well supplied by the Colonial Pipeline system, a major U.S. artery for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
“I have determined that an ‘extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstance’ exists that will prevent the distribution of an adequate supply of compliant gasoline to consumers,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a letter to local leaders describing the move. Colonial Pipeline Co. halted operations May 7 after hackers stole almost 100 gigabytes of data and locked the company’s computers in a ransomware attack the FBI has attributed to the DarkSide hacking ring. The company has said the pipeline will be substantially back in operation by the end of the week. In the meantime, however, filling stations from virginia to florida have sold out of gasoline, as supplies dwindle and panic buying sets in.
