Summary and Analysis of the 2009 

Gasoline Benzene Pre-Compliance 

Reports
EPA-420-R-09-017

November 2009

Compliance and Innovative Strategies Division

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Summary and Analysis of the 2009 

Gasoline Benzene Pre-Compliance 

Reports

NOTICE

This technical report does not necessarily represent final EPA decisions or 

positions. It is intended to present technical analysis of issues using data 

that are currently available. The purpose in the release of such reports is to 

facilitate the exchange of technical information and to inform the public of 

technical developments.
Table of Contents 

I. Executive Summary................................................................................................................................................i

II. Gasoline Benzene Program Overview ..................................................................................................................2

III. Gasoline Benzene Pre-Compliance Reporting Requirements ...............................................................................3

IV. Summary Data ......................................................................................................................................................4

A. Nationwide Analysis .......................................................................................................................................4

1. Refinery Numbers and Production .............................................................................................................4

2. Projected Credit Generation and Use .........................................................................................................5

3. Project Scope and Timing...........................................................................................................................7

B. PADD Analysis ..........................................................................................................................................7

1. PADD 1 ....................................................................................................................................................10

2. PADD 2 ....................................................................................................................................................11

3. PADD 3 ....................................................................................................................................................12

4. PADD 4 ....................................................................................................................................................13

5. PADD 5 ....................................................................................................................................................14

 C. Comparison of 2008 and 2009 Pre-compliance Reports.........................................................15 
I. Executive Summary 

 i

I. Executive Summary 

Most refiners planning to produce gasoline after January 1, 2011 are required to 

submit to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual pre-compliance reports 

indicating their progress toward complying with EPA’s gasoline benzene standards. Reports 

are due annually by June 1 from 2008 through 2011 under the gasoline benzene regulations 

finalized in February, 2007, in order to provide updates on refiners’ compliance plans. This 

report summarizes information received from refiners in their June 2009 pre-compliance 

reports. 

Refiners’ benzene pre-compliance reports must contain estimates of average daily 

gasoline production and annual average benzene concentration from June 1, 2007 through 

December 31, 2015. For those refiners planning on participating in the credit program, the 

reports must contain a projection of how many credits will be generated or used by each 

refinery. The pre-compliance reports must also contain information outlining each refinery’s 

timeline for complying with the gasoline benzene standards and provide information 

regarding engineering plans (e.g., design and construction), and capital commitments for 

making the necessary modifications to produce gasoline which meets the new benzene 

standards. 

EPA received benzene pre-compliance reports for 110 refineries in 2009. The 2009 

benzene pre-compliance reports showed that: 

- refiners are planning to comply with the benzene standards on time by installing 

new benzene removal equipment at many of their refineries and using the 

averaging, banking and trading provisions in the regulations to comply at the rest 

- 63 refineries are planning to install equipment to reduce gasoline benzene 

- 47 refineries are not planning to install equipment to reduce gasoline benzene 

because they already comply with the gasoline benzene standards, or are 

planning to use credits for compliance 

- 25 refineries are planning to generate early credits from 2007 through 2010, and 

41 refineries are planning to generate standard credits beginning in 2011 

- overall average reported benzene levels are expected to decrease from 1.05 

volume percent (vol%) in 2007 to 0.60 vol% in 2015 

This data represents estimates made by refiners whose final actual compliance plans 

may change prior to January 1, 2011. While the reported information is preliminary, the 

results provide the clearest snapshot of refiners’ aggregate benzene compliance plans 

available as of June, 2009. They represent the assessment of those who have first-hand 

knowledge of the unique situation faced by each refinery. EPA expects that next year’s 

benzene pre-compliance reports will contain more definite information on refiners’ plans to 

produce gasoline which meets the benzene standards beginning January 1, 2011. 
___________________________II. Gasoline Benzene Program Overview

 2

II. Gasoline Benzene Program Overview 

The Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT2) final rule (72 FR 8428, February 26, 

2007) contains a two-step approach to reducing the benzene content of gasoline. 

Beginning January 1, 2011, importers and most refineries are required to import or 

produce gasoline containing no more than 0.62 vol% benzene on an annual average basis. 

This 0.62 vol% benzene standard can be met by using credits. In addition, beginning July 

1, 2012, importers and most refineries are required to import or produce gasoline with a 

maximum annual average gasoline benzene content of 1.3 vol%. A refinery’s or 

importer’s actual annual average gasoline benzene level may not exceed this maximum 

average standard. Credits may not be used to meet the 1.3 vol% standard. 

The MSAT2 rule includes provisions for refiners and importers to generate 

gasoline benzene credits. Refiners may generate early benzene credits from June 1, 2007 

through December 31, 2010 if a refinery’s annual average gasoline benzene is at least 

10% less than its average benzene from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005, and 

the refinery reduces their benzene by implementing certain technological improvements 

specified in the regulations. Refiners and importers may generate standard benzene 

credits beginning in 2011 if a refinery’s or importer’s annual average gasoline benzene is 

less than 0.62 vol%. Early benzene credits may be used to comply with the 0.62 vol% 

standard during the 2011, 2012 and 2013 averaging periods, while standard benzene 

credits may be used to comply with the 0.62 vol% standard within five years from the 

year they were generated. For both early credits and standard credits, one credit is 

equivalent to one gallon of benzene removed from gasoline. Gasoline benzene credits 

may be transferred nationwide. 

Small Refiner Flexibilities

Additional compliance flexibilities are provided for small refiners in the gasoline 

benzene regulations. The criteria for qualification as a gasoline benzene small refiner are 

similar to those under the Gasoline Sulfur and Diesel Sulfur rules. To qualify as “small”, 

a refiner must: 1) have produced gasoline by processing crude oil through refinery 

processing units from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005; 2) have employed no 

more than 1,500 people company-wide, based on the average number of employees for 

all pay periods from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005; and, 3) have a 

corporate crude oil capacity less than or equal to 155,000 bpcd for 2005. 

Small refiners are allowed an additional four years to comply with each benzene 

standard. They must begin complying with the 0.62 vol% standard no later than January 

1, 2015, and begin complying with the 1.3 vol% standard no later than July 1, 2016. 

Other Flexibilities

In addition to allowing refiners and importers to use credits to meet the 0.62 vol% 

annual average standard, the gasoline benzene regulations also allow refiners and 
___________________________II. Gasoline Benzene Program Overview

 3

importers to carry forward a benzene deficit from one year to the next year. If a refinery 

or importer exceeds the 0.62 vol% annual average standard, and does not procure 

sufficient credits to meet the standard, they may offset the deficit during the following 

year by reducing their benzene concentration below 0.62 vol%, and/or procuring credits. 

Benzene deficits for one year must be offset during the following year, and may not be 

carried over for a second consecutive year. 

III. Benzene Pre-Compliance Reporting Requirements 

The gasoline benzene regulations require refiners to submit annual precompliance reports for each of their refineries to EPA. The first pre-compliance report 

was due by June 1, 2008 and subsequent reports are due annually through 2011. 

 The pre-compliance reports must contain the following information: 

1. Any changes in the refiner's basic company or facility information since 

registration. 

2. Estimates of the average daily volume of gasoline produced at each refinery. 

The volume estimates must include gasoline produced during the periods of 

June 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007, and calendar years 2008 through 

2015. 

3. An estimate of the average gasoline benzene concentration for the periods 

listed above in 2. 

4. For refineries expecting to participate in the benzene credit program, estimates 

of the number of credits generated and/or used during the periods listed above 

in 2. 

5. Information on project schedule by known or projected completion date (by 

quarter) for each stage of the project (strategic planning, front-end 

engineering, detailed engineering and permitting, procurement and 

construction, and commissioning and startup). 

6. Basic information regarding the selected technology pathway for compliance 

(e.g. re-routing of benzene precursors or other technologies, revamp versus 

grassroots, etc.). 

7. Whether capital investments have been made or are projected to be made. 

8. An update of the progress in each of these areas. 

The pre-compliance reporting requirements do not apply to certain types of 

gasoline, including imported gasoline, gasoline produced for and used in California, 

gasoline produced by small refiners, gasoline exported for use outside the United States, 

and gasoline produced through distillation of transmix. These products are not included 

in this summary and analysis. 

We recognize that the pre-compliance reports contain preliminary information 

and that final decisions on benzene removal plans may not have been made in all cases as 
_______________III. Benzene Pre-Compliance Reporting Requirements 

 4

of the reporting deadline. Accordingly, the information in this summary and analysis is 

based on the best available refinery information as of June 1, 2009. The information 

presented here will be updated with more current analyses from subsequent annual precompliance reports in 2010 and 2011. 

IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data

 

A. Nationwide Analysis 

1. Refinery Numbers and Production 

We received benzene pre-compliance reports in 2009 for 110 refineries. Refiners 

indicated that, for most of their refineries, they have made decisions on producing 

gasoline which meets the benzene standards beginning January 1, 2011. Table 1 shows 

the aggregated results for all reporting refineries for the four years leading up to the 

beginning of the gasoline benzene standards, and Table 2 shows the aggregated results 

for the first five years when the standards are in effect. 

Table 1 

Reported Data for Total U.S., 2007-2010 

Year 2007 2008 2009 2010

# reporting refineries 110 110 110 110

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 7,032,887 6,788,798 7,094,997 7,460,758

Average benzene concentration, vol% 1.05 1.08 1.02 0.99

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 21 23 24 27

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% and < or = 1.3 vol% 43 36 39 40

# refineries with benzene > 1.3 vol% 46 51 47 43

Table 2 

Reported Data for Total U.S., 2011-2015 

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

# reporting refineries 110 110 110 110 110

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 7,687,068 7,715,576 7,747,637 7,742,999 7,751,801

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.70 0.63 0.60 0.60 0.60

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 56 64 68 68 69

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 54 46 42 42 41

 

Table 1 shows that in 2007, only 21 refineries produced gasoline averaging 0.62 

vol% benzene or less. Also in 2007, 89 refineries produced gasoline averaging greater 

than 0.62 vol% benzene, including 46 refineries that produced gasoline averaging greater 

than 1.3 vol% benzene. Table 2 shows that 35 of these 89 refineries plan to begin 
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

producing gasoline averaging 0.62 vol% benzene or less by 2011, as the number of 

refineries producing gasoline averaging 0.62 vol% benzene or less increases from 21 in 

2007 to 56 in 2011. The number of refineries producing gasoline averaging 0.62 vol% 

benzene or less further increases to 68 by 2013, after the 1.3 vol% benzene maximum 

annual average standard takes effect in mid-2012, and increases to 69 by 2015. 

Table 2 shows that the average benzene concentration for all reporting refineries 

is slightly greater than 0.62 vol% in 2011 and 2012, as some refineries plan to use early 

credits to meet the 0.62 vol% standard in 2011 and 2012. Refiners begin producing 

gasoline averaging 0.62 vol% benzene or less in 2013, when average benzene 

concentration decreases to 0.60 vol%. Table 2 also shows that refiners plan to 

significantly increase production of gasoline from 2007 to 2011, by approximately 

654,000 bbls/day. 

Figure 1 illustrates reported gasoline production, by benzene concentration, for 

each reported year. By 2013, approximately 76 percent of all gasoline will contain 0.62 

vol% benzene or less. 

Figure 1. Reported U.S. Gasoline Production and Benzene Content, 2007-2015 

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Year

Gasoline production,

thousand bbls/day

> 0.62%

< or = 0.62%

2. Projected Credit Generation and Use 

Table 3 shows total reported gasoline benzene credits generated and used for each 

reported year. Twenty five refineries indicated they plan to generate a total of 158.9 

million benzene credits (1 credit = 1 gallon benzene) during the early credit generation 

period from June 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010. Twenty three of these refineries 

are owned by refiners who own multiple refineries. To spread out the transition to the 

 5
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

0.62 vol% benzene standard, refiners plan to use some of these early credits during the 

2011 and 2012 compliance periods. In 2011, 41 refineries are projected to generate a 

total of 69.1 million credits, and 54 refineries are projected to use a total of 167.3 million 

credits. In 2012, 47 refineries are projected to generate a total of 91.6 million credits and 

46 refineries are projected to use a total of 103.5 million credits. Annual generation of 

standard credits begins to exceed annual usage of standard credits in 2013, when 48 

refineries are projected to generate 90.1 million credits and 42 refineries are projected to 

use only 70.7 million credits. By 2015, annual credit generation exceeds annual credit 

usage by 32.2 million credits, as 48 refineries plan to generate 90.1 million credits and 41 

refineries plan to use only 67.9 million credits. 

Table 3 

Reported Gasoline Benzene Credits for Total U.S., 2007-2015 

Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 total

# refineries generating benzene credits 5 12 16 20 25

Benzene credits generated, millions 10.8 30.7 48.2 69.2 158.9

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

# refineries generating benzene credits 41 47 48 48 48

# refineries using benzene credits 54 46 42 42 41

Benzene credits generated, millions 69.1 91.6 90.1 89.4 90.1

Benzene credits used, millions 167.3 103.5 70.7 69.4 67.9

Figure 2 shows cumulative projected generation and usage of gasoline benzene 

credits for each reported year. Refiners are planning to generate sufficient credits for 

overall compliance during each annual compliance period from 2011 onward. 

Figure 2. Cumulative U.S. Gasoline Benzene Credits 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Year

Gasoline Benzene Credits, millions

Generated

Used

 6
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

3. Project Scope and Timing 

In addition to providing projections of gasoline production, benzene 

concentration, and credit generation/usage, refineries must also include information 

outlining both their timeline for compliance with the gasoline benzene standards and their 

engineering plans (e.g., design and construction) in their pre-compliance reports. We 

requested that refineries report their progress according to the following five stages: 1) 

strategic planning, 2) planning and front-end engineering, 3) detailed engineering and 

permitting, 4) procurement and construction, and 5) commissioning and start-up. 

In the 2009 benzene pre-compliance reports, refiners indicated they have plans to 

install new benzene reduction facilities at 63 refineries. These refineries are generally in 

the early stages of their projects to comply with the gasoline benzene standards. Most 

have completed their strategic planning phase, and have started front-end engineering 

design work. 

Most of the 63 refineries indicated that they plan to use one or more of the 

gasoline benzene reduction strategies identified by EPA in the gasoline benzene 

rulemaking. Reported scopes for benzene compliance projects are summarized in the 

following list: 

- 19 refineries plan to install additional naphtha pre-fractionation capacity to 

reduce the amount of benzene precursors in their naphtha reformer feed 

- 15 refineries plan to install a new reformate splitter tower 

- 17 refineries plan to install a new benzene saturation unit 

- 2 refineries plan to install new benzene extraction facilities 

- 7 refineries plan to revamp existing benzene extraction facilities. 

- 2 refineries plan to install new isomerization units 

- 3 refineries plan to revamp existing isomerization units 

- 11 refineries plan to outhaul benzene-rich light reformate to other refineries for 

processing 

In addition, 5 refineries indicated they planned to make operational changes to 

reduce gasoline benzene. 

Refiners indicated they were not planning to install benzene reduction facilities at 

47 refineries, either because these refineries already comply with the gasoline benzene 

standards, or because they are planning to use credits for compliance. 

B. PADD Analysis 

This section presents information specific to each Petroleum Administration for 

Defense District (PADD). Tables 4, 5 and 6 show aggregated reported data for 2007, 

2011 and 2015, by PADD1

. From 2007 to 2011, reported national average benzene 

 

1

 These tables do not include imported gasoline, gasoline used in California, gasoline produced by small 

refiners, gasoline exported outside the U.S., and gasoline produced by transmix processors. 

 7
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

concentration decreased by 33 percent, with the largest decrease occurring in PADD 5 

(39 percent), followed by PADD 2 (36 percent), PADD 3 (35 percent), PADD 4 (21 

percent), and PADD 1 (18 percent). Also from 2007 to 2011, the number of refineries 

producing gasoline containing 0.62 vol% benzene or less increases from 21 to 56, with 

the largest increase occurring in PADD 3 (18 refineries), followed by PADD 2 (8 

refineries), PADD 1 (4 refineries), and PADD 5 (3 refineries), and PADD 4 (2 refineries). 

From 2011 to 2015, reported average benzene concentration decreases further in each 

PADD, with the largest decreases occurring in PADDs 2, 4 and 5, while projected 

gasoline production changes little in each PADD. From 2011 to 2015, 13 additional 

refineries begin producing gasoline containing 0.62 vol% benzene or less, including 3 

refineries in PADD 1, 4 in PADD 2, 3 in PADD 3, 2 in PADD 4, and 1 in PADD 5. 

Table 4 

Reported Data by PADD for 2007

PADD 1 PADD 2 PADD 3 PADD 4 PADD 5 total U.S. 

# reporting refineries 14 21 45 11 19 110

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 1,164,395 1,697,399 3,540,971 231,461 398,661 7,032,887

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.81 1.28 0.95 1.55 1.42 1.05

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 4 1 10 0 6 21

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 10 20 35 11 13 89

Table 5 

Reported Data by PADD for 2011

PADD 1 PADD 2 PADD 3 PADD 4 PADD 5 total U.S. 

# reporting refineries 14 21 45 11 19 110

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 1,224,824 1,792,531 4,026,379 244,396 398,938 7,687,068

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.66 0.82 0.62 1.22 0.87 0.70

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 8 9 28 2 9 56

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 6 12 17 9 10 54

Table 6 

Reported Data by PADD for 2015

PADD 1 PADD 2 PADD 3 PADD 4 PADD 5 total U.S. 

# reporting refineries 14 21 45 11 19 110

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 1,205,775 1,853,102 4,042,351 246,445 404,129 7,751,801

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.57 0.63 0.57 0.94 0.69 0.60

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 11 13 31 4 10 69

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 3 8 14 7 9 41

Figure 3 illustrates the effect of the benzene standards on national average 

benzene levels from 2007 through 2015. Figure 3 also shows the volume-weighted 

 8
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

contribution of each PADD to national average benzene concentration for each reported 

year. PADD 3 consistently has the greatest volume-weighted contribution because 

PADD 3 consistently produces the most gasoline of any PADD (even though PADD 3 

has the lowest gasoline benzene concentrations among all PADDs from 2011 through 

2015). Conversely, PADD 4 consistently has the smallest volume-weighted contribution 

because PADD 4 consistently produces the least gasoline of any PADD (even though 

PADD 4 has the highest gasoline benzene concentrations among all PADDs in every 

reported year). 

Figure 3. PADD Contributions to National Average Benzene, 2007-2015 

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Year

Benzene Concentration, vol

%

PADD 5

PADD 4

PADD 3

PADD 2

PADD 1

More detailed information for each PADD is shown below in Tables 7 through 

16.

 9
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

 1. PADD 12

 Reported data for 14 PADD 1 refineries is summarized below in Tables 7 and 8. 

PADD 1 average gasoline benzene concentration decreases from 0.81 vol% in 2007 to 

0.66 vol% in 2011, as the number of refineries producing gasoline containing 0.62 vol% 

benzene or less increases from 4 to 8. PADD 1 average gasoline benzene concentration 

decreases further to 0.57 vol% by 2015, as 3 more refineries reduce their gasoline 

benzene concentration to 0.62 vol% or less. Projected gasoline production also increases 

slightly from 2007 to 2015, by approximately 42,000 bbls/day. 

Table 7 

Reported Data for PADD 1, 2007-2010 

Year 2007 2008 2009 2010

# reporting refineries 14 14 14 14

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 1,164,395 1,169,596 1,175,302 1,199,158

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.81 0.75 0.80 0.80

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 4 6 5 5

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 10 8 9 9

Table 8 

Reported Data for PADD 1, 2011-2015 

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

# reporting refineries 14 14 14 14 14

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 1,224,824 1,210,352 1,205,775 1,205,775 1,205,775

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.66 0.60 0.58 0.57 0.57

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 8 9 10 10 11

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 6 5 4 4 3

 

2

 These tables do not include imported gasoline, gasoline produced by small refiners, gasoline exported 

outside the U.S., and gasoline produced by transmix processors. 

 10
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

2. PADD 23 

 Reported data for 21 reporting PADD 2 refineries is summarized below in Tables 

9 and 10. PADD 2 average gasoline benzene concentration decreases from 1.28 vol% in 

2007 to 0.82 vol% in 2011, as the number of refineries producing gasoline containing 

0.62 vol% benzene or less increases from 1 to 9. PADD 2 average gasoline benzene 

concentration decreases further to 0.63 vol% by 2015, as 4 more refineries reduce their 

gasoline benzene concentration to 0.62 vol% or less. Projected gasoline production also 

increases moderately from 2007 to 2015, by approximately 156,000 bbls/day. 

Table 9 

Reported Data for PADD 2, 2007-2010 

Year 2007 2008 2009 2010

# reporting refineries 21 21 21 21

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 1,697,399 1,649,094 1,711,287 1,760,535

Average benzene concentration, vol% 1.28 1.30 1.31 1.30

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 1 1 1 1

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 20 20 20 20

Table 10 

Reported Data for PADD 2, 2011-2015 

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

# reporting refineries 21 21 21 21 21

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 1,792,531 1,821,081 1,853,102 1,843,337 1,853,102

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.82 0.71 0.63 0.64 0.63

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 9 10 13 13 13

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 12 11 8 8 8

 

3

 These tables do not include imported gasoline, gasoline produced by small refiners, gasoline exported 

outside the U.S., and gasoline produced by transmix processors. 

 11
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

3. PADD 34 

 Reported data for 45 PADD 3 refineries is summarized below in Tables 11 and 

12. PADD 3 average gasoline benzene concentration decreases from 0.95 vol% in 2007 

to 0.62 vol% in 2011, as the number of refineries producing gasoline containing 0.62 

vol% benzene or less increases from 10 to 28. PADD 3 average gasoline benzene 

concentration decreases further to 0.57 vol% by 2015, as 3 more refineries reduce their 

gasoline benzene concentration to 0.62 vol% or less. Projected gasoline production also 

increases significantly from 2007 to 2015, by approximately 501,000 bbls/day. 

Table 11 

Reported Data for PADD 3, 2007-2010 

Year 2007 2008 2009 2010

# reporting refineries 45 45 45 45

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 3,540,971 3,258,603 3,580,916 3,854,485

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.95 0.97 0.87 0.83

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 10 11 13 16

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 35 34 32 29

Table 12 

Reported Data for PADD 3, 2011-2015 

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

# reporting refineries 45 45 45 45 45

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 4,026,379 4,029,915 4,036,885 4,041,121 4,042,351

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.62 0.57 0.57 0.57 0.57

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 28 31 31 31 31

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 17 14 14 14 14

 

4

 These tables do not include imported gasoline, gasoline used in California, gasoline produced by small 

refiners, gasoline exported outside the U.S., and gasoline produced by transmix processors. 

 12
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

4. PADD 45 

Data for 11 reporting PADD 4 refineries is summarized below in Tables 13 and 

14. PADD 4 average gasoline benzene concentration decreases from 1.55 vol% in 2007 

to 1.22 vol% in 2011, as the number of refineries producing gasoline containing 0.62 

vol% benzene or less increases from 0 to 2. PADD 4 average gasoline benzene 

concentration decreases further to 0.94 vol% by 2015, as refineries further reduce their 

gasoline benzene concentration. Projected gasoline production also increases slightly 

from 2007 to 2015, by approximately 15,000 bbls/day. 

Table 13 

Reported Data for PADD 4, 2007-2010 

Year 2007 2008 2009 2010

# reporting refineries 11 11 11 11

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 231,461 351,710 237,169 248,666

Average benzene concentration, vol% 1.55 1.58 1.54 1.54

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 0 0 0 0

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 11 11 11 11

Table 14 

Reported Data for PADD 4, 2011-2015 

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

# reporting refineries 11 11 11 11 11

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 244,396 248,456 247,746 248,638 246,445

Average benzene concentration, vol% 1.22 1.01 0.94 0.94 0.94

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 2 4 4 4 4

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 9 7 7 7 7

 

5

 These tables do not include imported gasoline, gasoline used in California, gasoline produced by small 

refiners, gasoline exported outside the U.S., and gasoline produced by transmix processors. 

 13
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

5. PADD 56

Data for 19 reporting PADD 5 refineries is summarized below in Tables 15 and 

16. PADD 5 average gasoline benzene concentration decreases from 1.42 vol% in 2007 

to 0.87 vol% in 2011, as the number of refineries producing gasoline containing 0.62 

vol% benzene or less increases from 6 to 9. PADD 5 average gasoline benzene 

concentration decreases further to 0.69 vol% by 2015, as refineries further reduce their 

gasoline benzene concentration. Projected gasoline production also increases slightly 

from 2007 to 2015, by approximately 5,000 bbls/day. 

Table 15 

Reported Data for PADD 5, 2007-2010 

Year 2007 2008 2009 2010

# reporting refineries 19 19 19 19

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 398,661 359,795 390,323 397,914

Average benzene concentration, vol% 1.42 1.54 1.44 1.41

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 6 5 5 5

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 13 14 14 14

Table 16 

Reported Data for PADD 5, 2011-2015 

Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

# reporting refineries 19 19 19 19 19

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 398,938 405,771 404,129 404,129 404,129

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.87 0.76 0.69 0.69 0.69

# refineries with benzene < or = 0.62 vol% 9 10 10 10 10

# refineries with benzene > 0.62 vol% 10 9 9 9 9

 

6

 These tables do not include imported gasoline, gasoline used in California, gasoline produced by small 

refiners, gasoline exported outside the U.S., and gasoline produced by transmix processors. 

 14
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

C. Comparison of 2008 and 2009 Pre-compliance Reports 

The 2009 pre-compliance reports show a greater overall projected reduction in 

benzene during the early credit generation period (June 1, 2007 through December 31, 

2010), compared to the 2008 pre-compliance reports. The 2009 pre-compliance reports 

also show that benzene concentrations from 2011 through 2015 are projected to be 

slightly higher compared to the 2008 pre-compliance reports. Table 17 lists projected 

average national gasoline production and benzene concentration from the 2008 and 2009 

pre-compliance reports. 

Table 17 

Projected Gasoline Production and Benzene Concentration for Total U.S., 

2007-2015 

2007 2008 2009 2010 

2008 benzene reports 

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 7,009,410 7,321,248 7,523,745 7,690,694 

Average benzene concentration, vol% 1.05 1.07 1.06 1.04 

2009 benzene reports 

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 7,032,887 6,788,798 7,094,997 7,460,758 

Average benzene concentration, vol% 1.05 1.08 1.02 0.99 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

2008 benzene reports 

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 7,953,682 7,968,849 7,968,195 7,957,194 7,968,537

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.65 0.61 0.59 0.59 0.59

2009 benzene reports 

Reported gasoline production, bbls/day 7,687,068 7,715,576 7,747,637 7,742,999 7,751,801

Average benzene concentration, vol% 0.70 0.63 0.60 0.60 0.60

The 2009 pre-compliance reports show more early credits being generated from 

2007 through 2010, compared to the 2008 pre-compliance reports. However, the 2009 

pre-compliance reports also show fewer standard credits being generated and more 

credits being used from 2011 through 2015, compared to the 2008 pre-compliance 

reports. Table 18 lists projected credits generated and used from the 2008 and 2009 precompliance reports, along with the cumulative credit surplus by the end of each year. 

Figure 4 illustrates that the 2009 pre-compliance reports still show a cumulative credit 

surplus at the end of each year from 2007 through 2015, but the cumulative credit surplus 

by the end of 2015 is not as great as the cumulative credit surplus from the 2008 precompliance reports. 

 15
_____________________________IV. Gasoline Benzene Summary Data 

 16

Table 18 

Projected Gasoline Production and Benzene Concentration for Total U.S., 

2007-2015 

2007 2008 2009 2010 

2008 benzene reports 

Benzene credits generated, millions 9.4 8.7 18.5 37.5 

Cumulative credit surplus, millions 9.4 18.2 36.7 74.2 

2009 benzene reports 

Benzene credits generated, millions 10.8 30.7 48.2 69.2 

Cumulative credit surplus, millions 10.8 41.5 89.7 158.9 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

2008 benzene reports 

Benzene credits generated, millions 95.8 96.3 99.6 98.7 99.4

Benzene credits used, millions 128.0 83.6 68.8 67.5 65.8

Cumulative credit surplus, millions 41.9 54.6 85.4 116.7 150.2

2009 benzene reports 

Benzene credits generated, millions 69.1 91.6 90.1 89.4 90.1

Benzene credits used, millions 167.3 103.5 70.7 69.4 67.9

Cumulative credit surplus, millions 60.8 48.9 68.3 88.4 110.5

Figure 4. Cumulative U.S. Gasoline Benzene Credit Surplus 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Year

Cumulative credit surplus, 

millions

2008 reports

2009 reports