Fuel Testing Methods Approved

摘要

Companies in the gasoline and diesel fuel production and distribution chains can now make use of 12 updated fuel testing procedures to meet EPA requirements. Beginning February 6, 2009, and absent objection to EPA's direct final rule, these test methods will supersede the corresponding earlier versions of the methods in the Agency's motor vehicle fuel regulations. Refiners, importers, and oxygenate blenders producing gasoline and diesel motor vehicle fuel are required to test reformulated gasoline (RFG), conventional gasoline (CG), and diesel fuel for various parameters, including aromatics, benzene, distillation, olefins, Reid Vapor Pressure, oxygenate content, and sulfur. Developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the updates to the analytical test methods and their alternatives will result in improved utilization of these methods, according to EPA. The Agency says the revisions of the test methods are not extensive enough to cause a user of an older version of the same method to incur significant new costs. All the revisions were deemed necessary by ASTM to ensure better method operation by the user.