When the gas pump nozzle clicks off automatically, do you add a little more gas to round off your dollar sale? Topping off your gas tank is bad for the environment and your wallet.

Air quality officials from the Mid-Atlantic States and EPA Region III have developed a web site to alert motorists to the environmental benefits and cost savings when you don’t top off your gasoline tank. Here are some of the reasons why:

Topping off the gas tank can result in your paying for gasoline that is fed back into the station's tanks because your gas tank is full;

Particularly in summer, you need extra room in your gas tank to allow the gasoline to expand;

Gasoline vapors are harmful to breathe; and

Topping off your gas tank may foul the station's vapor recovery system.

<> To learn more, visit http://www.epa.gov/donttopoff/ .

5/28/2004