ELR Citation: 56 ELR 20049
No(s). 25-1187 (D.C. Cir. Apr 7, 2026)

The D.C. Circuit granted small refineries' petition to review EPA's denials of their applications for exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standards obligations for the 2024 compliance year. EPA denied the applications on the grounds that the refineries' crude oil throughput exceeded 75,000 barrels per day in 2023, so they did not qualify for the exemption under a 2014 regulation that required small refineries to not exceed the throughput threshold for two years. The court found EPA's interpretation of its own regulation—that it required the refineries to comply with the 75,000-barrel limit in 2023 as well as 2024—was contrary to the provision's plain text. It vacated the Agency's denial orders and remanded for further proceedings.