American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers President Charles T. Drevna issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency announced it has approved the first applications for the registration of gasoline that contains 15 percent ethanol (E15) - a 50 percent increase from the 10 percent ethanol now allowed to be blended with gasoline.

Drevna, in San Antonio for AFPM's International Petrochemical Conference, said:

"Unfortunately, the EPA announcement represents yet another in the agency's unwise, premature and irresponsible series of actions in its rush to force E15 to the marketplace.

"EPA's hasty attempts to speed introduction of E15 before necessary testing is complete could endanger the safety of American consumers, threatening their vehicles and gasoline-powered equipment with possibly severe damage. This action is more about political science than real science because it is designed to protect the ethanol industry rather than the American people.

"This decision is particularly troubling, since recent information released by the Coordinating Research Council shows failures when using E15 in vehicles approved by EPA. With a lawsuit by AFPM and other organizations on this critical issue about to be heard, there is no reason for EPA to have rushed to judgment and acted so recklessly."