Clearing the air on summer gas in Allegheny County

Unfortunately, there has been misinformation spreading about Allegheny County’s use of Low-RVP gasoline (summer gas). It’s time to clear the air.

In the 1990s, both the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Allegheny County Health Department adopted separate rules to control motor gasoline volatility during summer months in the 7-county Pittsburgh area and Allegheny County. These summer gas rules were federally approved as part of a state implementation plan (SIP) to help the area meet the health-based federal ozone standard.

In 2014, Gov. Tom Corbett signed legislation requiring PADEP to amend the SIP to remove the summer gas requirements. Since then, EPA has worked closely with both PADEP and ACHD to help them revise Pennsylvania’s SIP to remove those requirements.

EPA and PADEP urged the ACHD to coordinate the timing of their removal of the summer gas requirements with the state. Yet, though they were aware of the time frames associated with these types of regulatory changes, which include a transparent process for notifying the public and an opportunity for public comment, ACHD chose to wait until after PADEP’s rule change was finalized.

Despite claims to the contrary, ACHD has independent authority to revise the SIP and did not need to wait for the state to complete its removal of the summer gas rules. Nevertheless, ACHD chose to wait almost a year longer than the state to submit their revision to EPA.

PADEP revised its summer gas rule and requested removal of the rule from the SIP in May 2018, and EPA finalized it in December. Allegheny County on the other hand, did not revise its rule until February and it was submitted to EPA on March 19. EPA signed a proposed rule revision April 12.

EPA’s action was published in the Federal Register on April 26, and it is subject to a 30-day public comment period. If no adverse comments are received on the proposal, EPA will seek to expedite a final rule as soon as possible. EPA is committed to working with our state and local partners for cleaner, healthier air and we do so with the very best intentions for Allegheny County residents and all Americans.

COSMO SERVIDIO EPA Mid-Atlantic regional

administrator Philadelphia, Pa