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Stage II Vapor Recovery Update

Stage II Vapor Recovery Update. SIP Steering Committee Meeting April 13, 2011. On-Board Vapor Recovery . Clean Air Act (CAA) requires newer cars have an on-board vapor recovery system (ORVR); phased in for 1998 and newer vehicles

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Stage II Vapor Recovery Update

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  1. Stage II Vapor Recovery Update SIP Steering Committee Meeting April 13, 2011

  2. On-Board Vapor Recovery • Clean Air Act (CAA) requires newer cars have an on-board vapor recovery system (ORVR); phased in for 1998 and newer vehicles • CAA says EPA may eliminate requirement for states to maintain Stage II when EPA determines that ORVR is in “widespread use” • EPA has not determined what level of ORVR fleet penetration constitutes “widespread use”

  3. Widespread Use (WSU) Guidance • WSU guidance has been discussed for years; EPA is expected to issue a proposed rule by mid-2011 • Each state makes its own decision if and when to eliminate its Stage II program based on: • EPA’s WSU parameters • State’s vehicle fleet characteristics • Benefits/costs of keeping Stage II to capture vapors from older vehicles that do not have ORVR • Dis-benefit of “incompatible” Stage II systems

  4. “Incompatible” Stage II Systems • 2 types of Stage II systems: vapor balance and vacuum assist • Use of vacuum assist systems with ORVR-equipped cars creates excess emissions ; more vapors are released than if there was just ORVR • Results in an earlier “crossover year” - the year when Stage II is no longer getting air quality benefits • MA has a substantial number of vacuum assist systems

  5. State Analysis • MassDEP beginning analysis of Stage II for MA fleet in anticipation of EPA WSU proposal • Requires analysis of: fleet characteristics; fleet turnover; % vacuum assist systems; use of an incompatibility “excess emission factor” • Looking at potential for Stage I enhancements (also part of OTC control measures review) • Evaluating Stage II decommissioning requirements

  6. EPA’s Partial Widespread Use Guidance • 2006 - EPA issued WSU guidance for rental car facilities • If rental facility certifies to the state that 95% of the vehicles refueling at its facility have ORVR, then WSU use is met • States are free to amend their Stage II regulations and SIPs to incorporate an exemption for rental car facilities • 2007 guidance – EPA extended policy to apply to other corporate/commercial fleets

  7. MassDEP Proposed Revisions to Stage II • Massport requesting an exemption from Stage II for new Logan Airport rental car facility • Consistent with EPA’s limited WSU guidance for fleets that can certify 95% of vehicles have ORVR • MassDEPexpects to propose regulation to exempt rental car, corporate/commercial fleets covered by EPA’s WSU guidance from Stage II • Reviewing potential for Stage I enhancements as a condition of exemption • Looking at decommissioning requirements for existing facilities

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