Approval of Colorado's Petition To Relax the Federal Gasoline Reid Vapor Pressure Volatility Standard for 2001

The Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA" or "the Agency") is taking direct final action approving the State of Colorado's June 23, 2000, petition to relax the federal Reid Vapor Pressure ("RVP") gasoline standard that applies to gasoline introduced into commerce in the Denver/Boulder area from June 1 to September 15 (the ozone control season). By this action, the RVP standard will be relaxed from 7.8 pounds per square inch ("psi") to 9.0 psi for the 2001 ozone control season. The Agency does not believe that this action will cause environmental harm to the Denver/Boulder area. The area has been in compliance with the ozone standard since 1987. The area's gasoline has been subject to a 9.0 psi RVP standard since 1992 because EPA has approved relaxations of Denver/Boulder's RVP standard from 7.8 psi to 9.0 psi for the past eight years.