Oil refineries sue EPA over ethanol plan

WASHINGTON – A trade group representing oil refineries is suing the Environmental Protection Agency over plans to allow the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol.

The Obama administration said in October that gas stations could start selling the corn-based ethanol blend for vehicles built since the 2007 model year. The ruling would increase it from the current blend of 10 percent ethanol.

But the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association and two other trade groups have asked a federal appeals court to overturn the decision. They say the EPA does not have the authority under the Clean Air Act to approve a plan for fuels that run in some engines but not others.

Auto industry and engine manufacturing trade groups have also sued the EPA over the ethanol decision.