Regulation of Fuel and Fuel Additives: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Test Methods

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to allow refiners and laboratories to use more current and improved fuel testing procedures for five American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) analytical test methods. Once these test method changes are adopted, they will supersede the corresponding earlier versions of these test methods in EPA's motor vehicle fuel regulations. EPA is also taking direct final action to change the designated test method for sulfur in butane. EPA will take direct final action to replace an approved ASTM Committee D.16 sulfur test method with the ASTM Committee D.02 version of the test method for gasoline and diesel fuel, and allow an additional ASTM test method for sulfur in gasoline. EPA is also taking direct final action to remove a September 1, 2004 sunset provision for two alternative ASTM test methods for gasoline. Finally, EPA is taking direct final action to add a new section to the motor vehicle fuels regulations. This new section would reference the rounding method in an ASTM standard practice as the procedure to follow for rounding a test result when determining compliance with EPA's motor vehicle fuels standards listed in the regulations. As explained further below in the preamble of this document, EPA views these changes as non- controversial and we anticipate no adverse comment.