Regulatory Announcement

Direct Final Rule for Approval of 

Louisiana’s Petition to Relax the 

Summer Gasoline Volatility Standard 

for the Grant Parish Area 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a direct final rulemaking to relax the applicable RVP standard in 

Grant Parish, Louisiana, during the summer season (June 1st to 

September 15th). 

Summary of Final Rule 

EPA is approving the State of Louisiana’s request to relax the federal Reid Vapor 

Pressure (RVP) standard applicable to gasoline introduced into commerce in the 

Grant Parish, Louisiana 8-hour ozone attainment area (Grant Parish) during the 

summer high ozone season - June 1st to September 15th. This action amends our regulations to change the summertime RVP standard for Grant Parish from 7.8 pounds 

per square inch (psi) to 9.0 psi. EPA has determined that this change to our federal 

RVP regulations is consistent with the applicable provisions of the Clean Air Act. 

Louisiana’s request is supported by evidence that Grant Parish can implement the 9.0 

psi RVP standard and maintain the 8-hour ozone NAAQS and that relaxation of the 

applicable RVP standard to 9.0 psi will provide economic benefits. 

Key Elements of the Direct Final Rule 

•	 This rule relaxes the volatility requirements for gasoline in Grant Parish, 

Louisiana, during the summer (June 1st to September 15th). It is beneficial 

to Grant Parish to use the less stringent gasoline. The more stringent fuel can 

only be delivered from locations about 145 miles away which results in higher 

fuel costs to consumers. 

•	 This rule was dependent upon the approval of a maintenance plan and a 

demonstration of maintenance using the less stringent gasoline in Grant 

Parish. Louisiana submitted this maintenance plan and demonstration to 

EPA’s Region 6 office in August 2006. Region 6 approved this maintenance 

plan in November 2007 (72 FR 62579). 

Office of Transportation and Air Quality 

EPA420-F-08-005 

February 2008 
Regulatory Announcement

Background 

In 1987, EPA determined that gasoline nationwide had become increasingly volatile, causing an 

increase in evaporative emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles and equipment. Evaporative 

emissions from gasoline, referred to as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are precursors to 

the formation of tropospheric ozone and contribute to the nation’s ground-level ozone problem. 

Ground-level ozone causes health problems, including damaged lung tissue, reduced lung 

function, and lung sensitization to other pollutants. 

To provide for cleaner air and greater public health protection, EPA enforces maximum limits 

for the RVP (the most common measure of fuel volatility) of gasoline sold during the summer 

ozone control season - June 1st to September 15th. EPA’s current regulations establish maximum 

RVP standards of 9.0 psi or 7.8 psi (depending on the State, the month, and the area’s initial 

ozone attainment designation with respect to the 1-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality 

Standard or “NAAQS”) during the ozone control season. 

In order to relax the applicable RVP standard in an area where the more stringent RVP level is 

required, an area must be designated as (or redesignated to) attainment and submit a maintenance plan demonstrating continued attainment of the ozone NAAQS with the less stringent 

RVP standard in place. In 2004, Grant Parish was designated as attainment for the 8-hour ozone 

standard and was required to submit an 8-hour maintenance plan. In Louisiana’s 2006 8-hour 

maintenance demonstration, the state modeled 9.0 psi gasoline and demonstrated that Grant 

Parish will be able to maintain attainment of the 8-hour standard for 10 years, thereby meeting 

the requirements to have the applicable gasoline volatility standard relaxed. 

Public Participation Opportunities 

This rule is being released as a Direct Final Rule because we view it as a non-controversial action and anticipate no adverse comment. However, comments can be submitted under a parallel 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. For instructions on submitting written comments, please see 

the Federal Register notice, which is available from the Web site below or from the EPA Air and 

Radiation Docket (202-566-1742; please refer to Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0002). You 

can access the rule and related documents on EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality 

(OTAQ) Web site at: www.epa.gov/otaq/volatility.htm. 

For More Information 

For further information on this Direct Final Rule, please contact Sean Hillson at 

hillson.sean@epa.gov or 734-214-4789 or: 

Sean Hillson


Office of Transportation and Air Quality


U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


2000 Traverwood Drive


Ann Arbor, MI 48105


Direct Final Rule for Approval of Louisiana’s Petition