State Winter Oxygenated Fuel Program Requirements for Attainment or Maintenance of CO NAAQS
Oxygenates are fuel additives (alcohols and ethers) that contain oxygen which can boost gasoline's octane quality, enhance combustion, and reduce exhaust emissions. The term oxygenated gasoline most commonly refers to the wintertime program that reduces emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) from motor vehicles. Although required by the federal Clean Air Act, winter oxygenated gasoline programs are implemented by the states. This section provides information about oxygenated gasoline, winter oxygenated gasoline areas, oxygenates (such as ethanol and MTBE), and health effects testing of oxygenates.
Contact: Kurt Gustafson at gustafson.kurt@epa.gov or 202-343-9219
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Guidance and Background Documents
- State Winter Oxygenated Fuel Program Requirements for Attainment or Maintenance of CO NAAQS (PDF) (6 pp, 82K, EPA420-B-08-006, January 2008)
List of locations with winter oxy fuel programs.
Contact: Kurt Gustafson at gustafson.kurt@epa.gov or 202-343-9219 - Oxygenate Market Share/Oxygen Survey information (PDF) (18 pp, 173K)
Contact: Jaimee Dong at dong.jamiee@epa.gov or 202-343-9672 - Report: Interagency
Assessment of Oxygenated Fuels. (July 2, 1997)
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has released its final report on EPA's winter oxygenated fuels program. The report is entitled "Interagency Assessment of Oxygenated Fuels" and considers health effects, air quality, fuel economy and engine performance, and ground water and drinking water quality issues.- Executive Summary (PDF) (10 pp, 132K)
- Introduction & Contents (PDF) (23 pp, 700K)
- Chapter 1: Air Quality Effects (PDF) (57 pp, 800K)
- Chapter 2: Fuel Oxygenates and Water Quality (PDF) (122 pp, 1.7M)
- Chapter 3: Fuel Economy and Engine Performance Issues (PDF) (19 pp, 400K)
- Chapter 4: Potential Health Effects of Oxygenated Gasoline (PDF) (43 pp, 700K)
- The entire OSTP Report (PDF) (264 pp, 4M)
- Report: Regression Modeling of Oxyfuel Effects on Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) Concentration (PDF) (27 pp, 103K, April 29, 1997) The Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) recently received a copy of a final report entitled "Regression Modeling of Oxyfuel Effects on Ambient CO Concentration". This report was prepared for the Renewable Fuels and Oxygenated Fuels Associations by Systems Applications International. OTAQ strives to make available any new information pertaining to fuels and fuel-related programs. The Office of Transportation and Air Quality understands that this report has undergone peer review and, thus, this might not be the final version.
Contact: Rich Cook at cook.rich@epa.gov or 734-214-4827 - Memo: Water Phase Separation in Oxygenated Gasolines (PDF) (6 pp, 15K, Feb. 27, 1996)
Contact: Dave Korotney at korotney.david@epa.gov or 734-214-4507 - Oxyfuels Information Needs - May 1996 Office of Research & Development (ORD) report This report discusses information that would improve scientific understanding of the impacts of these fuels on the environment and public health.
Contact: Joe Sopata at sopata.joe@epa.gov or 202-343-9034.
Requirements
- Alternative Tier 2 Health Effects Testing Requirements for
Baseline Gasoline and Non-baseline (oxygenated) Gasoline groups
under Section 211(b) of the CAA. Letter to the American
Petroleum Institute (API) Test Group Consortium. Examples
of oxygenated gasoline groups include methyl tertiary butyl ether
(MTBE), ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE), alcohols. Reports for the testing requirements have been submitted to EPA. These reports can be found in the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) identified by docket number EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0065.
Contact: Joe Sopata at sopata.joe@epa.gov or 202-343-9034. - Final Notification (PDF) (62 pp, 226K, Nov. 2, 1998)
- Extension of Comment Period (Nov. 12, 1997)
- Notification (PDF) (35 pp, 98K, Aug. 20, 1997)
Related links
- MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether). This home page provides information on this commonly used oxygenate in reformulated gasoline (and at one time commonly used in winter oxygenated gasoline). Also see the Agency's MTBE home page.
- Blue Ribbon Panel on Oxygenate Use in Gasoline. The Blue Ribbon Panel was created by a Charter from the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC) to provide independent advice and counsel to EPA on policy issues associated with the use of MTBE and other oxygenates in gasoline.