SJUAPCD RULE 4622 TRANSFER OF GAS INTO VEHICLE FUEL TANKS
LAST REVISED 02/17/94

RULE 4622 - TRANSFER OF GASOLINE INTO VEHICLE FUEL TANKS

(Adopted May 21, 1992; Amended November 18, 1992; Amended December 17, 1992; Amended February 17, 1994)

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this rule is to limit emissions of gasoline vapors from the transfer of gasoline into vehicle fuel tanks.

2.0 Applicability

This rule applies to any gasoline storage and dispensing facility except as provided in Section 4.0.

3.0 Definitions

For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions shall apply:

3.1 Air Resources Board Certified Vapor Recovery System: a vapor recovery system which has been certified by the State Board pursuant to Section 41954 of the Health and Safety Code.



3.2 Gasoline: any organic liquid (including petroleum distillates and methanol) having a Reid vapor pressure of four (4) pounds per square inch or greater as determined by ASTM Test Method D 323-82, and used as a motor vehicle fuel or any fuel which is commonly or commercially known or sold as gasoline.



3.3 Gasoline Storage and Dispensing Facility: an aggregate of one or more stationary storage containers, any of which is subject to the provisions of Rule 4621 (Transfer of Gasoline into Stationary Storage Containers, Delivery Vessels, and Bulk Plants) and this rule together with dispensers and control equipment required by the rules.



3.4 Gasoline Vapors: the organic compounds in the displaced vapors including any entrained liquid gasoline.



3.5 Hold-Open Latch: the integral component of gasoline dispensing nozzle which permits the nozzle to remain open without a sustained effort on the part of the refueler.



3.6 Leak: the dripping of liquid volatile organic compounds at a rate of three or more drops per minute, or vapor volatile organic compounds in excess of 10,000 ppm as equivalent methane as determined by EPA Method 21.



3.7 Motor Vehicle: any self-propelled vehicle registered for use on the highways.



3.8 Retail Service Station: any new or existing motor vehicle fueling service station subject to payment of California sales tax on gasoline sales.



3.9 Topping Off: to attempt to dispense gasoline to a motor vehicle fuel tank after a vapor recovery dispensing nozzle has shut off automatically. The filling of a vehicle tank which can be filled only after the seal between the fill pipe and the nozzle is broken, due to the nature and configuration of the fill pipe which causes premature shut-off of the dispensing nozzle, shall not be considered topping off.

4.0 Exemptions

4.1 Except for the provisions of Section 6.1, this rule shall not apply to the transfer of gasoline into motor vehicle fuel tanks from any existing dispensing facility with an aggregate facility throughput of:



4.1.1 less than or equal to 24,000 gallons per calendar year; and



4.1.2 less than or equal to 10,000 gallons in any consecutive 30-day period.



4.2 An existing facility whose gasoline throughput exceeds the levels in sections 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 shall lose the exemption provided by this section.

5.0 Requirements

5.1 A person shall not transfer or permit the transfer of gasoline from a stationary storage container subject to the provisions of section 5.1 of Rule 4621 (Transfer of Gasoline into Stationary Storage Containers, Delivery Vessels, and Bulk Plants) into a motor vehicle fuel tank with a capacity of greater than 5 gallons unless the gasoline dispensing unit used to transfer the gasoline from the stationary storage container to the motor vehicle fuel tank is equipped with and has in operation an Air Resources Board certified vapor recovery system to recover or process displaced gasoline vapors at an efficiency of at least 95% by weight.



5.2 Any gasoline dispensing system subject to this rule shall comply with the provisions of this rule at the time of installation.



5.3 Notwithstanding any provisions of this rule, any gasoline dispensing facility which has installed and obtained a permit to operate an Air Resources Board certified vapor recovery system shall continue to use such system and shall maintain the system and all of its components in good repair in order that such system can continue to comply with the certification recovery efficiency. Any Air Resources Board certified gasoline vapor recovery system that has been installed shall not be removed regardless of the amount of gasoline dispensed or how the gasoline is delivered to the facility.



5.4 No person shall operate any Air Resources Board certified vapor recovery system or any portion thereof containing a defect listed in Section 94006 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, or a defect listed in this Section, until the defect has been repaired, replaced, or adjusted as necessary to correct the defect, and the District has reinspected the system or has authorized its use pending reinspection. Such authorization shall not include the authority to operate the equipment prior to the correction of the defective components. For the purposes of this rule, the following is a list of defects that substantially impair the effectiveness of gasoline vapor recovery systems in reducing refueling gasoline vapor emissions:



5.4.1 Absence or disconnection of any component that is required to be used in the ARB Executive Order(s) that certified the system.



5.4.2 A vapor hose that is crimped or flattened such that the vapor passage is blocked, or the pressure drop through the vapor hose exceeds by a factor of two or more the requirements in the system certified in the Executive Order(s) applicable to the system;



5.4.3 A nozzle boot which is torn in one or both of the following manners:



5.4.3.1 a triangular-shaped or similar tear more than 1/2 inch on a side, or a hole more than 1/2 inch in diameter, or

5.4.3.2 a slit 1 inch or more in length;



5.4.4 A faceplate or flexible cone on a balance nozzle that is damaged such that the ability to seal a fill pipe interface is affected for at least 1/4 of the circumference of the faceplate (accumulated);



5.4.5 More than 1/4 of the flexible cone missing from a nozzle on a vacuum-assist type system;



5.4.6 A nozzle shutoff mechanism that malfunctions in any manner;



5.4.7 Vapor return lines, including such components as swivels, anti-recirculation valves, and underground piping, that malfunction or are blocked, or are restricted such that the pressure drop through the line exceeds by a factor of two or more the requirements specified in the ARB Executive Order(s) that certified the system;



5.4.8 A vapor processing unit that is inoperative or malfunctioning;



5.4.9 A vacuum producing device that is inoperative or malfunctioning;



5.4.10 Pressure/vacuum relief valves, vapor check valves, or dry breaks that are inoperative; or



5.4.11 Any equipment defect that is identified in an ARB Executive Order certifying a system pursuant to the Certification Procedures incorporated in section 94001 of Title 17, California Administrative Code, as substantially impairing the effectiveness of the system in reducing refueling vapor emissions.



5.5 Upon identification of any of the defects described in Section 5.4, the owner or operator shall tag "Out-of-Order" all dispensing equipment for which vapor recovery has been impaired. The tagged equipment shall be rendered inoperable and the tag(s) shall not be removed until the defective equipment has been repaired, replaced, or adjusted, as necessary. In the case of defects identified by the District, tagged equipment shall be rendered inoperable, and the tag shall not be removed until the District has been notified of the repairs, and/or the District has inspected and authorized the tagged equipment for use.



5.6 All Air Resources Board certified vapor recovery systems and gasoline dispensing equipment shall be maintained to have no leaks as determined by EPA Test Method 21.



5.7 Gasoline dispensing equipment used to comply with the provisions of this rule shall comply with all applicable safety, fire, weights and measures, and other applicable codes and/or regulations.



5.8 No owner or operator of a retail service station shall operate or allow the operation of an Air Resources Board certified gasoline vapor recovery system unless operating instructions for the system are posted, noticeable and readable from any place from which gasoline may be dispensed from the facility. The instructions shall describe clearly how to fuel vehicles correctly using the station's dispensing nozzles, shall include a warning that topping off may result in spillage or recirculation of gasoline and is prohibited, and shall include prominently the District's or the Air Resources Board's toll-free telephone numbers, or both, and the information that such number or numbers can be used to register complaints regarding the operation of the vapor recovery system.



5.9 No person shall top off a motor vehicle fuel tank.



5.10 Each retail service station shall utilize hold-open latches on all gasoline dispensing nozzles. Following adoption of this Part, any gasoline dispensing nozzle which is installed, repaired, or replaced shall be equipped with a hold-open latch. The hold-open latch shall be installed on the gasoline dispensing nozzle by the original manufacturer of the nozzle, or if retrofitted, shall be installed using components and procedures approved by the nozzle manufacturer. The requirements of this provision shall not apply to affected facilities where the use of hold-open latches is prohibited by law or the local fire control authority.



5.11 No owner or operator shall tamper with, or permit tampering with, the system in a manner that would impair the operation or effectiveness of the system.

6.0 Administrative Requirements

6.1 Recordkeeping and Reporting



6.1.1 Each gasoline dispensing facility exempt under Section 4.0 shall maintain gasoline throughput records which will allow the gasoline throughput for any 30-day period to be continuously determined. These records shall be maintained on the premises as long as exempt status is claimed.



6.1.2 Any gasoline dispensing facility previously exempt under Section 4.0 whose gasoline throughput exceeds the exemption levels in Section 4.1 shall notify the District within 30 days.



6.1.3 Verification that each Air Resources Board certified vapor recovery system meets or exceeds the requirements of the tests specified in section 6.3 shall be maintained. These test results shall be dated and shall contain the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the companies responsible for system installation and testing.



6.2 Testing



Each facility subject to Section 5.1 shall be tested to determine proper installation and function of the entire system, including the infrastructure plumbing and aboveground equipment, not less than once every five years. Each Air Resources Board certified vapor recovery system tested during a calendar year before the applicable year specified by section 6.2.1 shall be tested within five years of the most recent test.



6.2.1 Each Air Resources Board certified vapor recovery system that has not been tested in accordance with the test methods in Section 6.3 shall be tested no later than December 31 of the year shown in the following table:

6.2.2 Each Air Resources Board certified vapor recovery system shall be tested within 60 days of installation or major modification. A major modification is considered to be replacing, repairing, or upgrading 75 percent or more of an Air Resources Board certified vapor recovery system.



6.2.3 Each gasoline dispensing facility shall notify the District at least 15 days prior to any compliance testing.



6.3 Test Methods



Tests shall be conducted in accordance with the following Bay Area Air Quality Management District Source Test Procedures or their equivalents as approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the APCO:



Bay Area Air Quality Management District Source Test Procedures:



ST-27, Dynamic Back-Pressure

ST-30, Static Leak Test Procedure-Underground Tanks

ST-38, Static Leak Test Procedure-Aboveground Vaulted Tanks

7.0 Compliance Schedule due to Loss of Exemption

Any person who becomes subject to the requirements of this rule through loss of exemption shall comply with the following increments of progress:

7.1 Within 30 days of loss of exemption from this rule, a complete application for an Authority to Construct must be submitted.



7.2 Construction and testing for compliance with this rule shall be completed within six (6) months from issuing date of Authority to Construct.