SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1272

                     As of March 24, 1995

Title:  An act relating to gasoline vapor recovery at service stations and other dispensing facilities.

Brief Description:  Recovering gasoline vapors.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by Representatives Chandler, Mastin, Blanton, Johnson, Kremen, Sherstad, Elliot and Backlund).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ecology & Parks:  3/28/95.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Staff:  David Danner (786-7784)

Background:  Gasoline vapors are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which, when combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunshine, form ground level ozone. 

The federal standard for ozone is .12 parts per million.  Under the federal Clean Air Act, an area in which this standard is exceeded four or more times during any three-year period is designated a "non-attainment" area.  Washington has two areas, Puget Sound and Vancouver, that are in "marginal" non-attainment.  In the past two years, Puget Sound has exceeded the standard twice, and Vancouver once.

The Department of Ecology (DOE) estimates that gasoline vapor recovery devices on gasoline pumps represent about 20 percent of its overall VOC reduction strategy.  While federal law does not require such devices in marginal non-attainment areas, it does require that these areas develop a plan to ensure that the ozone threshold will not be exceeded for at least 20 years. 

DOE adopted rules requiring gasoline recovery devices be phased in over four years, 1994 to 1998, in western Washington service stations that pump more than a specified volume of gas per year.  The volume threshold is lower in non-attainment areas than in other areas.  DOE estimates that about 40 percent of service stations in Western Washington would be required to install vapor recovery devices.

In addition, the federal Environmental Protection Agency has adopted rules requiring car manufacturers to begin installing on-board canisters, devices which capture and condense gasoline vapors, on new cars beginning in 1998.  DOE estimates that on-board canisters will equal the reduction ability of vapor recovery devices at service stations by the year 2008.

Summary of Bill:  Gasoline vapor recovery devices may only be required at service stations supplying fuel to the general public that are located in a federally designated non-attainment area for ozone.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available on original bill; requested on substitute March 24, 1995.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.