EPA Will Move To Increase Price of Gasoline to Be More in Line With European Pricing

This was reported last Friday: EPA will move to increase the price of gasoline to make it more in line with Europe and South Korea. Oil & Gas Journal is reporting:

US refiners would need to lower the sulfur content of gasoline to levels in place in Europe and elsewhere under a Mar. 29 proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency aimed at aligning federal regulations with those in effect in California.

The agency’s Tier 3 regulations call for a reduction in gasoline sulfur content to 10 ppm from a present average of 30 ppm. They also call for cuts in vehicle tailpipe and evaporative emissions in a package EPA said would move federal requirements toward strict standards in effect in California.

The proposed sulfur limit matches that of “Euro 5” gasoline in Europe. Comparable standards are in effect in Japan, South Korea, and several other countries, as well as in California. EPA said its Tier 3 proposal “is harmonized with the California Air Resources Board Low Emission Vehicle program so automakers could sell the same vehicles in all 50 states.”

In earlier reporting, it was estimated this would add only 9 cents/gallon and it would be passed on to the consumer.