EPA will extend winter gasoline transition to 20 May

The Environmental Protection Agency will extend a nationwide transition to summer grade gasoline in May to account for plunging demand failing to drain stockpiles.

EPA will waive requirements to distribute summer gasoline from terminals until 20 May, and could extend the requirement if circumstances require, the agency said today.

"By waiving the low volatility and blending limitations through 20 May, EPA will ensure a steady supply of gasoline," the agency said.

Summer specification gasoline is less prone to evaporation, which contributes to air pollution and can cause operational problems for older vehicles. State and federal regulations require fuels with a lower Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) to be sold between May and 15 September.

But efforts to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic, including orders to shelter at homes and the closure of many offices, has meant plummeting demand for gasoline. Without the expected driving to pull winter fuel from storage tanks, the industry risked having storage fill with fuel it could no longer sell.

Trade groups continued to work today to address similar state-level regulations, which must also be waived to fully address the holdover winter gasoline.

By Elliott Blackburn