The agenda for the October 18 Environmental Quality Board meeting includes the proposed repeal of the low-RVP gasoline requirement in the 7-county Pittsburgh Region and a proposed update of Radiological Health regulations.

Also on the agenda for consideration is a rulemaking petition to upgrade the stream classification of Whetstone Run in Delaware County.

DEP adopted the low-RVP gasoline requirement just for the Pittsburgh region in 1998-- 18 years ago.  The region includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. 

Since its adoption, advances in vehicle emission control technology and vehicle fleet turnover to newer vehicles resulted in the low-RVP gasoline requirement yielding little volatile organic compound emission reduction benefit.

However, because a unique fuel blend was required for the region, typically gasoline prices in the Pittsburgh area are 10 to 15 cents more per gallon than in areas immediately outside the region.

Both DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee and the Citizens Advisory Council voted to recommend DEP consider the regulation for adoption.

The meeting will be held in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg starting at 9:00 a.m.

For more information and available handouts, visit the Environmental Quality Board webpage.  Questions should be directed to Laura Edinger by calling 717-772-3277 or sending email to: edinger@pa.gov.

10/10/2016