EPA Approves Louisiana Request to
Relax the Federal Summer Gasoline
Volatility Standard in Several Parishes
r I *he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a
JL final rule to relax the federal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP)
standard applicable to gasoline sold in the 11 Louisiana parishes of
Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Orleans,
Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, and St. Mary.
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• Relaxing the volatility requirements for gasoline sold in the 11 Louisiana parishes may be
beneficial because this action has the potential to improve the fungibility of gasoline in
the area. Once this rule becomes effective, the summertime gasoline sold in the 11 par-
ishes can be identical to the fuel sold in most of the rest of Louisiana. For motorists, the
change in summertime gasoline volatility specifications should 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. 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.
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. If the
redesignated area is still covered by a maintenance plan requirement, then it must also submit a
revised maintenance plan demonstrating continued attainment of the ozone National Ambient
Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) with the less stringent RVP standard in place.
The 11 parishes covered by the final rule were redesignated to attainment for the 1 -hour ozone
NAAQS and subsequently designated as attainment for the 1997 ozone NAAQS. The State
was required to submit maintenance plans that applied to the period 2004 through 2014 for
these parishes for the 1997 ozone NAAQS. The State submitted these plans, which were
approved by EPA. The parishes were designated attainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS and
were not required to submit maintenance plans for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. Therefore, the last
maintenance plans that these parishes were subject to were in place through 2014, after which
they were no longer subject to a maintenance planning requirement for the ozone NAAQS.
The State has not recommended any of the 11 parishes for nonattainment designation for the
2015 ozone NAAQS.
EPA has determined that because the parishes in question have met all applicable maintenance
planning requirements under the Act, the RVP change does not trigger a requirement for the
State to provide a non-interference demonstration under CAA section 110(1). Continued fleet
turnover to newer vehicles and emission reductions from numerous national regulations are
expected to continue to reduce emissions of VOCs and nitrogen oxides in the future.
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For More Information
You can access the rule and related documents on EPA's Office of Transportation and
Air Quality Web site at:
www.epa.gov/gasoline-standards/relaxation-summer-gasoline-volatility-standard-
several-parishes-louisiana
For further information on this final rule, please contact:
Dave Sosnowski
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-214-4823
E-mail: sosnowski.dave@epa.gov
Or
Rudy Kapichak
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-214-4574
E-mail: kapichak.rudolph@epa.gov
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