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Stage II Vapor Recovery Rule and SIP Revision, March 23, 2005

March 23, 2005 revision to the Stage II Vapor Recovery rule and associated revision to the State Implementation Plan for air quality.

On March 23, 2005, the commission adopted a SIP revision relating to Stage II Vapor Recovery. This Web page discusses the adopted package.

Summary of Adopted SIP Revision
Elements of Adopted SIP Revision and Rulemaking
SIP Narrative
Rule Language
Contact

Summary of Adopted SIP Revision

Background
Under the Federal Clean Air Act of 1990, states were required to submit a revision to the SIP no later than November 15, 1992, which included a Stage II Vapor Recovery Program to control gasoline vapors from the refueling of motor vehicles. A Stage II vapor-recovery SIP was first approved in Texas on October 16, 1992, and later revised on November 10, 1993. The Stage II vapor-recovery program involves use of technology that prevents gasoline vapors from escaping during refueling. Gasoline vapors are volatile organic compounds that react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to form ozone. As part of the control strategy for ozone attainment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandates that Stage II refueling requirements apply to all public and private refueling facilities dispensing 10,000 gallons or more of gasoline per month. The TCEQ applies a more stringent throughput standard in the 16 ozone nonattainment counties by requiring all facilities constructed after November 15, 1992 to install Stage II vapor recovery regardless of throughput.

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Elements of Adopted SIP Revision and Rulemaking

Stage II Vapor Recovery: The original Stage II vapor-recovery rules relied upon the California Air Resources Board certification procedures for vapor-recovery equipment. The CARB generally no longer certifies non–enhanced vapor-recovery systems. In response, the SIP was revised in 2002 to require more frequent testing and more on-site evaluation of testing performed on vapor-recovery systems at gasoline-dispensing facilities as well as a phase-in schedule to retrofit or install Stage II vapor-recovery systems compatible with onboard-refueling vapor-recovery (ORVR), in lieu of the CARB EVR program. The current revision offers an expanded definition for “ORVR compatible” that will allow for the use of other technologies for controlling gasoline vapors.

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