Gov. Tom Corbett Friday ceremonially signed Senate Bill 1037 (Vogel-R-Beaver)-- Act 50 of 2014-- which will help lower gas prices for consumers in a seven-county greater Pittsburgh area eventually when the requirement for 7.8 RVP summer gasoline is eliminated.

“This bill works to build a stronger Pennsylvania by creating a level playing field when it comes to gas prices for our consumers,” Gov. Corbett said. “By eliminating the requirement that companies must sell a special, more expensive blend of gas during the summer months, we will lift a significant burden on the budgets of working families in seven counties and will continue to make this great region more competitive.”

Senate Bill 1037, sponsored by Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver), begins the process to eliminate the mandate that gasoline sold between May 1 and September 15 in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties have a RVP (Reid Vapor Pressure) of 7.8 psi.

Gov. Corbett signed Senate Bill 1037 into law on May 14, after it passed both the Senate and House with overwhelming support.

"The RVP regulation is nothing more than a hidden tax that needlessly raises the cost of fuel for families and small businesses," Sen. Vogel said. "Motorists in a seven-county area of western Pennsylvania are forced to pay at least 10 to 15 cents more per gallon for gas than those in neighboring states and counties."

Senate Bill 1037 requires the Department of Environmental Protection to start the process for amending the State Air Quality Implementation Plan (SIP) within 60 days of the effective date of the act.

July 13 was the deadline for DEP to start the process, according to Act 50.  No specifics were offered at the press conference Friday on the actual steps DEP took or will take to meet this deadline.   DEP must have a public comment period and hold  public hearings on any SIP revision it proposes.

Once the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approves the amended SIP, which may take up to 18 months, the bill directs the Environmental Quality Board to adopt a regulation eliminating the low-RVP gasoline requirement in western Pennsylvania, which may take as long as two years.

“Since 1999, gasoline has become cleaner, and there are additional cost-effective measures that we will identify to make sure that our air quality is not adversely impacted,” DEP Secretary E. Christopher Abruzzo said. “DEP will work closely with EPA to implement this common-sense change in a manner that ensures the continued protection of air quality and the public’s health.”

Gov. Corbett was joined by Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-Beaver), Sen. Tim Solobay (D-Washington), Rep. Jim Marshall (R-Beaver), Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland), Beaver County Commissioner Dennis Nichols and local residents.

7/28/2014