Vapor Recovery Systems

Since 2001, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted a number of significant enhancements to gasoline dispensing facilities' (GDFs') vapor recovery systems.  These efforts are necessary to ensure the continued effective operation of the vapor recovery systems during the transfer and dispensing of gasoline at these facilities.

As the regional air pollution control agency responsible for permitting and enforcement activities related to GDFs, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has prepared a number of Compliance Advisories to provide guidance to GDFs attempting to comply with these new requirements. Regulatory requirements you should be aware of include:

Enhanced Vapor Recovery (EVR)

Vapor recovery systems collect gasoline vapors that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere during fuel delivery to the underground storage tanks (Phase I) or fuel storage and vehicle fueling (Phase II). The Enhanced Vapor Recovery (EVR) regulations became state law on April 1, 2001. These regulations provide more stringent requirements for vapor recovery systems in order to reduce gasoline vapor emissions. The EVR program is being phased-in according to the CARB EVR timeline.  

• Phase I EVR for Gasoline Underground Storage Tanks (UST)
  As of April 1, 2005, all GDFs were required to be equipped with Phase I EVR systems for their UST. As of this date, all existing non-EVR Phase I systems were decertified for use by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and any GDF operating without the upgraded EVR system is in non-compliance with State regulations and South Coast AQMD Rule 461 requirements.

• Phase II EVR for Gasoline UST
  Phase II EVR systems are certified to several new standards, including ORVR compatibility, more stringent spillage and “dripless nozzle” requirements, In-station diagnostics and storage tank pressure limits. GDFs with underground storage tanks must upgrade to Phase II EVR by April 1, 2009.

• In-Station Diagnostics (ISD)
  ISD detects potential failures automatically, notifies the station operator, and is designed to reduce emissions by early detection and prompt repair. ISD must be installed in GDFs with an annual throughput of more than 1.8 million gallons by September 1, 2009. The deadline for GDFs with annual throughputs of 600,000- 1.8 million gallons, to install ISD is September 2010. ISD monitors the performance of the vapor recovery systems and triggers warnings for alarms to indicate potential failures. If corrective action is not taken, ISD may eventually shut down fuel dispensing.  For information about all current and upcoming EVR regulations, refer to CARB's EVR Implementation Update.

• EVR for Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST)
  ARB adopted Enhanced Vapor Recovery (EVR) standards for vapor recovery systems using Aboveground Gasoline Storage Tanks (AST)on May 2, 2008.  The standards included Standing Loss Control, Phase I and Phase II vapor recovery systems, and components used at Gasoline Dispensing Facilities (GDF). At the same time, Test Procedures TP-206.1, TP-206.2, and TP-206.3 were certified in regards to determining compliance with AST EVR system performance standards.  Compliance schedule for AST EVR as of July 2014 can be viewed here.

Archives:

• Advisory 04-18 to Owners/Operators of Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST) with Remote Dispensing Configurations (PDF, 727KB)  

• Presentation made during the November 2013 Informational Sessions regarding Enhanced Vapor Recovery for Aboveground Storage Tanks at Gasoline Dispensing Facilities.  Click here to down load the file. (PDF, 10.9MB)

• Advisory 03-13 to Operators of Gasoline Dispensing Facilities with Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST) (PDF, 3.4MB)

• Advisory 02-13 to Operators of Gasoline Aboveground Storage Tanks (PDF, 2.8MB)

• Advisory 01-13 Submittal of Monthly Throughput Data in Calendar Year 2012 (PDF, 1.4MB)

• Advisory 02-12 Special Notice to Operators of Gasoline Dispensing Facility Equipped with In-Station Diagnostic (ISD) Systems (PDF, 0.1MB)

• Requirements for Responding to In-Station Diagnostic (ISD) System Alarms (405-D) (PDF, 0.5MB)

• Advisory 01-12 to Gasoline Dispensing Facility Testing Contractor (PDF, 0.1MB)

• Advisory 01-10 Gasoline Dispensing Operations Required to meet September 1, 2010 Deadline for In-Station Diagnostic (ISD) Requirements (PDF, 0.2MB)

• Advisory 02-09 New Certification Requirements for Testing and Repair of Gasoline Vapor Recovery Systems (PDF, 0.2MB)

• Advisory 01-09 Gasoline Dispensing Operations Required to meet April 1, 2009 Deadline for Phase II Enhancement Vapor Recovery Equipment (PDF)

  • List of Gasoline Dispensing Facilities Mailed an Advisory 01-09 (PDF)

  • List of Gasoline Dispensing Facilities Requesting, Scheduled for, or Issued an Order for Abatement (PDF)

• August 28, 2008 Phase II EVR Informational meeting presentation, Burbank. (PDF, 1.1MB)

• August 27, 2008 Phase II EVR Informational meeting presentation, Anaheim.  (PDF, 1.1MB)

• August 7, 2008 Phase II EVR Informational meeting presentations. (PDF, 2.9MB)

• Advisory 01-08 - Schedule for the Installation of Phase II EVR  (PDF, 29kb)

• Presentations made during the April 02, 2008 Phase II EVR Conference at Riverside.  (ZIP, 5.1MB)

• Presentations made during the February 14, 2008 Phase II EVR Conference.  (ZIP, 26.3MB)

• Advisory 02-07 - Phase II EVR and ISD Pamphlet (PDF, 5.1MB)

• Advisory 01-07 - Certification Requirements for Installers/Contractors (PDF, 67kb)

• Advisory 23-05 - New Requirements for Installers and Testers of Gasoline Dispensing Equipment (PDF)

• Advisory 21-05 - ORVR Deadline (PDF, 29kb)

• Advisory 20-05 - Phase II EVR/ORVR Deadlines (PDF, 0.2MB)

• Advisory 11-03 - Gasoline Dispensing Facilities Underground Storage Tank Equipment Upgrade  (PDF, 0.2MB)

• Current and upcoming EVR regulations - CARB's EVR Implementation Update (PDF, 122kb)      

• Advisory 15-05 - Phase I EVR Requirements for GDF (March 10, 2005) (PDF, 173kb)

• Advisory 16-05 - Owners/Operators Enforcement Discretion for Gasoline Deliveries to Non-compliant Phase I EVR GDFs (PDF, 170kb)

• Advisory 18-05 - Compliance Advisory for Non-compliant GDFs without Phase I EVR (PDF, 27kb)

• Advisory 19-05 - Extension of South Coast AQMD Advisory 16-05 (PDF, 33kb)