EPA Proposes Approval of Request
from Tennessee to Relax the Summer
Gasoline Volatility Standard for the
MiddleTennessee Area
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• In order to relax the applicable federal RVP standard in an area where the more strin-
gent federal RVP of 7.8 psi is required, an area must be designated as (or redesignated
to) attainment. The area must also submit a maintenance plan demonstrating continued
attainment of the ozone NAAQS with the less stringent RVP standard in place.
• Finalizing this rule is contingent upon the finalization of the EPA Region 4 concurrent
rulemaking that proposes approval of Tennessee's SIP revision. The SIP revision rule-
making is evaluating whether the relaxation of the federal RVP gasoline requirement
would not interfere with continued maintenance of the 1997 ozone NAAQS or any
other applicable NAAQS, including the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Tennessee submitted the
SIP revision with the noninterference demonstration to EPA on November 21, 2016.
EPA proposed the approval of the SIP revision on February 24, 2017 (82 FR 11519).
• Relaxing the volatility requirements for gasoline sold in the Middle Tennessee Area
could be beneficial because this action could improve the fungibility of gasoline in the
Area. If this proposed rulemaking becomes final and effective, the gasoline sold in the
Middle Tennessee Area can be identical to the fuel sold now in most of the rest of
Tennessee. For motorists, the change in summertime gasoline volatility specifications
will be virtually unnoticed.
Background
In 1987, EPA determined that gasoline nationwide had become increasingly volatile, causing an
increase in evaporative emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles and equipment. Evaporative
emissions from gasoline, referred to as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are precursors to
the formation of tropospheric ozone and contribute to the nation's ground-level ozone problem.
Ground-level ozone causes health problems, including damaged lung tissue, reduced lung func-
tion, and lung sensitization to other pollutants.
The most common measure of fuel volatility is RVP. To provide for cleaner air and greater public
health protection, EPA enforces maximum limits on the RVP of gasoline sold during the summer
ozone season which runs from June 1 to September 15 of each year. Specifically, EPA's regulations
at 40 CFR 80.27(a)(2) establish maximum RVP standards of 9.0 psi or 7.8 psi depending on the
state, the month, and the area's initial ozone designation with respect to the ozone NAAQS
during the summer ozone season.
In order to relax the applicable federal RVP standard in an area where the more stringent federal
RVP of 7.8 psi is required, an area must be designated as (or redesignated to) attainment. The
area must also submit a maintenance plan demonstrating continued attainment of the ozone
NAAQS with the less stringent RVP standard in place.
The Middle Tennessee Area has an approved 10-year maintenance plan for the 1997 ozone
NAAQS and is designated as attainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS and is currently attaining
the 2015 ozone NAAQS. As described above, EPA is evaluating whether the Middle Tennessee
Area will continue to attain the ozone NAAQS, and any other applicable NAAQS, if the RVP
standard is relaxed from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi during the summer ozone season.
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For More Information
You can access the rule and related documents on the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air
Quality Web site at: www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/gasolinefuels/volatility/index.htm
For further information on this NPRM, please contact:
David Dickinson
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
202-343-9256
E-mail: dickinson.david@epa.gov
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