Washington, D.C. –
November 9, 2026 – Today, members of
the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s
Subcommittee on Environment sent a
letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin
urging the Agency to finalize a harmonized
annual cargo tank vapor tightness certification
standard of 1.0 to 2.5 inches of water pressure
drop over a five-minute period and to exercise
enforcement discretion while reconsideration of
the 2024 gasoline distribution rules continues.
In the letter, the lawmakers commended EPA
for reconsidering the burdensome aspects of the
air quality standards applicable to gasoline
distribution facilities under the National
Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
(NESHAP) and New Source Performance Standards
(NSPS) programs, particularly the annual cargo
tank vapor tightness certification requirements.
They urged EPA, as part of its ongoing
rulemaking, to harmonize these requirements
across the relevant Clean Air Act programs at
the 1.0 to 2.5-inch level.
The members
noted that discussions with small-business
owners in their respective states highlighted
the technical challenges and costly operational
changes required to comply with the current
0.5-inch threshold established by the 2024 rule.
When certification becomes harder to achieve,
more time-consuming, and more expensive, the
consequences are not limited to the cargo tank
operator—they ripple through the entire fuel
supply chain, affecting the availability and
cost of gasoline delivered to retail stations,
businesses, and consumers across the country.
“At a time when energy security and supply
chain resilience are national priorities,
regulatory requirements governing the movement
of motor fuels should be grounded in
demonstrated technical feasibility and
cost-effectiveness,” the lawmakers wrote. “For
these reasons, we urge EPA to finalize the
proposed rule with a harmonized 1.0 to 2.5-inch
standard as a more workable and reliable
approach. Importantly, we urge the Agency to
exercise enforcement discretion and consider
delaying the current compliance deadlines while
its reconsideration rulemaking proceeds. After
all, requiring compliance with a certification
requirement that is under active reconsideration
through a proposed rulemaking risks imposing
unnecessary burdens on fuel marketers at a
sensitive time for gasoline prices.”
The
lawmakers recognized EPA’s ongoing commitment to
its mission and expressed appreciation for the
Agency’s reconsideration of the 2024 rule for
the annual cargo tank vapor tightness
certification requirements.
“EMA thanks
the House Subcommittee on Environment members,
especially Chairman Gary Palmer (R-AL), for
elevating the real-world impacts of the 2024
cargo tank vapor tightness requirements on
America’s small-business fuel marketers,” said
Rob Underwood, President of the Energy Marketers
of America. “A harmonized 1.0 to 2.5-inch
standard is a practical, achievable approach
that protects air quality while safeguarding the
reliability and affordability of the nation’s
gasoline supply. We urge EPA to finalize the
proposal promptly and provide enforcement
discretion during the rulemaking process.” |
