What constitutes a batch of reformulated gasoline? What method should be used by refiners, importers and oxygenate blenders for determining the volume of a batch of reformulated gasoline? What method should be used by independent laboratories? If a refiner is to report the tank volume at the time that a sample is collected, this may result in double-counting because the tank would not be emptied before blendstocks are added to produce the next batch. For example, suppose the volume in a tank is 100,000 barrels for batch 1, which is sampled and tested. Subsequently, there are two shipments from this tank, a 50,000 barrel shipment and a 20,000 barrel shipment, leaving 30,000 barrels in the tank. The tank is then blended up to 90,000 barrels for batch 2, which is sampled and tested, with subsequent shipments of 28,000 barrels and 44,000 barrels. Should the reported volume for batch 1 be 100,000 barrels or 70,000 barrels? Should the reported volume for batch 2 be 90,000 barrels or 72,000 barrels?
Section 80.2(gg) defines a "batch of reformulated gasoline" as "a quantity of reformulated gasoline which is homogeneous with regard to those properties which are specified for reformulated gasoline certification." The reported volume for the batch should be the volume of reformulated gasoline shipped out of the refinery or import facility after the gasoline has been blended and sampled.
In the example above, the volume for batch 1 would be 70,000 (50,000 + 20,000) barrels and the volume for batch 2 would be 72,000 (28,000 + 44,000) barrels. For a discussion of the method for determining batch size by independent laboratories, see Independent Sampling/Testing Section, Question 19. (7/1/94)
This question and answer was posted at List of Reformulated Gasoline and Anti-Dumping Questions and Answers: July 1, 1994 through November 10, 1997 (pdf)