Proposed Relaxation of the Federal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) Gasoline Volatility Standard for the Atlanta RVP Area Regulatory Announcement


Proposed Relaxation of the Federal
Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) Gasoline
Volatility Standard for the Atlanta
RVP Area
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to amend the federal RVP gasoline standard for the 13 counties in the Atlanta RVP Area
from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi provided at 40 CFR 80.27(a)(2).
To relax the applicable federal RVP standard in an area where the more stringent federal
RVP of 7.8 psi is required, an area should generally be designated as (or redesignated
to) attainment for the relevant ozone NAAQS. If the area is covered by a maintenance
plan, the area must also submit a section 175 A maintenance plan revision demonstrating
continued attainment of the relevant ozone NAAQS with the less stringent RVP standard
in place. Part of the Atlanta RVP area is designated as a Marginal nonattainment for
the 2015 ozone NAAQS. We are proposing to approve the relaxation because Georgia's
CAA section 110(1) demonstration has been approved by EPA and it documented that
the area would timely attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS by August 2021, the attainment
date for Marginal nonattainment areas for the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
Before EPA could propose approval of Georgia's request to relax the summertime RVP
requirement from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi in the Atlanta RVP Area, the State needed to submit
(and EPA needed to approve) a revision to the approved section 175 A maintenance
plan that included a Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(1) non-interference demonstra-
tion for the area showing that the higher RVP fuel would not interfere with the area's
ability to maintain attainment of the 2008 ozone NAAQS, timely attain the 2015 ozone
NAAQS or any other applicable CAA requirements.
On August 15, 2018, Georgia submitted a section 175A maintenance plan revision and
CAA section 110(1) non-interference demonstration to EPA. EPA proposed to approve
the maintenance plan revision and demonstration on February 12, 2019 (84 FR 3358)
and finalized that approval on April 23, 2019 (84 FR 16786) based upon its determina-
tion that the proposed change to the federal gasoline RVP regulations for the Atlanta
Area is consistent with the applicable provisions of the CAA.
EPA is proposing to approve an RVP relaxation in an area that is nonattainment for an
ozone NAAQS. Georgia's CAA section 110(1) demonstration addressed the 2015 ozone
NAAQS. The State showed that the area would attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS by
August 2021 and provided new measures to control emissions to offset the change ))in
VOC emissions. These aspects of Georgia SIP submission were addressed in Region 4's
approval.
Relaxing the volatility requirements for gasoline sold in the Atlanta RVP Area is
anticipated to be beneficial because this action would improve the fungibility of gasoline
in Georgia. If this proposed rulemaking becomes final and effective, the gasoline sold
in the Atlanta RVP Area can be identical to the fuel now sold in the rest of Georgia.
For motorists, the change in summertime gasoline volatility specifications would be
virtually unnoticed.
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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
function, 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.
To relax the applicable federal RVP standard in an area where the more stringent federal RVP of
7.8 psi is required, an area should be designated as (or redesignated to) attainment. If the redes-
ignated area is still covered by a Clean Air Act (CAA) section 175A maintenance plan, then it
must also submit a revised maintenance plan demonstrating continued attainment of the ozone
NAAQS with the less stringent RVP standard in place. EPA also believes it appropriate to
approve an RVP relaxation in an area that is nonattainment for an ozone NAAQS if the state
demonstrates that the area would timely attain the ozone NAAQS and provides any new
necessary measures to control emissions to offset the change in VOC emissions.
The 13 counties covered by the proposed rule (the Atlanta RVP Area) were part of a 15-county
area that was redesignated to attainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS on June 2, 2017 (82 FR
25523). Seven counties of the Atlanta RVP Area have been designated nonattainment for the
more stringent 2015 ozone NAAQS on June 4, 2018 (83 FR 25776). When the ozone nonat-
tainment area was redesignated to attainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, the State assumed
7.8 RVP summertime fuel as part of its maintenance plan. For EPA to act on Georgia's sub-
sequent request to relax the summertime RVP requirement from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi, the State
needed to revise the approved CAA section 175A maintenance plan and submit a section
110(1) noninterference demonstration for the 2008 ozone maintenance area showing that the
higher RVP fuel would not interfere with the area's ability to maintain attainment of the
standard or any other applicable CAA requirements. Georgia was also required to address the
2015 ozone NAAQS in the section 110(1) noninterference demonstration to demonstrate that
the higher RVP fuel would not interfere with the area's ability to timely attain the standard or
any other applicable CAA requirements.
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For More Information
You can access the proposed rule and related documents on EPA's Office of Transportation
and Air Quality Web site at:
www.epa.gov/gasoline-standards/gasoline-reid-vapor-pressure
For further information on this NPRM, please contact:
David Dickinson
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
12000 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20460
202-343-9256
E-mail: dickinson.david@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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