Kentucky Officials Decide to Stay in Federal Reformulated
Gasoline Program
Kentucky will remain in the
federal reformulated gasoline program, according to a recent letter from James
Bickford, secretary of the state's Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection Cabinet. "The Commonwealth will not request the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency on behalf of Jefferson County for any changes in the current
fuel program," wrote Bickford.
The two ozone nonattainment areas in
Kentucky, which uses approximately 9,600 barrels of reformulated gasoline a day,
have been debating dropping reformulated gasoline since former Gov. Brereton
Jones (D) officially requested the opt-out in June 1995. This latest action was
in response to questions of whether local opinion would influence the decision,
which according to the Clean Air Act, falls solely on the shoulders of
Gov. Paul Patton (D).
"Based on reformulated gasoline's overall benefit
to public health and the environment, it is the position of the Commonwealth of
Kentucky that the most effective fuel to reduce vehicle emissions is
reformulated gasoline, and that its use should be reaffirmed in Jefferson
County, and portions of adjoining counties," wrote Bickford. "Jefferson County
should continue to include reformulated gasoline in its plans to address ozone
problems in the Louisville area.
"Reformulated gasoline provides several
advantages over the use of lower Reid Vapor Pressure gasoline," continued
Bickford, who noted that reformulated gasoline reduces evaporative and exhaust
volatile organic compounds, as well as carbon monoxide and air
toxics.
Source: Oxy-Fuel News, May 27, 1996.
