Pennsylvania DEP Suspends Summertime Gas Requirements for Pittsburgh

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted a request from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett to temporarily waive the low RVP (Reid Vapor Pressure) gasoline requirement for the seven-county Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley region, announced the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Recent extensive flooding has interrupted gasoline pipeline delivery of seasonal fuel to western Pennsylvania.

DEP Secretary Mike Krancer sent the letter of request on behalf of Gov. Corbett electronically from Pennsylvania's Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Operations Center on Sept. 9, and received official word from the EPA that the request had been granted the following night, according to the report.

"Enabling the sale of conventional gasoline in southwestern Pennsylvania will ensure residents and business have fuel, and it will have no negative effect on the environment," said Krancer.

Effective immediately, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties are exempt from enforcement of state requirements for lower gasoline volatility. The waiver was granted to avoid imminent supply shortages due to disruption of the Buckeye Pipeline and will extend through Sept. 15, the remainder of the compliance period, stated the DEP.

The DEP requires gasoline retailers to sell a cleaner, less evaporable gasoline in order to reduce summertime level ozone pollution between June 1 and Sept. 15 each year. The seasonal gasoline must meet a volatility limit of 7.8 pounds per square inch Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP).

A DEP investigation indicated that some fuel terminals would be out of seasonal fuel by Sunday, Sept. 10, but supplies of conventional gasoline are available for immediate distribution, according to the announcement.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us.