Skip to Content
Questions or Comments: TexasEnviroHelp@tceq.texas.gov

Stage I Vapor Recovery

An overview of the Stage I vapor recovery rules for owners and operators of gas dispensing facilities in Texas.

About Stage I Vapor Recovery

Stage I vapor recovery is a control strategy to capture gasoline vapors that are released when gasoline is delivered to a storage tank. The vapors are returned to the tank truck as the storage tank is being filled with fuel, rather than released to the ambient air.

Your specific requirements depend on the amount of gasoline you dispense in a month (monthly throughput) and the county your gasoline dispensing facility (GDF) is in.

You can find the complete Stage I rules in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code (30 TAC), Chapter 115, Subchapter C, Division 2 .

Stage I Applicability

If you own or operate a GDF in an affected county and it dispenses:

See the Stage I program area map or the table below for affected counties and monthly throughput limits.

GDFs in the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, or Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas may be exempt from the Stage I rules if both of the following are true:

  • It has dispensed no more than 10,000 gallons of gasoline in any calendar month after January 1, 1991.
  • Construction began prior to November 15, 1992.

GDFs in covered attainment counties (30 TAC 115.10(10) ) are exempt from the Stage I requirements with some exceptions.

Affected Counties

Monthly Throughput

Brazoria, Chambers, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Orange, Tarrant, Waller, and Wise Counties

Any amount

Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, and Rockwall Counties

Greater than 10,000 gallons of gasoline in any month after April 30, 2005

Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, Travis, Williamson, and Wilson Counties

Greater than 25,000 gallons of gasoline in any month after December 31, 2004

Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bee, Bell, Bosque, Bowie, Brazos, Burleson, Calhoun, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Colorado, Cooke, Coryell, De Witt, Delta, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Franklin, Freestone, Goliad, Gonzales, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Harrison, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jackson, Jasper, Karnes, Lamar, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Live Oak, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, McLennan, Milam, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Refugio, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Titus, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Washington, Wharton, and Wood Counties

Greater than or equal to 100,000 gallons in any month after October 31, 2014

Stage I Requirements

If your facility is subject to the rule, you must meet the requirements described below.

Control Emissions

Control displaced vapor emissions by either a vapor control system or vapor balance system. If using a vapor balance system, operate it according to the conditions in 30 TAC 115.222 .

Inspections and Testing

Inspect your vapor recovery system for liquid leaks, visible vapors, or significant odors during gasoline fuel deliveries. Immediately stop any delivery if you observe any of these, and do not resume until it is repaired

Ensure that gasoline tank-trucks have been inspected for leaks within one year—the driver should have documentation.

Test your system annually according to procedures described in 30 TAC 115.225 .

  • California Air Resources Board Vapor Recovery Test Procedure TP-201.1E – Leak Rate and Cracking Pressure of Pressure/Vacuum Vent Valves
  • California Air Resources Board Vapor Recovery Test Procedure TP-201.3 – Determination of 2-inch WC Static Pressure Performance of Vapor Recovery Systems of Dispensing Facilities

Recordkeeping

For each gasoline delivery, record the:

  • Date of delivery
  • Identification number of the tank-truck(s)
  • Date of last leak testing for the tank-truck(s)

Maintain the following records for at least two years:

  • Results of any Stage I tests conducted at your facility
  • Monthly inventory records showing gasoline throughput

Exempt Facility Requirements

If your facility is in an affected county and exempt from the rule, you must still meet the following requirements:

  • Prevent any avoidable gasoline leaks in the liquid transfer or vapor balance systems (as detected by sight, sound, or smell).
  • Ensure the tank-truck is vapor-tight after unloading.
  • Inspect for liquid leaks, visible vapors, or significant odors during gasoline fuel deliveries.
    • Immediately stop any delivery if you observe any of these, and do not resume until it is repaired.
  • Maintain monthly inventory records showing gasoline throughput.

Other Air Regulations

GDFs located at area sources of Hazardous Air Pollutants are subject to state and federal regulations found in 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart CCCCCC (6C)  and 30 TAC Chapter 113 .

More Information

See the following resources for more on PST rules and requirements:

TCEQ's Small Business and Local Government Assistance section offers free, confidential help to small businesses and local governments working to follow state environmental regulations. Call us at (800) 447-2827 or visit our webpage at TexasEnviroHelp.org.

Back to the top of the page Back to top