Learn the Issues
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Does the EPA maintain a single document listing the reclassification of CO and ozone nonattainment areas?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. For information pertaining to the reclassification of CO and ozone nonattainment areas, contact Valerie Broadwell (919-541-3310) or Barry Gilbert (919-541-5238) Ozone/Carbon monoxide Programs Branch, AQMD, MD-15, OAQPS, EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711. (7/1/94) This question and answer…
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Does EPA make any distinction in terms of timeliness between PTD's which memorialize a transfer of title as opposed to those which memorialize a transfer of custody? For example, exchange statements detailing liftings by an exchange partner ordinarily are prepared only after the close of each month's business. Would such statements meet the PTD requirements if they contain all required PTD information?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Section 80.77 does not distinguish between transfers of custody and transfers of title. Nevertheless, EPA believes the two situations may be different in terms of the timing necessary for PTD information. In the case of transfers of custody, the…
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Does a plant have to have their EPA-issued company ID number before they register for CDX?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Yes, this ID will be necessary to complete the CDX registration process. You may look up your company ID number at http://epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/rfs-list.xls (in Excel spreadsheet format). Question and Answer was originally posted at: Questions and Answers on the Renewable…
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Does section 80.69(e) apply to operations where RBOB is received into a terminal tank from a pipeline or barge and is subsequently blended with oxygenate in a truck?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. The regulatory provision at § 80.69(e) applies to situations where RBOB is blended with oxygenate at a terminal other than in a terminal storage tank (which is addressed in § 80.69(c)). The requirements of § 80.69(e) would apply where…
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Does in-line blending of conventional gasoline require an exemption?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Conventional gasoline does not require independent sampling and testing and, therefore, there is no need to obtain an exemption. However, the properties of both reformulated and conventional gasoline are required to be determined by the methods specified in §…
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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 before test results are available?
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 a…
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If a California refinery is producing all of its gasoline to CARB specifications but ships a small portion (<5%) to Nevada and Arizona, does that portion have to be recorded and reported as conventional gasoline? The additional recordkeeping and reporting would appear to be a totally wasted effort since gasoline meeting CARB specs will be substantially better in all respects than baseline gasoline.
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Under § 80.81(b)(2), California gasoline (and no other gasoline) is exempt from certain RFG and anti-dumping requirements, such as the requirement to use the test methods specified under § 80.46. California gasoline is defined in § 80.81(a)(2) as "any…
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If reformulated gasoline is found downstream of the refinery to be off specification, what procedures are appropriate for handling this gasoline?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Downgrading In a case where RFG is found to violate any downstream standard, a party may take remedial action for the violation by reclassifying the RFG as conventional gasoline (by "downgrading" the gasoline), and using the gasoline only outside…
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If a specific refinery is the producer of renewable diesel, I assume they need a facility ID number, but we can use the RINs for aggregate company compliance.
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Yes. The facility ID number is used to generate the RIN, but the RIN can be separated and used for compliance on a company-wide aggregate basis, subject to any applicable restrictions in the regulations such as regulation Sections 80.1106(c)…
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If a transaction must be reversed for some reason, does the reversal have to track specific RINs or will fungible RINs work? How is this reported?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. The original transaction (involving the specific RINs) should be nullified and, if already reported to EPA, corrected reports should be submitted. If discovered prior to being reported to EPA, then all associated records must be corrected. If a transaction…
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If there are two surveys for RVP/VOC for a covered area per year and both fail, does this result in two "additive" ratchets for the covered area?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. No. Failure of surveys during a single year are not "additive", i.e., if any or all surveys in an area are failed during a given year, a single ratchet will be applied for the following year. Additionally, as in…
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If we send a report via EDI prior to the reporting deadline, the reporting deadline passes, and then (i.e. after the deadline has passed, but still within the five days EPA has allowed for its functional acknowledgment) EPA sends a functional acknowledgment, can we still be fined if there is something wrong with the file?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. If we send a report via EDI prior to the reporting deadline or the reporting deadline passes, and then (i.e. after the deadline has passed, but still within the five days EPA has allowed for its functional acknowledgement) EPA…
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May an independent lab use the refiner's testing equipment? May the independent lab set up its lab on property that is owned by the refiner? May the independent lab use the refiner's facilities for storing gasoline samples?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. In order to ensure independence, the independent lab must operate in a manner that is completely separate from the refiner. This means that, in fulfillment of the independent sampling and testing requirements, the independent lab may not use the…
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May an importer classify imported product as GTAB when that product meets all the EPA requirements for RFG or conventional gasoline, and take advantage of any specification "slack" in imported gasoline through component blending under the GTAB guidance?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. An imported product that meets the definition of gasoline may be classified as GTAB by the importer if the conditions specified in the August 29, 1994 Question and Answer document are satisfied, regardless of whether the gasoline meets the…
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May records, regardless of whether they are paper or electronic, be stored off-site?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. Yes. Refiners, oxygenate blenders and importers must indicate where records will be kept on all facility registrations. (7/1/94) This question and answer was originally posted at
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Most pipeline companies conduct an internal pipe corrosion control program pursuant to DOT regulations. These programs generally involve the injection of corrosion inhibitor additives into the petroleum products (gasoline, distillate, etc.) being transported by the pipeline company. Does this injection of corrosion inhibitors result in the pipeline company coming under the reformulated gasoline regulations' definition of a (blender) refiner?
See More Frequent Questions about Fuels Registration, Reporting, and Compliance Help. No. EPA does not view the blending of de minimis amounts of additives, such as detergents or corrosion prevention additives, into finished RFG to be the "production" of gasoline, and does not believe such blending will cause resulting gasoline…
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Hazardous Waste Cleanup: El Paso Energy Corporation Polymers Incorporated in Flemington, New Jersey
The El Paso Energy Corporation Polymers, Inc. (EPEC Polymers, Inc.), formerly known as Tenneco Polymers, Inc., is located at 45 River Road, at the juncture of the South Branch of the Raritan River and Bushkill Brook in Flemington/Raritan Townships,
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Hazardous Waste Cleanup: DSM Nutritional Products Incorporated in Belvidere, New Jersey
DSM Nutritional Products, Inc., formerly Hoffman-LaRoche (Roche) Belvidere is located on Maunkachunk Road in White Township, New Jersey. The site occupies approximately 500 acres in Warren County. The facility has been manufacturing vitamins since 1961.
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Where can interested applicants find the details of the NOFO, including past awardees, so that we can better prepare our application materials?
More information on the details of the NOFO can be found on the NOFO website and on the Grants.gov posting, Details about previous Zooplankton, Mysis, and Benthos monitoring projects, including recipients, can be found on the GLRI.us Projects page.
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Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Cycle Chem Incorporated in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Cycle Chem is located at 217 South First Street in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Cycle Chem recovers spent solvents and treats both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes in containers and tanks. The site comprises two acres in an industrial area, surrounded by