WASHINGTON (Sept. 5, 2012)—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a temporary waiver of certain Clean Air Act clean gasoline requirements to eight states affected by Hurricane Isaac.
The states are Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. The EPA granted the waiver because of Isaac-related disruption and delays in gasoline production and delivery, the agency said.
The waiver allows the eight states to use high-Reid Vapor Pressure gasoline, or “wintertime” gasoline, before Sept. 15 when the “high ozone” period officially ends. Under the Clean Air Act, states normally must use only low-RVP gasoline, or “summertime” gasoline, before Sept. 15.
The EPA expects supplies of “summertime” gasoline to remain adequate in other states during the period, but stands ready to grant further waivers if necessary, the agency said.