"The Environmental Protection Agency declined on Friday to relax its requirement on the use of corn ethanol in gasoline, rejecting a request from several states related to a steep decline in the nation’s corn production."

"A summer drought that withered crops led to a spike in prices, hurting year to meet the federal renewable energy standard for transportation fuel.

'We recognize that this year’s drought has created hardship in some sectors of the economy, ate that as much as half of the nation’s crop will be used to produce ethanol particularly for livestock producers,' Gina McCarthy, an E.P.A. assistant administrator, said in a statement. 'But our extensive analysis makes clear that Congressional requirements for a waiver have not been met.'"

Matthew L. Wald reports for the New York Times November 16, 2012. [2]