Learn the Issues
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The Navigable Waters Protection Rule - Supporting Documents
Economic Analysis and Resource Programmatic Assessment document links in support of the 2020 revised definition of "waters of the United States"
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Referring to § 80.69, will EPA consider alternative testing approaches if extreme circumstances prohibit testing as defined by EPA? As an example, the situation may exist where an oxygenate blender is prohibited by state law from taking truck samples. In this case the only way to comply with EPA sampling requirements would be to somehow sample the batch as it is being dropped at its destination. This may be prohibited if the terminal only sells to jobbers. In addition, product sampled from trucks or retail outlets does not necessarily reflect product blended by the oxygenate blender. Residual fuel in trucks and or retail tanks will mix with the terminal product before sampling. A quality oversight of the RBOB in conjunction with meter readings showing proper delivery of oxygenate volumes may better reflect a terminal's product? How does the EPA plan to test in these situations?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . EPA will consider extreme circumstances that may prohibit sampling and testing as required by section 80.69. However, to date, EPA is not aware of such circumstances. Some state laws may prohibit the opening of truck compartment hatches during…
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Recently, a natural gas pipeline condensate was refused at a fractionator. The condensate met all fractionator specifications and did not contain any hazardous materials. The operator of the fractionator advised that their facility could only take in previously manufactured materials as a direct result of the anti-dumping rules contained in the reformulated gasoline regulations. Within the anti-dumping Subpart E, we cannot find any mention of previously manufactured materials. However, Subsection 80.102 "Controls applicable to blendstocks" does define "gasoline blendstocks" as products that are produced by a refiner but it also goes on to include other blendstocks with properties certain.
The condensate described herein would not meet the definitional requirements of a gasoline blendstock as its end point would disqualify it as a gasoline (if an oxygenate was added). The fractionator would separate the condensate into a gasoline component and a diesel component.
Is it the intention of the EPA that only manufactured products be used in blending either reformulated or conventional gasoline? Is it the intent to restrict the use of naturally occurring hydrocarbons in a fractionator that produces gasoline?See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . The regulations do not prohibit or restrict the use or distribution of any gasoline or gasoline blendstocks regardless of their origin. Compliance with the anti-dumping requirements is based primarily on the properties of finished conventional gasoline. However, for…
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Question: What does EPA mean by "blending RVP of oxygenate" (equation in § 80.91(e)(4)(i)(B))?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . This means the effect that an oxygenate has on RVP when it is assumed to have a constant RVP effect per volume added. This is analogous to the blending RVP for any other hydrocarbon, except that blending RVPs…
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Rather than bracketing all components of a sample during the GC-MS analysis in section 80.46(f), can a laboratory use linearity curves for the components?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Yes. We only require that the calibration standards bracket the concentration range of samples. You may use the linearity curves when analyzing the unknowns. (7/1/94) This question and answer was posted at
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By our reading of the regulations, the only reporting required of the oxygenate blender who elects to comply with the oxygen standard on a per gallon basis is a yearly report due the last day of February of each year (beginning in 1996) that states the total volume of RFG produced along with the certification statement. Is our interpretation correct? Are we correct in assuming that batch numbers and individual batch data are not required as part of the report?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Your interpretation is correct. (10/31/94) This question and answer was originally posted at
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Since other ASTM methods are being developed that would allow use of one analyzer to obtain benzene, aromatics, and olefins, will EPA allow any of these new methods to be used in reformulated gasoline certification and/or a refiner's defense?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . A refiner that intends to distribute RFG must certify that product using the test methods prescribed in the Final Rule. However, a refiner performing quality assurance testing downstream of the refinery may use other test methods provided these…
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Since other ASTM methods are being developed that would allow the use of one analyzer to obtain benzene, aromatics, and olefins, will EPA allow any of these new methods to be used for gasoline certification and/or a refiners's defense?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . They are not allowed for the determination of properties of reformulated, or conventional gasoline at the refinery, but, as indicated above, they may be used downstream for quality assurance. In the future, EPA may consider amending the regulations…
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Our practice is for each tank to be a batch and we test that tank once even though it may be used to supply several distribution systems. If several tanks are required to make up a pipeline tender, each tank is tested separately and the separate certificates of analysis provided to the pipeline. Will this practice still be acceptable?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Yes. Moreover, EPA believes that each separate tank of produced gasoline must be a separate batch, and that gasoline produced and contained in more than one tank may not be treated as a single batch. (7/1/94) This question…
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Must a refiner identify a single independent lab for each refinery?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Yes. Although an independent lab may use a substitute lab for certain tasks, a refiner is required to name a single independent lab for each refinery. It is this independent lab with which EPA will communicate regarding the…
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Must oxygenate be added to RBOB downstream of the refinery?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Yes. Oxygenate must be added to RBOB in the proper type and amount regardless of where it is sold. Specifically, section 80.77(a)(7) prohibits any person from combining RBOB with any other gasoline, blendstock, or oxygenate except oxygenate of…
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Must refiners defer to regulatory references to blendstock produced on a batch basis, as all blendstocks made by refiners are produced from continuous processes (even purchased blendstocks are received at regular intervals and are typically blended on a fairly uniform basis)?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Yes. Even continuous streams are only measured periodically and it would be best to apply the measurements to the volume produced most closely to the time of the measurement. In other words, break up the continuous stream into…
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Must the independent lab use the same brand and model of equipment as the refinery lab?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Both the refiner's and the independent lab must use the RFG analyses methods specified in § 80.46, but this section does not specify particular brands or models for the testing equipment. Note that in the case of oxygen…
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Must imported RFG be tested at the import facility or may the importer use the test results from a foreign source, or alternatively, from vessel samples secured from the vessel after loading is completed? Many independent labs operate internationally. Also, must all labs be registered with EPA?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Importers must certify each batch of RFG and conventional gasoline based upon samples collected after the vessel carrying the gasoline has entered the U.S. port of entry where the gasoline will be discharged. Under § 80.65(f)(2)(ii), importers must…
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Must each batch of gasoline be traceable from the refinery or importation point to consumption in order to avoid liability if a non-conformance is found?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . No. However, each regulated party (other than a carrier) is presumptively liable for violations of the downstream standards found at facilities downstream from that party. In order to establish a defense the party must show, among other defense…
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Must downstream parties with their own labs use an independent lab for quality assurance sampling and testing?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . Parties may use their own lab, an independent lab, or another party's lab in fulfillment of the quality assurance program defense element. Regardless of which lab does the work, however, the burden remains on the party who is…
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Mold and Your Home
Mold can grow in many parts of your home; anywhere there is moisture. This page provides some resources for you to help keep your house mold free.
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May import facilities be grouped together for compliance and reporting purposes?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . For the most part, separate import facilities owned by one importer must be grouped together. All compliance demonstrations are to be made based on the aggregate of all gasoline imported into the United States by an importer. This…
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If you have a spill, does the K code change to 2 for the spilled volume?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help . No, the K code is not changed as the result of a spill. (Refer to section 80.1132 of the regulation regarding retirement of RINs due to a spill.) Question and Answer was originally posted at: Questions and Answers…
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Estimating Children’s Soil and Dust Ingestion Rates for Exposure Science
Request for Application to propose transdisciplinary research to help study exposure of soil and dust ingestion rates in children