Emergency Waiver of Reid Vapor Pressure Requirements in Virginia

Purpose:

The purpose of this order is to provide a waiver to the ASTM Reid Vapor Pressure specifications for ethanol blended gasoline due to an emergency situation involving the Colonial Pipeline.

Background:

On September 16, 2016, Governor Terence R. McAuliffe declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth of Virginia as a measure for uninterrupted gasoline distribution following an incident in Alabama requiring Colonial Pipeline to shut down its Pipeline 1, which routes gasoline to the East Coast.  In Executive Order 59, Governor McAuliffe, pursuant to his authority under § 44-146.17 of the Code of Virginia, authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to grant a temporary waiver of the maximum vapor pressure requirement prescribed in emergency regulation 2 VAC 5-425 et seq., Vapor Pressure Requirements for Gasoline Ethanol Blends, and to prescribe a vapor pressure limit it deems reasonable.  Executive Order 59 provides that the temporary waiver shall remain in effect until October 1, 2016, or until emergency relief is no longer necessary as determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

Definitions:

"Volatility class C" means fuel with a vapor pressure and distillation designation of "C" set forth in Table 1 Vapor Pressure and Distillation Class Requirements of ASTM D4814-16d.

"Volatility class D" means fuel with a vapor pressure and distillation designation of "D" set forth in Table 1 Vapor Pressure and Distillation Class Requirements of ASTM D4814-16d.

Required vapor pressure limits for September 16 - 30, 2016:

Pursuant to the authority granted in Executive Order 59, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services waives the vapor pressure limit for gasoline ethanol blends prescribed by reference to ASTM D4814-16d in emergency regulation 2 VAC 5-425 et seq., Vapor Pressure Requirements for Gasoline Ethanol Blends, for the period of September 16 through September 30, 2016.

For the period of September 16 through September 30, 2016, when gasoline is blended with ethanol, the blend’s maximum vapor pressure shall not exceed the ASTM D4814-16d limits for volatility class C or volatility class D. 

By Order of:

Sandra Adams, Commissioner

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services