The arrival of warm weather means the ozone monitoring season has also arrived in 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.

The three-year-old, environmentally friendly program will be mostly transparent to consumers, who will fuel their vehicle as usual.  Gasoline stations in the seven-county Southeast Michigan area, however, must sell only the summer-formula gas and meet other federal requirements.  The gas must me formulated to be 7.8 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 7.8 psi requirement.  Retail gasoline stations must meet the requirement from June 1 through September 15, while other segments of the distribution channel have been under the requirement since May 1.   Counties affected by the regulation are Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne.

Michigan Department of Agriculture inspectors will conduct on-site testing from now 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.