"This is a populist effort to refocus attention to promote domestic energy resource, an ultimate objective every American supports. But the legislation ignores the realities of the motor fuels supply and distribution system in the United States," added Eichberger. [1]
SEC. 3. STUDY ON IMPLEMENTING COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELING FOR MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL.
(a) In General- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall--
(1) conduct a study to determine appropriate methods and standards for requiring that--
(A) motor vehicle fuel suppliers disclose country-of-origin information with respect to motor vehicle fuel to the next person in the motor vehicle fuel supply chain; and
(B) motor vehicle retailers disclose such information to consumers; and
(2) make recommendations with respect to the most feasible and cost-effective country-of-origin information disclosure requirements that can be imposed on motor vehicle fuel suppliers and motor vehicle fuel retailers.
(b) Elements of Study- The study required by subsection (a) shall address the following:
(1) The extent to which persons at each step in the motor vehicle fuel supply chain have access to country-of-origin information regarding the fuel they sell, and the nature of any such information.
(2) An assessment of whether such information is adequate--
(A) to enable a motor vehicle fuel supplier to provide country-of-origin information to the next person in the supply chain; and
(B) to enable a motor vehicle fuel retailer to provide country-of-origin information to consumers, by displaying that information at fuel pumps or on a website.
(3) If the Secretary determines under paragraph (2) that such information is inadequate to enable motor vehicle fuel suppliers or motor vehicle fuel retailers to provide country-of-origin information, measures that can be taken to collect adequate information--
(A) by the Secretary; and
(B) by motor vehicle fuel suppliers and motor vehicle fuel retailers.
(4) The feasibility of various country-of-origin information disclosure requirements, including--
(A) displaying at each fuel pump the precise country or countries in which the fuel being dispensed to each consumer originated; and
(B) displaying at each motor vehicle fuel retailer or on the website of each motor vehicle fuel supplier or motor vehicle fuel retailer the country or countries from which the fuel the supplier or retailer (as the case may be) sells generally originates.
(5) Such other issues relating to motor vehicle fuel country-of-origin information disclosure requirements as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(c) Report to Congress- Not later than 90 days after completing the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that--
(1) summarizes the results of the study; and
(2) contains the recommendations required by subsection (a)(2). [2]