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Bill106th CongressFiled Jul 27, 2000Environmental Protection
S. 2962

Federal Reformulated Fuels Act of 2000

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What it doesSummary reported to senate with amendment(s) (Sep 28, 2000)

Federal Reformulated Fuels Act of 2000 - Amends the Clean Air Act (CAA) to authorize a State Governor, upon notification to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the 90-day period beginning on this Act's enactment date, or during the 90-day period beginning on the date an area in the State becomes a covered area as a result of reclassification as a Severe ozone nonattainment area, to waive oxygen content requirements for reformulated gasoline sold or dispensed in the State. Considers gasoline that complies with all other requirements for reformulated gasoline other than those regarding oxygen content to be reformulated gasoline.

Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations to ensure that reductions of toxic air pollutant emissions and aromatic hydrocarbon content achieved under the reformulated gasoline program before this Act's enactment are maintained in States for which the oxygenate requirement is waived or to apply a specified alternative performance standard to reformulated gasoline sold in such States.

(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Administrator to control the sale or introduction into commerce of any fuel or fuel additive that causes or contributes to air or water pollution that may be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. Permits States not subject to a prohibition on enforcement of certain State emission control standards to prescribe such control on fuel or fuel additives for water quality protection purposes.

Requires the Administrator to ban the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in gasoline. Authorizes the Administrator to establish a schedule to phase out the use of MTBE preceding such ban.

(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Administrator to approve a revision of a State implementation plan that excludes an area from a waiver from Reid vapor pressure requirements provided for ethanol if: (1) the State demonstrates that increases in volatile organic compound emissions resulting from the waiver significantly interfere with attainment or maintenance of the national ambient air quality standard for ozone; and (2) the Administrator determines the exclusion to be reasonable and practicable.

(Sec. 5) Directs (currently, authorizes) the Administrator, for purposes of registration of fuels or fuel additives and on a regular basis, to require manufacturers of such fuels or additives to conduct tests to determine potential public health and environmental effects (currently, public health effects) of the fuel or additive and to meet other existing requirements.

(Sec. 6) Requires motor vehicle fuel sold in the United States in 2008 and thereafter to be comprised (on a six-month average basis) of a specified percentage of clean alternative fuel. Phases in such percentage requirement, to require motor vehicle fuel to contain 1.5 percent clean alternative fuel in 2011 and thereafter.

Requires all motor vehicle fuel sold in the United States during 2002 through 2007 to contain, on a six-month average basis, a specified percentage of renewable fuel. Phases in the percentage requirement, to require fuel to contain 1.1 percent renewable fuel by 2007.

Authorizes credit trading programs to permit persons who refine, blend, or import motor vehicle fuel with more than the required clean alternative or renewable fuel content or who manufacture certain energy-efficient vehicles to use or transfer such credits to others for compliance purposes. Permits the use of the vehicle manufacturer credits to provide any portion of the non-Federal share required for an alternative fuel project under Federal-aid highway provisions regarding the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program or a voluntary supply commitment under the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

Provides for a temporary waiver of this section's requirements upon State petition if: (1) implementation would severely harm the economy or environment of a State, region, or the United States; or (2) there is an inadequate domestic supply or distribution capacity to meet such requirements. Authorizes exemptions from such requirements for small refiners.

Makes violators of this section subject to civil penalties under the CAA.

(Sec. 7) Authorizes the Administrator to approve State implementation plan revisions that apply a prohibition on the sale of conventional gasoline in covered areas (areas requiring the use of reformulated gasoline) to a nonclassified area.

(Sec. 8) Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the EPA Administrator and States to use funds from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund to: (1) carry out corrective actions with respect to a release of MTBE that presents a risk to human health or welfare or the environment; and (2) conduct inspections, issue orders, or bring actions under the underground storage tank regulation program. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 9) Directs the Administrator to publish analyses of: (1) the changes in emissions of air pollutants and air quality due to the use of motor vehicle fuel and fuel additives resulting from the implementation of this Act; and (2) the effects of motor vehicle fuel and fuel additives on public health and the environment.

Requires the Administrator to publish regulations establishing performance requirements to ensure that, as compared with emissions due to the use of motor vehicle fuel and fuel additives during the period of 1998 through 2000, emissions due to the use of such fuel and additives will not be significantly greater on a per-gallon average basis in any region or cause air quality to be significantly worse in any region.

Directs the Administrator to publish regulations establishing performance requirements for such fuel and additives, the use of such fuel and additives, and motor vehicles that are necessary to ensure adequate public health and environmental protection and to achieve specific reductions in the use of compounds or associated emission products that pose the greatest human health risk.

Requires the Administrator to finalize an emissions model that reflects the effects of fuel characteristics or components on emissions from vehicles in the motor vehicle fleet during 2005.

What just happenedSep 28, 2000

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 845.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Smith, Bob [R-NH](R-NH)Sponsor
1 cosponsor1 R
Read on Congress.gov
1cosponsors1committees7actions1amendments44subjects
  1. Sep 28, 2000Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 845.

  2. Sep 28, 2000Committee

    Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Smith, of NH with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 106-426. Additional and Minority views filed.

    Environment and Public Works Committee
  3. Sep 28, 2000Committee14000

    Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Smith, of NH with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 106-426. Additional and Minority views filed.

    Environment and Public Works Committee
  4. Sep 7, 2000Committee

    Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Environment and Public Works Committee
  5. Jul 27, 2000IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7853-7855)

    Environment and Public Works Committee
  6. Jul 27, 2000IntroReferralB00100

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7850-7853)

  7. Jul 27, 2000IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Reported to Senate with amendment(s)Sep 28, 200001
Federal Reformulated Fuels Act of 2000 - Amends the Clean Air Act (CAA) to authorize a State Governor, upon notification to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the 90-day period beginning on this Act's enactment date, or during the 90-day period beginning on the date an area in the State becomes a covered area as a result of reclassification as a Severe ozone nonattainment area, to waive oxygen content requirements for reformulated gasoline sold or dispensed in the State. Considers gasoline that complies with all other requirements for reformulated gasoline other than those regarding oxygen content to be reformulated gasoline.

Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations to ensure that reductions of toxic air pollutant emissions and aromatic hydrocarbon content achieved under the reformulated gasoline program before this Act's enactment are maintained in States for which the oxygenate requirement is waived or to apply a specified alternative performance standard to reformulated gasoline sold in such States.

(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Administrator to control the sale or introduction into commerce of any fuel or fuel additive that causes or contributes to air or water pollution that may be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. Permits States not subject to a prohibition on enforcement of certain State emission control standards to prescribe such control on fuel or fuel additives for water quality protection purposes.

Requires the Administrator to ban the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in gasoline. Authorizes the Administrator to establish a schedule to phase out the use of MTBE preceding such ban.

(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Administrator to approve a revision of a State implementation plan that excludes an area from a waiver from Reid vapor pressure requirements provided for ethanol if: (1) the State demonstrates that increases in volatile organic compound emissions resulting from the waiver significantly interfere with attainment or maintenance of the national ambient air quality standard for ozone; and (2) the Administrator determines the exclusion to be reasonable and practicable.

(Sec. 5) Directs (currently, authorizes) the Administrator, for purposes of registration of fuels or fuel additives and on a regular basis, to require manufacturers of such fuels or additives to conduct tests to determine potential public health and environmental effects (currently, public health effects) of the fuel or additive and to meet other existing requirements.

(Sec. 6) Requires motor vehicle fuel sold in the United States in 2008 and thereafter to be comprised (on a six-month average basis) of a specified percentage of clean alternative fuel. Phases in such percentage requirement, to require motor vehicle fuel to contain 1.5 percent clean alternative fuel in 2011 and thereafter.

Requires all motor vehicle fuel sold in the United States during 2002 through 2007 to contain, on a six-month average basis, a specified percentage of renewable fuel. Phases in the percentage requirement, to require fuel to contain 1.1 percent renewable fuel by 2007.

Authorizes credit trading programs to permit persons who refine, blend, or import motor vehicle fuel with more than the required clean alternative or renewable fuel content or who manufacture certain energy-efficient vehicles to use or transfer such credits to others for compliance purposes. Permits the use of the vehicle manufacturer credits to provide any portion of the non-Federal share required for an alternative fuel project under Federal-aid highway provisions regarding the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program or a voluntary supply commitment under the Energy Policy Act of 1992.

Provides for a temporary waiver of this section's requirements upon State petition if: (1) implementation would severely harm the economy or environment of a State, region, or the United States; or (2) there is an inadequate domestic supply or distribution capacity to meet such requirements. Authorizes exemptions from such requirements for small refiners.

Makes violators of this section subject to civil penalties under the CAA.

(Sec. 7) Authorizes the Administrator to approve State implementation plan revisions that apply a prohibition on the sale of conventional gasoline in covered areas (areas requiring the use of reformulated gasoline) to a nonclassified area.

(Sec. 8) Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the EPA Administrator and States to use funds from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund to: (1) carry out corrective actions with respect to a release of MTBE that presents a risk to human health or welfare or the environment; and (2) conduct inspections, issue orders, or bring actions under the underground storage tank regulation program. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 9) Directs the Administrator to publish analyses of: (1) the changes in emissions of air pollutants and air quality due to the use of motor vehicle fuel and fuel additives resulting from the implementation of this Act; and (2) the effects of motor vehicle fuel and fuel additives on public health and the environment.

Requires the Administrator to publish regulations establishing performance requirements to ensure that, as compared with emissions due to the use of motor vehicle fuel and fuel additives during the period of 1998 through 2000, emissions due to the use of such fuel and additives will not be significantly greater on a per-gallon average basis in any region or cause air quality to be significantly worse in any region.

Directs the Administrator to publish regulations establishing performance requirements for such fuel and additives, the use of such fuel and additives, and motor vehicles that are necessary to ensure adequate public health and environmental protection and to achieve specific reductions in the use of compounds or associated emission products that pose the greatest human health risk.

Requires the Administrator to finalize an emissions model that reflects the effects of fuel characteristics or components on emissions from vehicles in the motor vehicle fleet during 2005.

Introduced in SenateJul 27, 200000
Federal Reformulated Fuels Act of 2000 - Amends the Clean Air Act (CAA) to authorize a State Governor, upon notification to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the 90-day period beginning on this Act's enactment date, to waive oxygen content requirements for reformulated gasoline sold or dispensed in the State. Considers gasoline that complies with all other requirements for reformulated gasoline other than those regarding oxygen content to be reformulated gasoline.

Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations to ensure that reductions of toxic air pollutant emissions achieved under the reformulated gasoline program before this Act's enactment are maintained in States for which the oxygenate requirement is waived or to apply a specified alternative performance standard to reformulated gasoline sold in such States.

(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Administrator to control the sale or introduction into commerce of any fuel or fuel additive that causes or contributes to air or water pollution that may be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. Permits States not subject to a prohibition on enforcement of certain State emission control standards to prescribe such control on fuel or fuel additives for water quality protection purposes.

Requires the Administrator to ban the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in gasoline unless the use of MTBE is determined to pose no substantial risk to water or air quality or human health. Authorizes the Administrator to establish a schedule to phase out the use of MTBE preceding such ban.

Prohibits (if the Administrator makes the determination described above), for the fourth calendar year after this Act's enactment date and thereafter, the quantity of gasoline sold or introduced into commerce by a gasoline refiner, blender, or importer from containing on average more than one percent by volume MTBE and bars such individuals from selling or introducing into commerce any gasoline that contains more than a specified percentage by volume of MTBE as determined by the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate regulations to provide for an MTBE credit trading program to authorize persons who refine, blend, or import gasoline with less than the maximum MTBE content to use or transfer such credits to others for compliance purposes. Requires such regulations to ensure that the total quantity of gasoline sold or introduced into commerce during any calendar year by all such individuals contains on average not more than one percent MTBE. Provides for a temporary waiver of such limitations if there is an insufficient domestic capacity to produce or import gasoline. Authorizes a State to make such waiver inapplicable to any area with respect to which the State has exercised authority to limit the sale or use of MTBE.

Permits States to petition the Administrator to eliminate the use of MTBE in gasoline in the State in order to protect air or water quality or human health.

(Sec. 4) Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations concerning the use of conventional gasoline to eliminate any increase in emissions of criteria air pollutants that may have resulted during 2005 and 2006 over the amount of such emissions during 1998 through 1999. Makes such regulations inapplicable to certain States that adopted emissions control standards before March 30, 1966.

Eliminates a specified waiver for ethanol under provisions governing Reid vapor pressure limitations on gasoline.

(Sec. 5) Directs (currently, authorizes) the Administrator, for purposes of registration of fuels or fuel additives and on a regular basis, to require manufacturers of such fuels or additives to conduct tests to determine potential public health and environmental effects (currently, public health effects) of the fuel or additive and to meet other existing requirements.

(Sec. 6) Requires the Administrator to report to Congress every five years on: (1) reductions in emissions of criteria air pollutants, precursors of those pollutants, toxic air pollutants, and greenhouse gases that result from implementation of CAA provisions regarding regulation of fuels; and (2) regulatory options to achieve reductions in the risk to public health and the environment posed by fuels and fuel additives and recommendations for statutory changes necessary to implement such options.

(Sec. 7) Authorizes the Administrator to approve State implementation plan revisions that apply a prohibition on the sale of conventional gasoline in covered areas (areas requiring the use of reformulated gasoline) to a nonclassified area.

(Sec. 8) Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the EPA Administrator and States to use funds from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund to carry out corrective actions with respect to a release of MTBE that presents a risk to human health or welfare or the environment. Authorizes appropriations.

Permits the Administrator or a State to use funds appropriated from the Trust Fund for: (1) necessary expenses directly related to the implementation of provisions regarding the response program for petroleum; (2) enforcement regarding underground storage tanks; and (3) inspection of such tanks. Authorizes appropriations.