EPA Announces Most Boring Fuel Update in History
Published Date: 1/15/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting July 1, 2025, fuel producers and sellers will follow updated, simpler rules for sampling and testing fuel quality. These changes don’t make fuel standards tougher but make the process clearer and easier, saving time and reducing confusion. If you work with gasoline or diesel, get ready for smoother testing with no extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Simpler Tank Sampling Options
If you collect manual tank samples, you may now use spot sampling or tap sampling as a routine option (not only when 'impractical' to run 'running' or 'all-levels' samples). This treats spot and tap samples as equivalent to running/all-levels sampling for certification purposes.
Automatic Sampling Frequency Options
For automatic (in-line) sampling, you can meet sampling frequency by any one of three criteria: (1) at least 9,604 grabs for the composite, (2) enough grabs to achieve a margin of error of 0.01 or less, or (3) a sampling frequency no greater than every 20 seconds. If you cannot meet the margin of error requirement, you may describe that in a waiver and must quantify measurement variability and lower target values accordingly.
Reduced Spot Sampling for Small Batches
If your in-line blending batch is up to 8 hours in duration or up to 1,000,000 gallons, you may collect a single sample anytime during the blend. For batches up to 16 hours or up to 2,000,000 gallons, you may collect two evenly distributed samples. You may use this reduced-sampling relief for no more than 10 percent of your in-line blending batches per calendar year.
In-Line Waiver Updates and Deemed Approval
Existing approved in-line blending waivers must meet the new specifications by January 1, 2026. If you submit an amendment request, it will be deemed approved 60 days after EPA acknowledges receipt if EPA does not respond further. To be deemed approved for the 2026 compliance period, submit waiver amendment requests by November 1, 2025.
Contingency Plans and Alternative Remedies Allowed
In-line blending waivers must include contingency plans for essential test equipment failure (for example, a redundant compositor as an example). If an automatic sampling test fails, you may use alternative demonstrations — such as manual tank sampling of the noncompliant volume before it leaves the facility or secondary automatic sampling from a holding tank — to show the fuel complies and avoid enforcement if valid subsequent measurements show compliance.
Homogeneity, Retention, and Test Method Flexibilities
EPA finalized several targeted flexibilities: homogeneity testing is waived for horizontal tanks under 42,000 gallons used for ethanol denaturant, for certified butane and pentane, and alternative demonstrations are allowed when roof sampling is prevented by inclement weather with recordkeeping. For previously certified gasoline (PCG) from pipelines, homogeneity is waived for batches under 1,000,000 gallons, requires two samples for 1,000,000–2,000,000 gallons, and three samples above 2,000,000 gallons. Sample retention rules: retain an untested representative sample for summer gasoline and any representative sample (tested or untested) for other fuels. EPA also allows temporary use of ASTM D4052 results above 66° API through December 31, 2026, with possible extensions.
Stricter Lab Crosscheck Fail Rules
For accuracy demonstrations using inter-laboratory crosscheck programs, a crosscheck result is invalid for demonstrating accuracy if the program lacks a robust accepted reference value per ASTM D6299, or if the measured value falls outside the program's three-sigma range. Such outcomes will be treated as failed results for accuracy compliance.
Rule Effective July 1, 2025
If you run a fuel production, distribution, or fuel-selling business, the final rule takes effect on July 1, 2025. The rule text and certain referenced standards are incorporated by reference as of that same date.
No Change to Fuel Standards
The rule explicitly does not change the stringency of existing fuel quality standards (for example, sulfur, benzene, and Reid vapor pressure standards remain the same). If you make or sell gasoline or diesel, the numeric standards you must meet do not become stricter under this action.
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