California air regulators ease standards

The Associated Press

California air regulators eased processing standards for gasoline refineries to help increase supply and reduce price spikes at the pump following hurricane-related disruption of Gulf Coast oil operations.

The decision by the California Air Resources Board, however, would increase pollutants that cause smog in the state with the nation’s dirtiest air.

On Sept. 9, the board’s executive officer, Catherine Witherspoon, approved the sale of gasoline formulated for winter use. Her decision waived the requirement that only “summer gasoline,” with less evaporation, can be sold during the high-ozone season, which ends Oct. 31 in most of the state.

California’s action follows a recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announcement allowing gasoline with a lower evaporative standard, which several other states have adopted following hurricane Katrina.

Advocacy groups opposed the decision.

“Public health is being sacrificed to keep us on the road,” said John White, who represents the American Lung Association of California and environmental groups, including the Coalition for Clean Air. State regulators estimated an additional 50 tons of hydrocarbons would be released into the air each day, an increase of 6 to 7 percent, and that ozone would increase by about 1 percent.