When the warm weather returns, the ozone monitoring season also returns to Southeast Michigan, and with it the extra measures required to attain low smog levels in the area.

The Motor Fuels Quality Program operated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture is reminding gasoline service station operators they must switch by June 1 to gasoline formulas that are less volatile (less likely to evaporate) than fuel used during non-summer months.

On April 6, 2006, section 10d of the Motor Fuels Quality Act was amended to further limit the vapor pressure (evaporative tendencies) of the gasoline sold or dispensed in Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties from June 1 through September 15 each year to not more than 7.0 pounds per square inch.  (MCL 290.650d)

If your station resides in the control area, you may wish to review this requirement with your supplier prior to June 1, 2007, and monitor your inventory turn over to ensure you are dispensing compliant fuel on or before June 1, 2007.

Established in 1996, this environmentally friendly program will be mostly transparent to consumers, who will fuel their vehicle as usual.  Gasoline stations in the eight - county Southeast Michigan area, however, must sell only the summer-formula gas and meet other federal requirements.  The gas must be formulated to be 7.0 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure under the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) system, which is lower than normal gasoline psi to reduce the likelihood of evaporation that, in turn contributes to ozone build-up.

All phases of the gasoline distribution system including refineries, importers, pipelines, terminals and filing stations must meet the 7.0 psi requirement.  Retail gasoline stations must meet the requirement from June 1 through September 15, while other segments of the distribution channel are under the requirement starting May 1.   Counties affected by the regulation are Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Lenawee.

Michigan Department of Agriculture inspectors will conduct on-site testing from May through September, particularly at retail filling stations.  Fines and other sanctions will be levied on offending stations. MDA is charged with enforcing ozone protection measures in accordance with Michigan's Motor Fuel Quality Act.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture is the official state agency charged with serving, promoting and protecting the food, agriculture and agricultural economic interest of the people of the State of Michigan.  MDA also licenses and inspects all gasoline retailer for gasoline quality and responds to consumer complaints about gasoline.

Consumers with concerns about gasoline quality or quantity can call the MDA Motor Fuels Quality Hotline at 1-800-MDA-FUEL ( 1-800-632-3835).

For more information, contact Motor Fuels Quality office at (517) 655-8202.