Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Gasoline Volatility (40 CFR 80.27)

Gasoline volatility, as measured by Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), is controlled during the summer ozone season to minimize evaporative emissions from motor vehicles to reduce smog. RVP is subject to a standard of 7.8 psi or 9.0 psi, depending on location. Gasoline that contains 9-10% ethanol has a waiver that allows an additional 1.0 psi. As an aid to industry compliance and EPA enforcement, the product transfer document for a shipment of gasoline with ethanol is required by regulation to state the percentage concentration of ethanol. This is intended to deter mixing within the distribution system, particularly retail storage tanks, of gasoline with ethanol and gasoline without ethanol. Such mixing would likely result in a gasoline that would have less than 9% ethanol and would liklely violate the volatility standard. Also, a party seeking a testing exemption to conduct research on gasoline that is not in compliance with the volatility standard must submit certain information to EPA in a format of its choosing.

The latest form for Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Gasoline Volatility (40 CFR 80.27) expires 2021-01-31 and can be found here.

Product Transfer Document (PTD) Requirements

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