United States                Air and Radiation           EPA420-F-03-024
Environmental Protection                               September 2003
Agency

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

                in the
                                           and Tier 2
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a direct
final rule to allow the use of alternative analytical test methods for
measuring sulfur in reformulated and conventional gasoline, and
butane. The Agency currently has only one designated test method that
may be used by refiners, importers and oxygenate blenders for
determining sulfur content in gasoline and one test method for butane.
This rulemaking provides industry significant flexibility in choosing
between several American Society for Standards and Materials (ASTM)
test methods for determining the sulfur content of gasoline and butane.
Background
The Agency currently has one designated test method, ASTM D 2622,
that may be used by oil refiners, importers and oxygenate blenders for
determining sulfur content of gasoline. Likewise, EPA currently has one
designated test method, ASTM D 3246, that may be used by oil refiners,
importers and oxygenate blenders for determining sulfur content of
butane. This rulemaking was developed in response to concerns raised
by industry related to the designated test methods. Specifically, many
regulated parties preferred to use ASTM test methods other than D 2622
and D 3246, and this rulemaking permits them this flexibility.
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How will the regulations affect industry?
Refiners, importers and oxygenate blenders are affected by this rule. This
rulemaking allows the use of the current versions of ASTM D 5453, D
6428 and D 3120 as alternative test methods for determining sulfur
content of gasoline and ASTM D 4468 as an alternative test method for
determining sulfur content of butane. Refiners and importers will gain
significant flexibility by choosing which of these test methods may best
fit their needs for compliance measurements.

In the future, EPA will develop a performance based test methods ap-
proach and envisions that such an approach would provide additional
flexibility to the regulated industry in their choice of test methods to be
utilized for compliance various fuels programs.
What are the health and environmental benefits?
This direct final rule is not expected to have any adverse environmental
impact because the level of sulfur in gasoline and butane will remain the
same. Only the test methods used to measure the sulfur content may
differ.
Where can 1 find more information?
You can access documents on Tier 2 gasoline sulfur requirements elec-
tronically on the Office of Transportation and Air Quality web site at:

      www.epa.gov/otaq/tr2home.htm

For further information on this direct final rule, please contact Anne
Pastorkovich at:

      U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
      Office of Transportation and Air Quality (6406J)
      1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
      Washington, DC 20460
      (202) 564-8987
      E-mail: pastorkovich.anne-marie@epa.gov

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