EPA proposal would reduce benzene content of all gasoline in 2011

Washington (Platts)--1Mar2006

The US Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday announced a proposed
rule that would lower the average benzene content of reformulated and
conventional gasoline beginning in 2011.

     The mobile source air toxics rule would also impose new standards to
reduce non-methane hydrocarbon exhaust emissions from new gasoline-fueled
passenger vehicles, and standards that would limit hydrocarbon emissions that
evaporate from or permeate through gasoline cans.

     Under the fuel program, refiners would have to meet an annual average of
gasoline benzene content of 0.62% by volume on all their gasoline nationwide. 
Currently, the national benzene content of gasoline is about 0.97%. Gasoline
sold in California already meets standards similar to those EPA is proposing.

     As a result of the proposal, passenger vehicles in 2030 would emit 45%
less benzene, gas cans would emit 78% less, and gasoline would have 37% less
benzene overall, EPA said.

     The additional cost of producing gasoline to comply with the new standard
is expected to average $0.0013/gal, the agency said. The cost to industry
would be an investment in capital equipment of $500 million, or an average of
$5 million in each refinery that adds such equipment, the agency said. 

		--Gerald Karey, gerry_karey@platts.com

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