EPA renewed the Texas diesel sulfur waiver. The new window runs through November 13

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that on October 20, 2026, it renewed a temporary Texas diesel fuel waiver, after consulting the U.S. Department of Energy under the Clean Air Act, in response to a state request about extreme and unusual diesel supply disruptions. EPA’s fuel-waivers page says the new waiver lifts Texas Low Emissions Diesel standards and ultra-low sulfur diesel (15 ppm) requirements so diesel with a sulfur level up to 500 ppm can be distributed and sold in Texas. The letter says the waiver is effective on October 25, 2026, and continues for 20 days through November 13, 2026, which EPA notes is as long as the Clean Air Act permits for this kind of waiver.

The October 20 letter limits the fuel to highway and nonroad vehicles and nonroad equipment originally certified for operation on low sulfur diesel fuel (under 500 ppm sulfur). It says the non-ULSD fuel is not to be used in diesel-powered highway or nonroad equipment equipped with a diesel particulate filter or catalytic emission control technology. The fuel must be segregated from fuel sold or labelled as ULSD, and persons distributing and dispensing it must provide a warning to owners and operators. Diesel that meets the waiver’s conditions and was introduced into domestic pipelines, or certified at the manufacturing or import facility, before the window closes may be distributed and sold until the volume on the product-transfer documents or certificates of analysis is depleted.

EPA says it intends to issue new waivers effectively extending these waivers until the extreme and unusual fuel-supply circumstances are no longer present. That sentence is an intention. Each additional window requires a new EPA action. The waiver applies to Texas, which the letter calls the smallest geographic area necessary. Other state or local requirements may still apply.