Gasoline Vapor Recovery Guidelines

[Minimum SIP Requirements for EP A Region IX to Approve a Phase I or Phase II Gasoline Transfer Rule for Ozone Nonattainment Areas]

April 24, 2000

Rationale:

• In California, require the use of equipment with CARB certification standards.

• In California, determine certain required appr oval standards that would not be included in CARB certification standards covered by a certification procedure (CP).

• In California, determine certain recommended a pproval standards that need not be in the rule, because they are included in CARB certification standards.

• In other states, require the use of equipm ent with CARB certification standards or substantially equivalent certification standards.

• In other states, determine the analogous re quired approval standard s that would not be included in the certif ication standards..

• In other states, determine the analogous approva l standards that need to be in the rule, unless the state has adopted CA RB certification standards or unless it can be shown that the approval standards are incl uded in substantially equiva lent certification standards.

a. Applicability:

• Generally, exemptions may be allowed for speci al applications, such as fueling aircraft, marine vessels, or animal husbandry equipmen t. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• Exemptions should not be allowed for Phase I transfer into tanks la rger than 250 gallons, unless constructed before 1980. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• Exemptions should not be allowed for Phase II transfer with a thr oughput of greater than 10,000 gallons per month. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• Exemptions should not be allowed for Phase II tr ansfer into tanks larger than five gallons. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

b. Definitions:

• Define appropriate terms.

c. Standards (Minimum Required to Approve a California Rule):

• Require that Phase I and Phase II systems use California Air Resources Board (CARB)- certified vapor recovery equipment. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• List the Phase I and Phase II vapor recovery system defects contained in California Code of Regulations (CCR) 94006 or cite CCR 94006 as a reference for these defects. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• Prohibit operation of a Phase I or Phase II vapor recovery equipment that has liquid leaks, vapor leaks, fails to pass tests, or contai ns CCR 94006 defects that substantially impair effectiveness of vapor recovery equipment. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• Require that Phase I gasoline storage tanks be equipped with submerge d liquid fill pipes. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• Require that Phase II systems have a warni ng posted prohibiting topping-off, which may2

cause spillage of gasoline. [T o meet the requirements of RACT]

d. Standards (Recommended for a California Rule) [These standards n eed not be explicitly stated in the rule to approv e a California rule, because these standards are included in the equipment Certification Procedure (CP) used by CARB and referenced below]: [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• [CP-201-4] Require that Phase I vapor recovery system emissions should not exceed 0.15 lb of hydrocarbons/1000 gallons of fuel or the vapor recovery efficiency should be at least 98% of the gasoline vapors displaced from the tank into which the gasoline was transferred.

• [CP-201-5] Require that Phase I gaso line storage tanks be equipped with a pressure/vacuum relief valve.

• [CP-201-5] Require that Ph ase I systems use a poppeted dry break or spring-loaded vapor check valve on break-away li quid or vapor couplings.

• [CP-201-7] Require that Ph ase II system emissions shoul d not exceed 0.38 lb of hydrocarbons/1000 gallons of fuel or the vapor recovery efficiency should be at least 95% of the gasoline vapors displaced from the tank into which the gasoline was dispensed.

• [CP-201-9] Require that Phas e II systems be compatible w ith on-board refueling vapor recovery for rules a dopted after July 1, 2001.

• [CP-201-10] Require that Phase II system s use a “dripless” nozzle after July 1, 2003.

• [CP-201-11] Require that Phase II syst ems use a coaxial hose to the nozzle.

• [CP-201-13,15] Require that Phase II systems use a vapor check valve in the nozzle.

• [CP-201-13] Require that Phase II vapor-balan ce systems use an insertion interlock on the nozzle.

• [CP-201-11] Require that Phase II vapor-bal ance systems use a liquid-removal device with a liquid-removal rate of at least five milliliters/gallon of fuel delivered.

e. Standards (Minimum Required to Approve a State Rule other than California):

• Require that Phase I and Phase II systems use California Air Resources Board (CARB)- certified vapor recovery equipment or a substan tial equivalent in anot her state. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• List the Phase I and Phase II vapor recovery system defects contained in California Code of Regulations (CCR) 94006 or cite CCR 94006 as a reference fo r these defects or cite a substantially equivalent refere nce in another state. [To m eet the requirements of RACT]

• Prohibit operation of a Phase I or Phase II va por recovery system th at has liquid leaks, vapor leaks, fails to pass tests, or contai ns CCR 94006 defects that substantially impair effectiveness of the vapor recovery equipm ent. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• Require that Phase I gasoline storage tanks be equipped with submer ged liquid fill pipes. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• Require that Phase II systems have a warni ng posted prohibiting topping-off, which may cause spillage of gasoline. [T o meet the requirements of RACT]

f. Standards (Minimum Required to Approve a State Rule other than California) [These standards need not be explicitly stated in the ru le to approve the rule, if the state has adopted CARB standards or if it can be shown that they ar e included in the certif ication of the equipment3

by an agency other than CARB]: [To meet the requi rements of RACT]

• Require that Phase I vapor recovery syst em emissions should not exceed 0.15 lb of hydrocarbons/1000 gallons of fuel or the vapor recovery efficiency should be at least 98% of the gasoline vapors displaced from the tank into which the gasoline was transferred for rules ad opted after July 1, 2001.

• Require that Phase I gasoline storage tanks be equipped with a pressure/vacuum relief valve.

• Require that Phase II system emissions should not exceed 0.38 lb of hydrocarbons/1000 gallons of fuel or the vapor recovery efficiency should be at least 95% of the gasoline vapors displaced from the tank into which the gasoline was dispensed.

• Require that Phase II systems use a vapor check valve in the nozzle.

• Require that Phase II systems use a “dripless” nozzle for rules adopt ed after July 1, 2003.

• Require that Phase II systems be compatible with on-board refueling vapor recovery for rules adopted after July 1, 2001.

• Require that Phase II vapor-balance systems use an insertion interlock on the nozzle.

g. Compliance Schedule:

• Require that performance tests required by the CARB Executive Order or Authority to Construct or Permit to Operate after installi ng new or significantly modifying Phase I or Phase II vapor recovery equipment start within 30 days of completion of construction. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

• Require that reverification of performan ce tests required by the CARB Executive Order or Authority to Construct or Permit to Op erate be performed about once every six to twelve months or, for gasoline dispensing f acilities with In-Station Diagnostics, about once every two to four years. [T o meet the requirements of RACT]

• Recommend but do not require that a written inspection be performed weekly on vapor recovery equipment for defects listed in CCR 94006.

• Require continuous In-Station Diagnostics for rules adopted after July 1, 2004 to monitor at a minimum the gasoline storage tank pre ssure. [To meet the requirements of RACT]

h. Testing:

• Specify which EPA-approved test proce dure to use should any of the following performance tests or reverification of pe rformance tests on vapor recovery systems required by the CARB Executive Order or Authority to Construct or Permit to Operate: [For enforcement] - Static Pressure (Leak Decay) Test or Vapor Tightness Test. - Dynamic Back Pressure Test. - Air-to-Liquid Volume Ratio Test. - Liquid Removal Rate Test.

i. Training:

• Recommend but do not require th at at least one person be given training approved by the District on how to operate the Phase I and Ph ase II vapor recovery systems and how to visually inspect for defects listed in CCR 94006.

j. Recordkeeping:4

• Require maintaining the following records for at least two years: [For enforcement] - Performance test results. - Reverification test results. - Maintenance performed. - Gasoline thr oughput if a minimum throughput exemption is claimed.