PA-IRRC Approves Final Regulations On Decommissioning Stage II Vapor Controls
On January 26, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission unanimously approved final Environmental Quality Board regulations establishing the process for decommissioning Stage II VOC emission controls at service stations.
The DEP regulation applies to the five-county Philadelphia area– Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties– and the seven- county Pittsburgh area– Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
The regulation allows owners and operators of gasoline dispensing facilities (GDFs) to remove or decommission all Stage II vapor recovery equipment and requires the removal or decommissioning of a certain type of Stage II equipment.
Decommissioning Stage II vapor recovery equipment will eliminate incompatibility with onboard refueling vapor recovery systems and reduce emissions. It retains the requirement to perform two types of annual vapor leak tests.
The proposed regulation would require the installation of ECO nozzles and outlines the procedure for the decommissioning process.
Click Here for a copy of the regulation and supporting information.
The regulation needs the approval of the Attorney General, and upon that action will become final with its publication of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
PPA has requested further guidance documents from DEP-and will communicate that to members upon receipt.
