The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a proposal today under the Clean Air Act that would eliminate systems used at gas station pumps to capture potentially harmful gasoline vapors while refueling. Since 1994, gas stations in certain high smog areas have been required to use gasoline vapor recovery systems. The systems capture fumes that escape from gasoline tanks during refueling.
Vapor emissions if allowed to escape when refueling can contribute significantly to ground-level ozone or 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.
In a statement the EPA said the “proposal is part of the Obama Administration’s initiative to review outdated and redundant rules and ensure that regulations are beneficial without being unnecessarily burdensome to American businesses.” (Well, yes, but it’s redundant because another regulation was put in place without limiting the life of the existing one.)
Beginning in 2013, states would have the option to do away with vapor recovery systems at the pump since an estimated 70% of all vehicles will be equipped by then with on-board systems that capture the vapors. The result of the proposal potentially saves affected gas stations more than $3,000 annually, according to EPA.
Automobile manufacturers began installing onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) technologies in 1998 since it was required under the Clean Air Act, making the gas station systems redundant. Since 2006, all new automobiles and light trucks (pickups, vans, and SUVs) are equipped with ORVR.
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 – 70% – will be equipped with such technology.
