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Strict Clean Air Act Rules Apply to Baton Rouge

Release Date: 5/3/2004
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

      Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified Louisiana that it could not grant the state's request for a waiver or delay of the deadline for implementation of reformulated gasoline (RFG) in the Baton Rouge area. The Clean Air Act requires that RFG be used in cities with the worst smog pollution in order to reduce harmful emissions of ozone.  

      EPA Regional Administrator Richard Greene noted in a letter to LDEQ Secretary  Mike McDaniel that he "share[s the] concern that RFG may not be the most cost-effective approach for meeting air quality standards in the Baton Rouge area."  

      Under the Clean Air Act, EPA has very limited ability to grant waivers that would alter the existing RFG program in any way.  

      Reformulated gasoline is a special type of gasoline blended to burn cleaner and reduce smog-forming and toxic pollutants in the air we breathe.  The RFG program has produced substantial environmental benefits nationally.  EPA believes that limited air quality benefits will also be realized in Baton Rouge.  The RFG program requirement for Baton Rouge is set to take effect on June 23, 2004.

      To learn more about RFG, visit our website at https://www.epa.gov/otaq/rfg.htm.