Gasoline Reid Vapor Pressure

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Overview:

Volatility is the property of a liquid fuel that defines its evaporation characteristics. RVP is an abbreviation for "Reid vapor pressure," a common measure of and generic term for gasoline volatility. EPA regulates the vapor pressure of gasoline sold at retail stations during the summer ozone season (June 1 to September 15) to reduce evaporative emissions from gasoline that contribute to ground-level ozone and diminish the effects of ozone-related health problems.

EPA established a two-phase reduction in summertime commercial gasoline volatility. These rules reduce gasoline emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) that are a major contributor to ground-level ozone (smog). Phase I was applicable to calendar years 1989 through 1991. Depending on the state and month, gasoline RVP was not to exceed 10.5 pounds per square inch (psi), 9.5 psi, or 9.0 psi. Phase II is applicable to 1992 and later calendar years.

Depending on the state and month, gasoline RVP may not exceed 9.0 psi or 7.8 psi. EPA provides a 1.0 psi RVP allowance for gasoline containing 10 percent ethanol. In order to relax the more stringent federal 7.8 psi RVP standard the state must submit a revision to the area’s attainment demonstration or maintenance plan demonstrating timely attainment or continued attainment of the ozone NAAQS with the less stringent RVP standard in place and that the RVP relaxation complies with the anti-backsliding requirements in CAA section 110(l).

EPA has approved relaxation of the summer gasoline RVP standards for a number of states and areas, including:

Grant Parish, Louisiana;
Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida;
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point and Charlotte, North Carolina;
Birmingham, Alabama; 
Nashville (Middle Tennessee Area);
Shelby County (Memphis), Tennessee; and
Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Orleans, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, and St. Mary Parishes Louisiana;
East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension, and Iberville (the Baton Rouge Area), Louisiana; and
Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale, Georgia (the Atlanta RVP Area).

Learn more about the RVP federal regulations.

Detailed Information:

The 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments added a new section, 211(h), that prohibited the EPA from establishing a volatility standard more stringent than 9.0 pounds per square inch (psi) in an ozone attainment area, except that EPA may impose a lower (i.e., more stringent) standard in any former ozone nonattainment area that has been redesignated to attainment.

In response to the 1990 CAA Amendments, EPA amended the volatility regulations. EPA set the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standard at 9.0 psi for designated volatility attainment areas and the RVP standard at 7.8 psi for certain designated volatility nonattainment areas. A designated volatility nonattainment area is an area that is designated as being nonattainment for the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) pursuant to a rulemaking under CAA section 107(d)(4)(A)(ii), and a designated volatility attainment area is an area not designated as being in nonattainment with the NAAQS for ozone.

Designations and exact boundaries of the ozone nonattainment areas subject to the 7.8 psi RVP standard were published in the November 6, 1991, notice that designated areas pursuant to CAA section 107(d)(4)(A)(ii). See Air Quality Designations and Classifications; 56 Fed. Reg. 56,694 (Nov. 6, 1991) (codified at 40 CFR part 81).

EPA also set the RVP standard at 7.8 psi for the Denver, Colorado 1997 ozone nonattainment area that was designated as nonattainment for ozone in an April 30, 2004, notice designating areas pursuant to CAA section 107(d)(1). See Air Quality Designations and Classifications for the 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards; Early Action Compact Areas With Deferred Effective Dates, 69 Fed. Reg. 23858 (August 30, 2004) (codified at 40 CFR part 81).

On December 4, 2020, EPA revised the federal RVP regulations. (See 85 FR 78412.) This action updated many of EPA’s existing gasoline, diesel, and other fuel quality programs. EPA transferred the relevant 40 CFR part 80 provisions into a new set of regulations in 40 CFR part 1090.  The fuel volatility regulations have been transferred from 40 CFR 80.27 to 40 CFR 1090.215.  As part of the effort to streamline and simplify the volatility regulations EPA has eliminated the state-by-state table that had been contained in 40 CFR 80.27.  That table has been replaced by regulatory text that explains that summer gasoline (e.g., gasoline that is sold to consumers between June 1st and September 15th) must meet a maximum per-gallon RVP limit of 9.0 psi unless it is required to meet a lower RVP limit. Lower RVP limits apply in areas that are:

  • subject to the federal 7.8 psi RVP standard;
  • required to sell federal reformulated gasoline (RFG);
  • required to sell California RFG (i.e., the entire state of California); and
  • subject to a SIP-approved state fuel rule that requires an RVP of less than 9.0 psi must meet the requirements of the federally approved SIP.

The regulatory text in 40 CFR 1090.215(a)(2) contains a table that lists the six areas that are currently subject to the federal 7.8 psi RVP standard. The table contains the geographic boundaries of these areas. The boundary information in the table in 40 CFR 1090.215(a)(2) was copied from the relevant designation tables in 40 CFR part 81.  The list of areas subject to the federal 7.8 psi RVP limit appears below:

Areas subject to the Federal 7.8 psi RVP Limit

Area Designation

State

Counties

Denver-Boulder-Greeley-Ft. Collins-Loveland*

Colorado

Adams Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer,1 Weld2

Reno

Nevada

Washoe

Portland

Oregon

Clackamas (only the Air Quality Maintenance Area), Multnomah (only the Air Quality Maintenance Area), Washington (only the Air Quality Maintenance Area)

Salem

Oregon

Marion (only the Salem Area Transportation Study), Polk (only the Salem Area Transportation Study)

Beaumont-Port Arthur

Texas

Hardin, Jefferson, Orange

Salt Lake City

Utah

Davis, Salt Lake

1 That portion of Larimer County, CO that lies south of a line described as follows: Beginning at a point on Larimer County’s eastern boundary and Weld County’s western boundary intersected by 40 degrees, 42 minutes, and 47.1 seconds north latitude, proceed west to a point defined by the intersection of 40 degrees, 42 minutes, 47.1 seconds north latitude and 105 degrees, 29 minutes, and 40.0 seconds west longitude, thence proceed south on 105 degrees, 29 minutes, 40.0 seconds west longitude to the intersection with 40 degrees, 33 minutes and 17.4 seconds north latitude, thence proceed west on 40 degrees, 33 minutes, 17.4 seconds north latitude until this line intersects Larimer County’s western boundary and Grand County’s eastern boundary. (Includes part of Rocky Mtn. Nat. Park).

2 That portion of Weld County, CO that lies south of a line described as follows: Beginning at a point on Weld County’s eastern boundary and Logan County’s western boundary intersected by 40 degrees, 42 minutes, 47.1 seconds north latitude, proceed west on 40 degrees, 42 minutes, 47.1 seconds north latitude until this line intersects Weld County’s western boundary and Larimer County’s eastern boundary.

*The Denver area is subject to the Federal requirement to sell gasoline with a maximum RVP of 7.8 psi per gallon during the summer season (June 1 through September 15 for retailers and wholesale purchaser consumers, and May 1 through September 15 for all other persons). See 40 CFR 1090.215(a)(2). Beginning with the 2024 summer season, gasoline sold in the Denver area will be required to comply with the more stringent Federal RFG RVP per gallon cap of 7.4 psi. See 40 CFR 1090.215(a)(3).

Additional detailed information on areas where federal RFG is required can be found on the Reformulated Gasoline webpage.

Additional detailed information on areas where a SIP-approved state fuel rule applies can be found on the State Fuels webpage.

Below is a summary of the federal fuel volatility regulations at 40 CFR 1090.215:

  • For all regulated parties except retailers and wholesale purchaser-consumers, maximum per-gallon standards generally take effect May 1.
  • Standards for June 1 to September 15 are maximum per-gallon standards for all regulated parties including retailers and wholesale purchaser-consumers, unless the state has an extended summer ozone season as part of the federally-approved SIP (e.g., Arizona, Eastern Texas).
  • Gasoline alcohol blends meeting requirements of 40 CFR 1090.215(b) have a 1.0 psi waiver of applicable RVP standard unless:
    1. The state has adopted and enforces a SIP-approved RVP standard that does not provide for the 1.0 psi waiver (e.g., Maine, New York, Texas and Vermont);
    2. The state has received the EPA's approval to opt-out of the 1.0 psi waiver provision per section 1501(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 [CAA section 211(h)(5), as amended]; or
    3. The state uses reformulated gasoline (RFG), which has an RVP standard of 7.4 psi as required by 40 CFR 1090.215(a)(3). Additional information about RFG can be found on the Reformulated Gasoline webpage.
  • Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories are exempted from federal volatility regulations.

Notes on Federal and State RVP Standards:

  • In states that have received a waiver under Clean Air Act 211(c)(4)(C) to adopt a state fuel program, more stringent than federal requirements, into the federally-approved State Implementation Plan (SIP) the state fuel program may define a volatility level and compliance date for refiners and/or terminals different than the compliance date for retailers. For more information on SIP-approved state fuel regulations see the State Fuels webpage. Potentially affected parties should refer to the SIP or contact the state for more information about proper compliance.
  • A list of RFG areas including geographic boundaries can be found on the Reformulated Gasoline webpage. RFG areas must meet a per-gallon RVP standard of 7.4 psi as required by 40 CFR 1090.215(a)(3).
  • Certain SIP-approved fuel programs do not provide for use of a 1.0 psi ethanol waiver under 40 CFR 1090.215(b). These states include Maine, New York, Texas and Vermont.  The 1.0 psi ethanol waiver is not applicable during the entire volatility control period defined in the SIP (e.g. May 1 - September 15).

The following is a list of all actions that EPA has taken since 2014 to either relax the federal 7.8 psi RVP standard or to remove state fuel regulation from the state’s approved SIP:

  • North Carolina

    EPA issued a final rule on May 22, 2014 (79 FR 29362) that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard in Davidson, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Granville, Guilford and Wake Counties . The rule was effective on May 30, 2014.

    EPA issued a direct final rule on August 17, 2015 (80 FR 49164) that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal RVP requirement in Mecklenburg and Gaston counties. As of October 16, 2015, no North Carolina counties are subject to the 7.8 psi federal volatility standard.

  • Florida

    EPA issued a final rule on May 22, 2014 (79 FR 29362) that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard in Broward, Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Pinellas Counties in Florida. The rule was effective on May 30, 2014. As of that date no counties in Florida are subject to the 7.8 psi federal volatility standard.

  • Alabama

    EPA published a final rule on July 2, 2015 (80 FR 38284) that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard in Jefferson and Shelby counties. The effective date of the rule is July 2, 2015. As of July 2, 2015, no Alabama counties are subject to the 7.8 psi federal volatility standard.

  • Georgia

    EPA issued a final rule on September 1, 2015 (80 FR 52627) that removed the Georgia gasoline program that covered a 45-county Atlanta area from the State’s approved SIP. That rule was effective on October 1, 2015.

    EPA issued a final rule on September 20, 2019 (84 FR 49470) that that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale, Georgia. That rule was effective on October 21, 2019. As of October 21, 2019, no Georgia counties are subject to the federal 7.8 psi volatility standard.

  • Ohio

    EPA published a final rule on April 7, 2017 (82 FR 16932) that removed Ohio’s rule that required the sale of 7.8 psi RVP gasoline in Butler, Clark, Clermont, Greene, Hamilton, Miami, Montgomery and Warren Counties. The effective date of the rule is April 7, 2017.  As of April 7, 2017, no counties in Ohio are subject to the State’s 7.8 psi volatility requirement.

  • Tennessee

    EPA published a final rule on December 22, 2017 (82 FR 60675) that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard for Shelby County. As of January 22, 2018, Shelby County is no longer subject to the 7.8 psi federal volatility requirement.

    EPA published a final rule on June 7, 2017 (82 FR 26354) that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal RVP standard in Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson Counties. The effective date of the rule was June 7, 2017. As of June 7, 2017, no counties in Tennessee are subject to the 7.8 psi federal volatility standard.

  • Louisiana

    EPA published a final rule on December 26, 2017 (82 FR 60886) that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal RVP requirement for the Louisiana parishes of Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Orleans, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, and St. Mary. As of January 25, 2018, these 11 parishes are no longer subject to the 7.8 psi federal volatility standard.

    EPA published a rule on October 24, 2018 (83 FR 53584) that relaxed the 7.8 psi federal RVP requirement for the Louisiana parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension, and Iberville (the Baton Rouge Area). As of November 23, 2018, no parishes in Louisiana are subject to the 7.8 psi federal volatility standard.

  • Pennsylvania

    EPA published a final rule on December 20, 2018 (83 FR 65301) that removed Pennsylvania’s rule that required the sale of 7.8 psi gasoline in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties. The effective date of the rule is January 22, 2019. As of that date the sale of gasoline with an RVP of 7.8 psi was no longer required in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.

    On July 5, 2019 (84 FR 32076) EPA published a final rule that removed the Allegheny County Health Department’s rule that required the sale of 7.8 psi gasoline in Allegheny County from the SIP for the Pittsburgh area. The rule was effective on publication. Therefore, as of July 5, 2019, the sale of gasoline with an RVP of 7.8 psi is no longer required in the Pittsburgh area (Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties).

  • Kansas

    EPA published a final rule on March 12, 2021 (86 FR 14000) that removed Kansas’ gasoline rule that applied to 2 counties in the Kansas portion of the Kansas City, KS-MO area from the approved SIP. The final rule was effective on April 12, 2021. As of April 12, 2021, no counties in Kansas are subject to the State’s 7.0 psi volatility requirement.

  • Missouri

    EPA published a final rule on March 12, 2021 (86 FR 14007) that removed Missouri’s gasoline rule that applied to 3 counties in the Missouri portion of the Kansas City, KS-MO area from the approved SIP. The final rule was effective on April 12, 2021. As of April 12, 2021, no counties in Missouri are subject to the State’s 7.0 psi volatility requirement.

Additional Notes on RVP Implementation:

  • For all regulated parties except retailers and wholesale purchaser-consumers, maximum standards generally take effect May 1.
  • Standards for June 1 to September 15 are maximum standards for all regulated parties including retailers and wholesale purchaser-consumers, unless the state has an extended summer ozone season as part of the federally-approved SIP (e.g., Arizona, Eastern Texas, El Paso).

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Last updated on May 1, 2024