JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri's ethanol mandate has been in effect for nearly two years, but the state has no means of ensuring that Missouri's 4,000 gas stations are following the law on a day-by-day basis.
The law requires gas stations to sell fuel containing a 10 percent blend of ethanol whenever its cost is less than or equal to regular gasoline.
The department does not have personnel to check whether every tanker truck fills up with ethanol when it is required to by law.
Instead, the department says it inspects the fuel at each gas station about once every 18 months. If it notices no ethanol, it investigates to see if the station was exempt because of the price of ethanol.