Refueling Spillage Control for Small Off-Road Engines - June 12, 1998 Workshop

This page last reviewed October 8, 2008

June 12, 1998

Dear Sir or Madam:

Workshop - Refueling Spillage Control for Small Off-Road Engines

The California Air Resources Board staff will conduct a workshop August 6, 1998 to solicit public comments on a proposed control measure to reduce refueling spillage from small off-road engines. The proposed control measure would reduce hydrocarbon emissions from portable gasoline containers used for refueling small off-road engines through the use of a "spill-proof" container / nozzle system. This control measure is tentatively scheduled for consideration by the Air Resources Board at a public hearing in 1999. Notification of that public hearing will be sent separately 45 days prior to the hearing date.

The workshop is scheduled as follows:

	DATE:	August 6, 1998
	TIME:	9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
	PLACE:	Monitoring and Laboratory Division Northgate Laboratory 600 North Market Boulevard (at Northgate Blvd.) Sacramento, California 95834

A conservative statewide estimate of refueling container hydrocarbon emissions that can be controlled is approximately 15 tons per day. Portable fuel containers are used to refuel a broad range of off-road vehicles and equipment. These include equipment subject to the Air Resources Board's Tier 2 small off-road engine regulations as well as other vehicles exempt from those regulations, including but not limited to; off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, pleasure watercraft, and pre-empted construction and farm equipment. Due to the broad range of categories and their subsequent engine configurations, staff believes that the potential role of spillage control is best addressed as a control measure directed towards a "spill-proof" container / nozzle system. This would encompass all categories without the need to standardize engine configurations or make substantial modifications to existing equipment.

Hydrocarbon emissions associated with the use of portable refueling containers are generally losses from both spillage and vapor displacement. Staff have tentatively identified the following refueling events as significant:

1.	Container vapor displacement and refilling spillage when the portable container is filled at the gas pump.
2.	Container Spillage in Transport and Storage
3.	Container Diurnal and Breathing or Resting Losses
4.	Equipment Refueling Spillage
5.	Vapor displacement hen refueling equipment fuel tank.

Based on these events, staff is tentatively proposing the following specifications for a "spill-proof" refueling system:

1.	The system shall consist of a container and a nozzle with automatic shut-off to prevent overfilling of equipment fuel tank.
2.	The system shall remain completely closed when not in use to prevent spillage during transport and storage.
3.	The system shall remain sealed when the nozzle is attached and the container shall be vented only through the nozzle.
4.	The system shall recover equipment tank fuel vapors displaced during the refueling event.
5.	The system must provide a minimum fuel flow rate to satisfy the user.
6.	The container / nozzle shall be warranted for a period of one year against defects in material and workmanship.

The staff requests comments as to whether the above list is sufficient, feasible, and pacticable to ensure meaningful spillage control. The staff encourages industry and other interested parties to contact staff with any comments or questions and to provide written comments. The staff requests that comments be submitted as soon as practicable. Comments will be most useful if they arrive prior to July 31, 1998.

This facility is accessible to persons with disabilities. If accommodation is needed, please contact Elizabeth Mongar at
(916) 263-1630 or TDD (916) 324-9531 or (800) 700-8326 for TDD calls outside the Sacramento area by July 31, 1998.

Please call Elizabeth Mongar at (916) 263-1630 if you plan on attending so that we can assure adequate seating. If you have questions or need further information, please call Dean Bloudoff at (916) 263-2070 or Cindy Castronovo at (916) 263-1628.

	Sincerely,

	William V. Loscutoff, Chief Monitoring and Laboratory Division

Off-Road Refueling Spillage Control Regulations