Hoeven in D.C. to Address Air Wing Mission, FEMA Recovery Work, and E15 Waiver from EPA

Press Release

Gov. John Hoeven was in Washington, D.C. today to meet with Pentagon officials regarding the state's Air National Guard mission; Federal Emergency Management Agency officials about flood recovery and mitigation; and Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy officials concerning an increase in the ethanol-biodiesel blend from E10 to E15.
Future 119th Air Wing Missions

Gov. Hoeven, along with the state's congressional delegation and North Dakota Air National Guard and Air National Guard Support Group leaders met today with Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton A. Schwartz and other top Air Force officials to discuss current and future missions of the 119th Air Wing. Also attending were 119th Wing Commander Bob Becklund, who is transferring to a new UAS position, and newly named Wing Commander Rick Gibney.

Hoeven and the North Dakota group asked the Air Force to make the 119th Air Wing one of the first units to be assigned a fleet of new C27 Joint Cargo Aircraft, and also to expand the UAV mission.

"The Hooligans are ready and willing to take on larger missions, and would welcome additional aircraft to do so," Hoeven said.
FEMA Flood Recovery

Hoeven met today with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate to press for completion of as much of the agency's flood recovery work as possible in the current construction season. The State of North Dakota has been working with FEMA since March to help citizens and communities respond to and recover from the event.

* Fugate said he would put more FEMA project officers on the ground in North Dakota to complete site evaluations so that the state can get timely approval and funding for flood recovery and mitigation projects.
* Fugate agreed to provide more flexibility and funding for home buyouts. Hoeven announced that Cass County has been approved for a Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program grant to fund the acquisition of eighteen pre-identified properties located mostly in the Oxbow area. The acquisition project will cost more than $4.2 million. The grant received equals $3.16 million or seventy-five percent of the eligible project costs.

"These are straightforward measures FEMA can take almost immediately to give relief to homeowners still contending with the impacts of last spring's flooding, or living in anticipation of the next flood," Hoeven said. "The state is doing its part, but these are practical and productive steps only the agency can put into effect. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with Administrator Fugate about these issues as we continue to work toward the state's recovery."
Advancing E15

Hoeven also met today with senior Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy officials to press for approval of a pending waiver that would allow the sale of E15 fuel. The action would increase ethanol-gasoline blended fuel from 10 percent to 15 percent ethanol. EPA is scheduled to make a final decision in December, but Hoeven is asking the agency to expedite the decision.

"Right now, ethanol producers are struggling because their market has essentially been restricted," Hoeven said. "This simple decision would increase the demand for ethanol by half, and help replace more foreign oil with an environmentally sound domestic alternative."

The Governor, as chairman of the Governors Biofuels Coalition, made the original request in February to President Barack Obama and subsequently met with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. Hoeven plans to review the issue with Jackson again, as well.

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