PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Nearly 8,000 concerned individuals have joined the American Motorcyclist Association to oppose the spread of higher-ethanol blended fuels across the country, the motorcyclist advocacy organization announced today.

The AMA is asking for signatures to its online petition that urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency not to increase the proposed renewable fuel volumes this year and, instead, to adopt lower mandates.

As of this afternoon, about 7,800 people had signed.

The Renewable Fuel Standard proposals announced May 29 by the EPA would increase the risk of misfueling for motorcyclists and all-terrain-vehicle owners by forcing the widespread availability of higher-ethanol fuel blends, such as E15.

At the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unveiled a $100 million plan to double the number of higher-blend renewable fuel pumps to market E15 and E85.

“The EPA calls for higher ethanol blended fuels, and the USDA spends taxpayer dollars to make it happen, despite knowing that none of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs in use in the United States is approved to use E15 or higher ethanol blends,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. “Using those fuels in motorcycles and ATVs is illegal and may cause engine and fuel system damage and void the manufacturer’s warranty.”

The EPA opened a comment period to allow the public to voice its opinion on the proposed rule. The AMA plans to submit every name and address with its comments to the EPA on July 26.

“Our goal is to present more than 10,000 signatures supporting our stance against the wrongheaded policies of the EPA and the USDA on this matter,” Allard said. “There is nothing more powerful than thousands of riders joining to express their concern with unsafe fuel for their rides.”

Anyone can sign the AMA petition by visiting the AMA Federal Action Center here: http://bit.ly/1J4jGLG.

The EPA intends to take final action on this latest proposal by Nov. 30, which would return the agency to the program’s statutory timeline for issuing RFS annual rules.