Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 1 - 15 of 29 results

• What is the Tier 2 Vehicle & Gasoline Sulfur Program?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The Tier 2 Vehicle and Gasoline Sulfur Program is a landmark program, begun in January 2004, that affects every new passenger vehicle and every gallon of gasoline sold in the U.S. By designing cleaner cars that run on…

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• Where can I download hourly emissions data from continuous monitoring?

  Hourly emissions data files are available from the Clean Air Markets Division of EPA, collected as part of 40 CFR Part 75. The download location has changed in February, 2023. The new location is https://campd.epa.gov/data/bulk-data-files . Once on this new site, use the menu (at the left) and the Keyword…

  • Last published: January 7, 2025

• Can a refiner or importer use gasoline sulfur test methods other than ASTM D 2622-98, especially for sulfur levels of 10 ppm and less?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The rule designates ASTM D 2622 as the benchmark test method by which compliance will be determined, and that is the test that the Agency typically will use in establishing compliance. However, the rule does permit alternative test…

  • Last published: July 12, 2024

• There is significant difference between "refiner" and "refinery". Portions of the regulations use "refiner" where "refinery" is the appropriate term. While it may be clear from the context that "refinery" is meant, text should be changed to avoid any poss

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . We agree with the comment and intend to make these clarifications in a future rulemaking. These clarifications would not affect the regulatory requirements in the current final rule.

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• Where can I go to learn more?

  PitWatch.org is the online home of the Berkeley Pit Public Education Committee. This volunteer committee educates residents, students, and the public about the environmental management of the Berkeley Pit.  Information includes the geology, hydrology, current events, and ongoing academic research associated with the Berkeley Pit. This committee frequently shares their…

  • Last published: September 26, 2024

• How complete are the data in the National Emissions Inventory?

  While the goal of the National Emissions Inventory (NEI) program is to include all emissions data, there are always challenges meeting this goal. The answer about completeness of coverage of sources depends on the emissions sector and pollutant. In general, the criteria air pollutants and precursors (CAPs) are expected to…

  • Last published: January 7, 2025

• Where is more information available about emissions estimation methods used by the EPA?

  For criteria air pollutants and precursors as well as for hazardous air pollutants, the methods are described in the technical support document (TSD) for the latest National Emissions Inventory (NEI) available from the main NEI page . For greenhouse gas emissions, you can find greenhouse gas inventory methods from the…

  • Last published: January 7, 2025

• Where are the NAICS/ SIC and SCC codes changes that have been implemented for the 2017NEI?

  Please refer to the NEI webpage for 2017 documentation , and follow the link for Appendix 2 - 2017 NEI Plan Code Changes. That Excel file describes anticipated changes for the SCCs and NAICS and includes a helpful read me. I'll just note in the next NEI/EIS email that SCC…

  • Last published: March 18, 2024

• Must a refinery that produces both California gasoline and federal RFG designate each batch produced as either federal RFG or California gasoline, and maintain segregation of both products, even though the gasoline meets the requirements of both programs?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Section 80.375(c) requires that each batch of California gasoline be designated as such by the refiner or importer, and that California gasoline be segregated from gasoline that is not California gasoline at all points in the distribution system…

  • Last published: July 12, 2024

• Truckers may obtain both premium gasoline and regular gasoline from a terminal in order to supply a retail outlet with midgrade gasoline. In such cases, if a truck obtains a load of gasoline from a terminal that consists of a mixture of gasoline from a te

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The regulation specifically exempts gasoline in trucks from the testing requirement for S-RGAS, and instead allows truckers to rely on the test result of the terminal supplying the truck carrier. See § 80.210(d)(4). Where a tanker truck receives…

  • Last published: July 12, 2024

• Section 80.46(a) was amended by the rule to require the use of ASTM D-3246 to determine the sulfur content of butane. Many refiners and butane suppliers do not currently use that method. Requiring a new method prior to the 2004 effective date of the gasol

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The final gasoline sulfur rulemaking amended 40 CFR § 80.46(a) to require the use of ASTM D 3246-96 to determine the sulfur content of butane. We did not intend to require the use of this new test method…

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• Can butane blenders generate allotments and credits?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Section 80.340(b)(1) provides that butane blenders may comply with the gasoline sulfur rule sampling and testing requirements using test results from the butane supplier provided that certain requirements are met. One requirement is that the sulfur content of…

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• Does the gasoline sulfur rule require refiners and downstream parties to account for the sulfur content of a registered fuel additive, such as a corrosion inhibitor used to help prevent sulfur-related fuel gauge sending unit failures?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Currently, there is no requirement under the gasoline sulfur rule for refiners or downstream parties to demonstrate compliance with the gasoline sulfur standards for registered fuel additives. Parties who add fuel additives, however, are responsible for ensuring that…

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• Section 80.335(a)(2) requires refiners to retain sample portions for the most recent 20 samples collected, or for each sample collected during the most recent 21 day period, whichever is greater. Is a refinery that produces only one or two batches of gaso

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The cited section of the regulation specifies the minimum number of batch samples from a refinery, which once created, must be maintained (twenty). The regulation does not specifically address the maximum amount of time that any particular sample…

  • Last published: July 15, 2024

• A refiner produces a batch of gasoline at its refinery. It collects a sample of the gasoline and conducts certification testing. The sulfur content test result is less than the 80 ppm refinery level standard. The gasoline is then moved to another tank wit

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The downstream standard applies to samples of gasoline subsequent to movement of the gasoline from the tank in which certification sampling is conducted, even when these subsequent samples are collected within the refinery or import facility where the…

  • Last published: August 2, 2024