Office of Transportation EPA420-F-05-014
and Air Quality November 2005
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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on in the
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Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the
provisions in the gasoline deposit control additive regulations regarding
the allowed variability in the composition and concentration of deposit
control additives. All gasoline used in the United States must contain
additives that have been certified by EPA in order to help decrease
vehicle emissions. Changes in the rule will assist regulated entities with
program compliance while maintaining the environmental benefits of the
gasoline deposit control program.
Background
Deposits that form in the engines and fuel supply systems of gasoline-powered
motor vehicles have been shown to increase emissions of harmful air pollut-
ants. On July 5,1996, EPA established a gasoline deposit control additive
program to ensure that all gasoline used in the United States contains additives
that limit the formation of such deposits. These additives must be certified
using EPA-specified test procedures. During certification, additive manufac-
turers must provide EPA with information on additive composition. To ensure
that in-use additives meet EPA requirements, manufacturers are required to
limit variation in the composition of additive production batches from that
reported during certification.
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Summary of Amendments
This final rule amends and clarifies the provisions regarding variability in the
composition and concentration of additives certified under the gasoline deposit
control program. The amendments include: 1) allowing flexibility in the formula-
tion of the non-detergent active components in gasoline additive packages
provided that the level of deposit control protection is not reduced; and 2)
clarifying that the concentration of the detergent-active components in additive
production batches may exceed the minimum required level established during
certification testing. The changes to the regulatory requirements made by this
action addresses additive manufacturer concerns that compliance with the
previous requirements would be burdensome and difficult.
Health Environmental
The regulatory changes contained in this final rule do not affect the level
of deposit control protection and associated emissions benefits under
EPA's gasoline deposit control program. Since non-detergent active additive
components do not influence the level of deposit control protection, the addi-
tional flexibility in the composition of these components provided by this rule
will not affect the environmental benefits of the gasoline deposit control pro-
gram.
Economic Impact
The regulatory amendments contained in this rule reduce the burden of compli-
ance for all regulated parties including small entities. This final rule does not
impose new information collection requirements or increase the information
collection burden on the regulated community.
For More Information
You can access the final rule and related documents on the Office of
Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) Web site at:
www. epa. gov/otaq/additive .htm
For further information on this final rule, please contact Jeff Herzog at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
Assessment & Standards Division
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734)214-4227
E-mail: herzog.jeff@epa.gov
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