United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-03-034 Environmental Protection September 2003 Agency Office of Transportation and Air Quality of and and in to 77?e (7. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a direct final rule with a corresponding proposed rule that will ensure more consistent use of the same methodology across EPA motor fuel regulations and allow for improvements in the test method procedure that will ensure better operation. Specifically, we are updating an American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) designated test method, ASTM D 1319, to the most recent 2002a version which, when adopted, will supercede earlier versions of this method in EPA's motor vehicle fuel regulations. Background Manufacturers of gasoline and diesel motor vehicle fuel are required to measure certain fuel properties in order to demonstrate compliance with our motor vehicle fuels programs. ASTM test method D 1319 is cur- rently a designated test method for measuring olefms in gasoline and aromatics in diesel motor vehicle fuel; it is also an alternative test method for measuring aromatics in gasoline. Aromatics and olefms are very important fuel parameters to measure in both gasoline and diesel motor vehicle fuel because they may lead to the formation of air toxic compounds in motor vehicle exhaust emissions. Because EPA issued rules related to test methods at different points in time, the regulations currently cite three different versions of D 1319 (published in three different years) for each of the applications mentioned above. > Printed on Recycled Paper ------- Overview of Rule Updating ASTM D 1319 to the 2002a version in our regulations for each of these three applications will ensure more consistent use of the same methodology across EPA motor fuel regulations as well as allow for improvements in the test method procedures that will ensure better operation. The clean air benefits of EPA's gasoline and diesel motor vehicle fuel programs will continue to be realized. There will be no adverse health or environmental impact as a result of this test method update. These test method changes will be effective sixty days after publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. We are confident that sixty days is sufficient lead time for industry to become familiar and implement this updated ASTM test method. The proposal also solicits comments on this change. However, we do not anticipate any adverse comments and believe the industry will be very supportive of this change in the regula- tions. For Further Information You can access the proposed rule on the Office of Transportation and Air Quality Web site at: www.epa.gov/otaq/rfg_regs.htm#testing For further information about the proposed rule, contact Joe Sopata at: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Transportation and Air Quality (6406J) 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20460 (202) 564-9034 ------- |