The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved waiving fuel requirements for several states, including Arkansas, to ensure adequate supplies of gasoline for states affected by Harvey.
The Arkansas Agriculture Department and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality sought relief last week on requirements for low-volatility conventional gasoline used in the summer. The Environmental Protection Agency granted waivers effective immediately that will continue through Friday.
The storm struck Texas on Aug. 25, flooding Houston and surrounding communities and affecting gas-producing companies along the Gulf Coast. Remnants of the system churned through Arkansas and Mississippi last week, carrying heavy rains and winds.
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia also asked for waivers.
The waiver eases regulations requiring the use of the low-volatility conventional gasoline.
"We appreciate the swift and collaborative action with both our state and federal partners to recognize and remove any unnecessary restrictions to fuel distribution in response to impacts caused by Hurricane Harvey," Becky Keogh, director of the Environmental Quality Department, said in a news release.
"We are pleased ... we are able to reach a common sense solution that will help to ensure the availability of fuel in Arkansas without negatively affecting fuel quality for our motorists," Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward added in the release.
Gasoline blend waivers are enforced by the state Bureau of Standards, though the Environmental Protection Agency grants waivers through requests made by state environmental agencies.
The Arkansas Bureau of Standards, a division of the state Plant Board, is the entity responsible for assuring standards in quality of gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, alcohol fuels, kerosene and petroleum products in commercial transactions in Arkansas.
State Desk on 09/09/2017