MOBILE SOURCE AIR TOXICS (MSAT)

What's New

The Agency issued a direct final rule (73 FR 13132; 3/12/08) to add benzene alkylation to qualify for early credits and a general provision for approval of other technologies or operational changes to reduce benzene in gasoline prior to 2011. EPA withdrew this DFR because the Agency received negative comments (73 FR 26325; 5/9/08).

EPA released a question and answer document on the MSAT Phase 2 regulations on August 16, 2007.

EPA promulgated MSAT Phase 2 standards (72 FR 8428; 2/26/07). They include an average benzene content of 0.62 vol% for gasoline with averaging, banking and trading that will begin on 1/1/11 for most refiners and on 1/1/15 for small refiners. The Agency also included a maximum average benzene content specification of 1.3 vol% that cannot be met with credits; it will begin on 7/1/12 (7/1/16 for small refiners) with the first compliance period as 7/1/12 - 12/31/13 and subsequent compliance periods will be calendar years. The rule also includes an early credit provision. It does not apply to CaRFG3 which has its own benzene standard. Click here to view NPRA's summary of the MSAT Phase 2 rule.

NPRA Position

NPRA was actively involved with EPA on this MSAT Phase 2 rulemaking to insure that the regulations do not require unwarranted restrictions that add unnecessary costs, impact overall supply, and/or place additional strain on the U.S. fuel production and distribution system.

Background

EPA promulgated MSAT Phase 1 standards in 2001 (66 FR 17230; 3/29/01) and they were effective in 2002. For gasoline, they include annual average anti-backsliding toxics standards which are refinery-specific (not a single, national regulatory value) and are based on average 1998-2000 reformulated and conventional gasoline parameter values.

EPA revised the MSAT Phase 1 default baselines (70 FR 58330; 10/6/05).

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