Cramer Calls on EPA to Reverse Biden-era Vapor Testing Requirements

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Fuel marketers who are responsible for transporting gasoline from the supply terminal to local gas stations will see regulatory relief if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) takes steps outlined in a letter U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) sent to the EPA. Despite existing regulations governing the annual vapor testing requirements for gasoline cargo tanks, the Biden administration chose to force the rest of the nation to meet California's overzealous regulatory standards, leading to disproportionate impacts on small business fuel marketers. The early implementation of the Biden rule is causing confusion and unexpected costs for small businesses with little to no expected benefit.

Cramer, member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led 10 of his colleagues in a letter to the EPA calling for the repeal of the Biden-era regulations and return to the previous standards.

"These challenges are already materializing as some operators at liquid fuel terminals are prematurely enforcing the revised vapor tightness standards ahead of the 2027 compliance date, creating confusion and imposing unexpected costs on small business fuel marketers," the senators wrote. "Industry stakeholders have warned that, absent corrective action by the Trump administration, these standards could result in fuel supply disruptions if charge tank vehicles are denied terminal access due to an inability to immediately comply with these unnecessary requirements.

"Small businesses in our states should not be subject to California's regulatory overreach," the senators continued. "We respectfully request that the EPA work with industry stakeholders to revisit the final rule and restore the prior standard for sources regulated under Subpart XXa and Subpart BBBBBB, while reverting to the former range pressure drop range of 1.0 to 2.5 inches under Subpart R. Reverting to this standard will support fuel supply continuity and ensure that first responders, motorists, farmers, ranchers, and other industries critical to America's success have reliable access to an adequate fuel supply."

Matt Bjornson of Bjornson Oil Company in Cavalier applauded the letter, saying "Senator Cramer's leadership and support of our industry's attempts to roll back unnecessary and burdensome changes by the Biden administration concerning cargo tank vapor tightness testing have been invaluable. The increased testing thresholds provide no benefit for the environment in states like North Dakota, yet if upheld would increase the cost of transporting petroleum, disproportionally impacting small business, and in the end costing consumers money at the pump."

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), John Curtis (R-UT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jon Husted (R-OH), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Click here for the letter.