Regulatory Announcement

Direct Final Rule Update:


Regulation of Fuel and Fuel Additives:


Gasoline and Diesel FuelTest Methods


The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action to 

allow refiners and laboratories to use more current and improved 

fuel testing procedures for twelve American Society for Testing and 

Materials (ASTM) analytical test methods. These updates allow for 

improvements in the test methods’ procedures that will ensure better 

operation and practicality of use of the test methods for the regulated 

community. Once these test method changes are adopted, they will 

supersede the corresponding earlier versions of these test methods in 

EPA’s motor vehicle fuel regulations. Also at this time, EPA is taking 

action to allow an alternative test method for olefins in gasoline. 

Elements of this Rulemaking 

This rulemaking makes the following changes: 

•	 This action provides for an additional alternative test method for olefins in gasoline, 

ASTM D6550-05. The allowance of this additional alternative test method will 

provide more flexibility to the regulated industry. 

•	 This action updates the references in EPA’s regulations to ASTM analytical test 

methods to more recent versions for D2622, D3120, D5453, D6920, D7039, 

D1319, D4815, D5599, D5769, D3606, D86 and D5191. These test methods are 

referenced in EPA regulations for measuring chemical compositions in reformulated 

gasoline (RFG), conventional gasoline (CG), and motor vehicle diesel fuel. 

These updates are listed below along with the fuel parameters to which they apply 

and the regulatory status of the methods. 

○ ASTM D2622-05, sulfur in gasoline & 500 ppm diesel (designated test 

method) 

○ ASTM D5453-08a, sulfur in gasoline & 500 ppm diesel (alternative test 

method) 

Office of Transportation and Air Quality 

EPA-420-F-08-036 

November 2008 
Regulatory Announcement

○ ASTM D3120-06 ε1, sulfur in gasoline & 500 ppm diesel (alternative test method) 

○ ASTM D6920-07, sulfur in gasoline & 500 ppm diesel (alternative test method) 

○ ASTM D7039-07, sulfur in gasoline (alternative test method) 

○ ASTM D5599-00(2005), oxygenates in gasoline (designated test method) 

○ ASTM D5769-04, aromatics in gasoline (designated test method) 

○ ASTM D4815-04, oxygenates in gasoline (alternative test method) 

○ ASTM D1319-03ε1, aromatics in gasoline (alternative test method) in diesel (designated 

test method) and olefins in gasoline (designated test method) 

○ ASTM D3606-07, benzene in gasoline (designated test method) 

○ ASTM D86-07b, distillation temperature of gasoline (designated test method) 

○ ASTM D5191-07, Reid Vapor Pressure of gasoline (designated test method) 

Health and Environmental Impacts 

The clean air benefits of EPA’s gasoline and diesel motor vehicle fuel programs will continue to 

be realized, and there will be no adverse health or environmental impact as a result of these test 

method changes or updates. 

Gasoline Supply Benefits 

This direct final rule with its corresponding proposed rule will allow improvements in the test 

method procedures to ensure better operation of the test methods and provide additional flexibility to the regulated community. 

These test method changes will be effective sixty days after publication of the final rule in the 

Federal Register. We are confident that sixty days is sufficient lead time for industry to become 

familiar with and implement these ASTM test method changes or ASTM test method updates. 

The proposed rule also solicits comments on these changes. However, we do not anticipate any 

adverse comments and believe industry will be very supportive of these changes in the regulations. 

For Further Information 

You can access documents on this rulemaking on EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality 

Web site at: www.epa.gov/otaq/rfg_regs.htm 

For further information about the direct final rule or proposed rule, please contact Joe Sopata at: 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


Office of Transportation and Air Quality (6406J)


1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW


Washington, DC 20460


telephone: (202) 343-9034


e-mail: sopata.joe@epa.gov


2