Approval of Colorado's Petition To Relax the Federal Gasoline Reid Vapor Pressure Volatility Standard for 1996 and 1997

The Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'' or the ``Agency'') is issuing as a direct final rule its limited approval of the State of Colorado's petition to relax the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standard that applies to gasoline introduced into commerce in the Denver-Boulder ozone nonattainment area from June 1 to September 15. The standard is to be relaxed from 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) to 9.0 psi for the years 1996 and 1997. Pursuant to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, Federal RVP standards were promulgated by EPA on June 11, 1990 and revised on December 12, 1991. Colorado's petition is based on evidence that the Denver-Boulder area does not need the 7.8 psi standard to maintain ozone attainment in the near term and that the 7.8 psi standard would impose significant costs on industry and consumers. Colorado's petition requests a continuation of previous relaxations of the RVP standard. Prior to today's action, EPA has approved relaxations for the past four years, from 1992 through 1995. This action is being taken without prior notice because EPA believes that this rulemaking is noncontroversial due to the limited scope of this rulemaking, Colorado's continued attainment of the ozone standard and for the reasons discussed in this document.