Extension of the Reformulated Gasoline Program to Maine’s Southern Counties
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Rule Summary
The EPA is extending the Clean Air Act (CAA) prohibition against the sale of conventional gasoline in reformulated gasoline (RFG) areas to the southern Maine counties of York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, and Lincoln (the “Southern Maine Counties”). This final rule is based on a request from the Governor of the State of Maine for areas within the ozone transport region established under CAA section 184. The scope of the EPA’s discretion is limited to establishing the date that the prohibition commences. Consistent with the Governor’s request, this prohibition will commence in the affected RFG area as of May 1, 2015 for refiners, importers, and distributors and as of June 1, 2015 for retailers and wholesale purchaser-consumers.
The EPA has updated its RFG opt-out rules to add a provision reflecting that there is a four-year minimum opt-in period for areas that opt into the RFG program on the basis of their location within the ozone transport zone. This clarification aligns the federal regulation for RFG opt-out requirements with the CAA.
Additional Resources
- Final Rule (PDF) (5 pp, 232.7 K, published February 6, 2015)
- Proposed Rule (PDF) (5 pp, 236 K, published August 28, 2014)
- Fact Sheet: EPA Issues Final Rule for the Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Extension of the Reformulated Gasoline Program to Maine’s Southern Counties (PDF) (3 pp, 134 K, EPA-420-F-15-013, January 2015)
- Fact Sheet: In Response to Maine’s Request, the EPA is Proposing to Extend the Clean Air Act’s (CAA) Prohibition Against the Sale of Conventional Gasoline in Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) Areas to the Southern Maine Counties of York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, and Lincoln (PDF) (4 pp, 536 K, EPA-420-F-14-041 August 2014)