Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy said today that EPA’s final rule on the volumetric requirements for biofuels for this year has been delayed because the Obama administration wants to make sure the rule still encourages the increased use of biofuels over the long run.

In a call to reporters about the Waters of the U.S. rule, (see previous story) McCarthy explained that, although she had previously said that she expected the rule to come out in June, “it has become very clear to me in the comments we have received is that there are some general concerns about the volumes and the way we are adjusting them and whether they will continue to push our joint interest in getting biofuels into the system.”

“The administration continues to have a strong commitment to biofuels and we want to make sure that the final reflects that interest,” she said, noting that EPA will publish the final rule “as soon as we can get it right.”

Oil companies and the meat industry had urged EPA to reduce the volumetric requirements, and the industry has been unable to meet the expectations for cellulosic biofuels.

Biofuels groups have said that the government should maintain a commitment to biofuels and noted that commodity prices have gone down since a proposal to reduce the volumes was released.