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• If RFG is shipped from a refinery to a terminal through a proprietary pipeline system, may the pipeline rely on the refinery and terminal test results to satisfy the quality assurance defense element?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . In a case where EPA documents a downstream standard violation at a proprietary terminal that is served only by a proprietary pipeline that receives gasoline only from a proprietary refinery, the company that owns the refinery, pipeline and…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• If, due to piping constraints, a refiner must put a purchased or inter-refinery transferred batch of finished gasoline through the refinery blendstock system, but does so without the batch losing integrity, must the refiner include the batch in his compli

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . No. As per § 80.65(i) of the regulations, any refiner, importer, or oxygenate blender shall exclude from all compliance calculations, the volume and properties of any RFG that is produced at another refinery or oxygenate blending facility, or…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• In areas where an oxy fuels program is in effect, how do these requirements coincide with RFG requirements? In areas where there is an overlap, are any regulatory changes necessary by the state?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . In areas that are covered by both a state's winter oxy fuels and the federal RFG programs, the fuel must comply with both program requirements. Therefore, the more stringent 2.7 wt% minimum requirement of the winter oxy fuels…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• If foreign product is acquired by an importer through an exchange agreement instead of a sale, does it change identification of the importer for RFG reporting purposes?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . No. The person who is the importer of record for Customs purposes should be the importer for RFG purposes, and this is usually the gasoline owner, regardless of how that ownership was acquired.(7/1/94) This question and answer was…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• If terminals utilize the services of outside laboratories for periodic sampling and testing, how can the terminal limit exposure to liability in the event non-complying product from the tested tank(s) leaves the terminal during the three or four days befo

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . A terminal-distributor's release of RFG that does not meet applicable standards would constitute a violation of § 80.78(a)(1) for which the distributor would be liable, and it would not be a defense if the violation was caused by…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• What is the definition of “overburdened community” that is relevant for EPA Actions and Promising Practices?

  EPA Actions and Promising Practices apply the description of overburdened communities articulated in EPA’s Plan EJ 2014. The term is used to describe the minority, low‐income, tribal and indigenous populations or communities in the United States that potentially experience disproportionate environmental harms and risks due to exposures or cumulative impacts…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• How will an EPA regional office determine whether a permitted activity impacts a potential overburdened community? What screening tool or process will EPA regional offices use to screen permit applications?

  The Agency has developed a nationally consistent screening tool to help identify communities that are potentially overburdened. This tool, known as EJSCREEN, is one of several tools being developed under Plan EJ 2014. EPA anticipates that its regional offices will use EJSCREEN and other readily available information, including known community…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• Some of the Promising Practices are mentioned in EPA regulations, guidance and recommendations that EPA has issued in the past. So why is EPA issuing the Promising Practices?

  EPA is issuing Promising Practices to encourage permit applicants to strategically plan and conduct enhanced outreach to overburdened communities in the permitting process. As some commenters noted, EPA has recommended some of the outreach strategies included in Promising Practices previously. Nevertheless, EPA believes that it is important to issue Promising…

  • Last published: July 10, 2024

• If a pipeline must be classified as a refiner, how would that be handled administratively by EPA? Since pipelines don't own the product, would pipeline have to become buyers and sellers for regulatory purposes?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Refiners must be registered with EPA. The pipeline need not be an owner of the gasoline to be a refiner.(7/1/94) This question and answer was posted at Consolidated List of Reformulated Gasoline and Anti-Dumping Questions and Answers: July…

  • Last published: July 11, 2024

• What are the sampling and testing requirements for terminal blenders (barges, trucks and pipelines)?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . If the facility's activities fit the definition of a refiner, it would have to sample and test each batch of gasoline as required under § 80.65(e). If its activities fit the definition of an oxygenate blender, it would…

  • Last published: July 11, 2024

• What are the requirements for retailers in the covered areas?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Retailers are subject to certain controls and prohibitions on reformulated gasoline as provided in § 80.78 of the regulations, such as meeting downstream standards, not selling conventional gasoline in RFG areas, selling VOC-controlled gasoline for the proper VOC…

  • Last published: July 11, 2024

• What information needs to be included on RBOB product transfer documents? Is any information about min/max's required?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The PTD requirements pertaining to RBOB can be found in § 80.77. They include the type of RBOB and the type and amount of oxygenate to be added as well as the min/max's for benzene and RVP, for…

  • Last published: July 11, 2024

• Who accounts for blending operations that take place in leased storage facilities?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Under the regulations, a refiner is any person who owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises a refinery. As indicated above, an oxygenate blender is any person who owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises an oxygenate blending facility, or…

  • Last published: July 11, 2024

• Who accounts for imported finished gasoline blended with blendstock?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . If the blendstock added to the imported finished gasoline is oxygenate, then the blending activity is ignored and the finished gasoline is reported by the importer. If some other blendstock is blended to the imported finished gasoline, e.g…

  • Last published: July 11, 2024

• What is the definition of oxygenated fuels program control area and oxygenated fuels program control period?

  See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . As per section 80.2 of the regulations, an oxygenated fuels program control area means a geographic area in which only oxygenated gasoline may be sold or dispensed during the control period. An oxygenated fuels program control period means…

  • Last published: July 11, 2024