Markets Wired

FTC Seeks Public Comments on Proposed Amendments to the Fuel Rating Rule

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments on proposed changes to its Rule for Automotive Fuel Ratings, Certification, and Posting, commonly known as the Fuel Rating Rule. The rule requires fuel sellers to provide accurate information about gasoline octane, or about the components that make up alternative fuels such as those containing ethanol. The changes now being proposed are based on comments received in response to a March 2009 FTC notice issued as part of a broader review of agency rules and guides.

The most significant proposed change would explicitly add gasoline-ethanol blends containing between 10 and 70 percent ethanol to the list of fuels that must be rated, certified, and labeled. The notice further proposes new labeling requirements for all mixtures of gasoline and more than 10 percent ethanol, including E-85 (an 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline blend). The notice also proposes allowing an alternate method for determining gasoline octane ratings. The Federal Register notice proposing the Fuel Rating Rule changes and detailing how to submit public comments can be found on the FTC’s Web site and as a link to this press release. Comments must be received by May 21, 2010.

The FTC vote approving publication of the Federal Register notice was 4-0. (FTC File No. R811005; the staff contact is Matthew Wilshire, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2976; see related press release dated February 24, 2009, at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/02/fyi0224.shtm.)

FTC Approves SCI Corporation International Petition to Divest Cemetery and Related Funeral Home to Legacy Funeral Holdings

The Federal Trade Commission has approved a petition by SCI Corporation International to divest the Davis Memorial Park cemetery and a related funeral home in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Legacy Funeral Holdings of Nevada, LLC. Under the terms of an FTC consent order announced in November 2009, SCI must divest these businesses to an FTC-approved buyer to remedy the competition lost because of SCI’s acquisition of Palm Mortuary, Inc., which was completed on December 3, 2009.

The FTC vote approving the petition was 4-0. (FTC Docket No. C-4275; the staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526; see press release dated November 25, 2009, at: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/11/sci.shtm.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.