Proposed Final Report: Gas Vapor Regulationsleg.wa.gov/jlarc/AuditAndStudyReports/Documents/... ·...
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January 7, 2015 Proposed Final Report: Gas Vapor Regulations The Legislature’s Decentralized Approach Neither Requires nor Produces Consistency, and Current Regulations May Be Requiring Outdated Technology Zane Potter, JLARC Staff Federal Clean Air Act Regulates Air Emissions in the United States January 7, 2015 Gas Vapor Regulations 2/14 Gasoline vapors are a source of ground‐level ozone (smog) which poses a risk to human health and the environment Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for establishing air quality standards and regulations Federal Act gives states flexibility in how to organize themselves to meet EPA’s standards and regulations
Transcript of Proposed Final Report: Gas Vapor Regulationsleg.wa.gov/jlarc/AuditAndStudyReports/Documents/... ·...
January 7, 2015
Proposed Final Report:Gas Vapor Regulations
The Legislature’s Decentralized Approach Neither Requires nor Produces Consistency, and Current Regulations May Be Requiring Outdated Technology
Zane Potter, JLARC Staff
Federal Clean Air Act Regulates Air Emissions in the United States
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 2/14
Gasoline vapors are a source of ground‐level ozone (smog) which poses a risk to human health and the environment
Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for establishing air quality standards and regulations
Federal Act gives states flexibility in how to organize themselves to meet EPA’s standards and regulations
Washington’s Clean Air Act Allows Decentralized Approach to Regulating Air Quality
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 3/14
CowlitzWahkiakum
Clark
Skamania
Lewis
Southwest Clean Air Agency
Mason
Clallam
Jefferson
GraysHarbor
Thurston
Pacific
Olympic Region Clean Air Agency
Snohomish
King
Pierce
Kitsap
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
Grant
WallaWalla
Franklin
Adams
Lincoln
FerryStevens
PendOreille
Whitman
Columbia
Garfield
Asotin
Ecology: Eastern Regional OfficeEcology: Eastern Regional Office
Spokane
Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency
Yakima
Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency
SanJuan
Ecology: Northwest Regional OfficeEcology: Northwest Regional Office
Whatcom
SkagitIsland
Northwest Clean Air Agency
Kittitas
Chelan
Okanogan
Douglas
Ecology: Central Regional OfficeEcology: Central Regional Office
Klickitat
Ecology: Central Regional OfficeEcology: Central Regional Office
Benton
Benton Clean Air Agency
Greyed areas = Tribal landsNote: EPA has authority over air quality issues on reservation lands
Washington Has Approximately 2,800 Gas Stations
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 4/14
Puget Sound1,300 stations
Northwest166 stations
Ecology416 stations
Spokane172 stations
Benton74 stations
Yakima103 stations
Olympic292 stations
Southwest334 stations
Key Points From Report
Agency fees, methodologies used to determine agency fees and inspection frequency varies
25 other states use a decentralized approach to regulating air quality
Washington’s current regulations may be requiring outdated technology that may increase emissions
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 5/14
Legislative Auditor recommends completing an analysis to avoid increasing emissionsLegislative Auditor recommends completing an analysis to avoid increasing emissions
Agencies: Concur OFM: Did not provide a response Agencies: Concur OFM: Did not provide a response
Stage II Vapor Recovery Systems Capture Gasoline Vapors During the Refueling of Motor Vehicles
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 6/14
1990 federal legislation required Stage II in 27 states (including WA) to meet federal ozone standard
Costs $20K to $60K to install per station; $3,000 per year to maintain
Vapor
Liquid
Gas tank
Vapor recovery nozzle
Coaxialhose
vapor
liquidvapor
liquid
Stage II Systems Were Intended to Help Regions Meet the Federal Ozone Standard
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 7/14
Three agencies require Stage II systems at about 1,300 gas stations across seven counties:
Three agencies require Stage II systems at about 1,300 gas stations across seven counties:Puget Sound Clean Air Agency• Snohomish• King• Kitsap• Pierce
Ecology• Thurston• Cowlitz
Southwest Clean Air Agency• Clark
SNOHOMISH
KING
PIERCE
KITSAP
THURSTON
COWLITZ
CLARK
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recover (ORVR) Systems Also Capture Gasoline Vapor During Refueling of Vehicles
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 8/14
Federal legislation required EPA to adopt ORVR regulations for automobile manufacturers This system was phased in for new vehicles beginning in 1998
Vapor
Liquid
Balance nozzle
ORVR canister
liquid
Gas tankvapor
liquid
Some Stage II Systems Can Increase Emissions Because of New Technology
In 2012 EPA no longer required stage II vapor recovery systems to meet federal the ozone standard
Stage II systems have become largely redundant because more cars have ORVR
Limited compatibility between ORVR systems installed on cars and some Stage II systems may increase emissions
EPA determination allowed, but did not require, states to remove Stage II
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 9/14
Other States Taking Steps to Remove Stage II
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 10/14
NJNV
OR
WA
CA
OHIN
TN
TX
WI
IL
GA
LA
AZ
PA
MEVT
CT RI
DEMD
NH
VAKYMO
NY
Has not determined when to remove Stage II
Completed analysis, determined that Stage II needed until about 2017
Completed analysis, will keep Stage II for at least another decade
Taking steps to remove Stage IITaking steps to remove Stage IINot completed Stage II analysisNot completed Stage II analysisNo Stage II requirementNo Stage II requirement
MA
Ecology and Local Agencies Have Not Determined When to Remove Stage II
Ecology has yet to undertake emissions analysis
Southwest completed an analysis in 2012, but agency staff indicated that it was not shared with Board or made publicly available
Puget Sound completed two analyses; however, some factors are inconsistent with EPA guidance
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 11/14
JLARC staff estimated that Stage II systems could begin to increase emissions as soon as 2020 in Southwest and Puget Sound
JLARC staff estimated that Stage II systems could begin to increase emissions as soon as 2020 in Southwest and Puget Sound
Legislative Auditor Recommendation:Complete Emissions Analysis
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 12/14
The Department of Ecology and the local clean air agencies should estimate and publish when Stage II requirements will begin to increase emissions
The Department of Ecology and the local clean air agencies should estimate and publish when Stage II requirements will begin to increase emissions
This analysis should determine whether keeping Stage II systems helps the regions meet EPA’s current ozone standard and the costs and cost effectiveness associated with keeping these systems
Agencies: Concur OFM: Did not provide a responseAgencies: Concur OFM: Did not provide a response
Legislative Auditor’s Comment on Agencies’ Response
January 7, 2015Gas Vapor Regulations 13/14
There may be reasons to keep Stage II requirements for a limited number of gas stations in WA
The analyses conducted by Puget Sound Clean Air Agency had key shortcomings which were not acknowledged in the agencies’ response to the recommendation
Moving forward, Legislative Auditor urges any future analyses include factors that are consistent with EPA guidance and include cost considerations
Contact Information
Zane Potter, Research [email protected] 360‐786‐5194
Eric Thomas, Research [email protected]‐786‐5182
Valerie Whitener, Project [email protected]‐786‐5191
www.jlarc.leg.wa.gov
