United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-99-014
Environmental Protection May 1999
Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
&EPA Regulatory
Announcement
Proposal Allows Evaluation of
Puerto Rico Gasoline with
Summer Complex Model
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing
regulations which will allow Puerto Rico gasoline, under limited
circumstances, to be evaluated using the summer Complex Model.
Currently, such gasoline is evaluated using the winter Complex Model.
Background
The anti-dumping standards of the reformulated gasoline (RFG) program
require refiners to produce conventional gasoline each year that is as
clean, with respect to exhaust toxics and oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
emissions, as the gasoline produced by the refiner in 1990. The exhaust
toxics and NOx emissions are determined using the Complex Model,
based on measured properties, such as sulfur and benzene content. The
Complex Model includes both a summer version and a winter version
which, for a variety of reasons, yield different emissions for a given fuel
composition. The summer Complex Model is used to evaluate gasoline
supplied to an area subject to gasoline volatility standards when these
standards are in effect; the winter Complex Model is used to evaluate all
other gasoline. Gasoline sold in areas not subject to the volatility stan-
dards, such as Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska, is evaluated using the
winter Complex Model.
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In order to determine a refiner's compliance standard for the averaging
period, the anti-dumping provisions require the use of a specified compli-
ance baseline equation. This equation compares a refiner's conventional
gasoline production for the year with that refiner's individual baseline.
The equation includes a component which compares the emissions of a
refiner's excess volume of conventional gasoline to the annual average
statutory baseline emissions, a combination of the summer and winter
statutory baselines. As a result, the emissions of gasoline destined for
areas such as Puerto Rico are compared to that part of the compliance
baseline equation that is based in part on the summertime portion of the
statutory baseline. This means that gasoline sold in these areas is required
to be evaluated, on a batch basis, using the winter Complex Model but is
then compared to an annual average value. This inconsistency may result
in unintended negative effects for refiners and for the environment, due to
quality changes refiners may make in their gasoline pools in order to
achieve compliance.
and
The current anti-dumping regulations applicable to areas not subject to
the volatility standards can negatively affect the quality of a refiner's
other gasoline, such as mainland RFG, by requiring the refiner to shift
certain production from RFG to conventional gasoline in order to comply
with the requirements for its gasoline which is destined for areas not
subject to the volatility standards. Thus the emissions in areas which most
need clean gasoline—ozone nonattainment areas participating in the RFG
program—are artificially elevated. Conversely, areas not subject to the
volatility standards, which are likely in attainment for ozone, receive
cleaner conventional gasoline due to the unintended results of the current
anti-dumping rules.
This proposal would help to provide the cleanest gasoline where it is
needed most. It is possible that areas not subject to the volatility stan-
dards could see increases in the emissions regulated under the anti-
dumping requirements. However, this proposal would allow refiners to
use the most seasonally-appropriate Complex Model for gasoline sold in
Puerto Rico, and will not result in an increase in emissions from conven-
tional gasoline compared to 1990 levels. Thus, the goals of the anti-
dumping program will be preserved. Indeed, this adjustment simply
works to restore the proper balance to the distribution of environmental
benefits under the RFG program. EPA will need more information from
other refiners before proposing to broadly apply similar provisions in
other areas not subject to EPA's volatility requirement.
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EPAis proposing that refiners would be required to petition EPA in order
to use the summer complex model and modified compliance baseline
equation for their Puerto Rico gasoline. EPA believes that a refiner would
submit such a petition only if it is economically beneficial for them to do
so. Most refiners that could potentially petition EPA under this proposal
are operating satisfactorily under the current requirements and are likely
to be unaffected by this rule.
Public
We welcome public comments on this proposal from all interested
parties. Whenever applicable, full supporting data and detailed analysis
should also be submitted to allow EPA to make maximum use of the
comments. Commenters are especially encouraged to provide specific
suggestions for changes to any aspects of the proposal that they believe
need to be modified or improved.
For instructions on submitting written comments, please see the Federal
Register notice. It is available from the EPA Air and Radiation Docket by
calling 202-260-7548; please refer to Docket No. A-99-16. The proposed
rule and additional documents on the RFG program are available elec-
tronically from the EPA Internet server at:
http://www.epa.gov/oms/fuels.htm
For
For further information on this proposed rule, please contact Christine
Brunner (734-214-4287) or Felicia Seals-Buchanan (734-214-4589) at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory
2000 Traverwood Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
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