http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/795F471DFE4B993A852578CA00645D6C
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a proposal
under the Clean Air Act that would waive requirements for systems used
at gas station pumps to capture potentially harmful gasoline vapors
while refueling cars. The proposal is part of the Obama Administration’s
initiative to review outdated and redundant rules and ensure that
regulations are beneficial without being unnecessarily burdensome to
American businesses.
Beginning in 2013, states that meet the new criteria
would have the option to do away with vapor recovery systems at the pump
since an estimated 70 percent of all vehicles will be equipped by then
with on-board systems that capture these vapors. The result of the
proposal would be the continued protection of air quality and public
health while potentially saving affected gas stations more than $3,000
annually.
Since 1994, gas stations in certain areas have
been required to use gasoline vapor recovery systems. The systems
capture fumes that escape from gasoline tanks during refueling.
However, as required by the Clean Air Act, automobile manufacturers
began installing onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) technologies in
1998, making gas stations’ systems redundant. Since 2006, all new
automobiles and light trucks (pickups, vans, and SUVs) are equipped with
ORVR.
Vapor emissions from refueling, if allowed to escape,
can contribute significantly to ground-level ozone, sometimes called
smog, as well as to other types of harmful air pollution. Ground-level
ozone can cause acute respiratory problems, aggravated asthma, temporary
decreases in lung capacity in healthy adults and inflammation of lung
tissue. Children and the elderly are most at risk. Gasoline vapors
also contain toxic air pollutants associated with a variety of health
threats.
The Clean Air Act allows EPA to establish criteria
for waiving federal requirements for vapor recovery systems on gasoline
pumps when ORVR systems are widely available in the vehicle fleet. EPA
is proposing to establish June 30, 2013, as the date by which a
sufficient portion of the vehicle fleet will be equipped with such
technology. By that date, EPA projects that more than 70 percent of
vehicles on the road will have ORVR technology.
EPA will accept comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) www.EPA.gov
Press Release dated July 11, 2011
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