The EPA’s clean fuels programs have exceeded expectations in their ability to reduce ozone pollutants and other air toxics. According to a report based on data collected between 1995 and 2005, emission reductions often were significantly greater than the regulatory requirements. The agency concluded this was a result of the reformulated gasoline (RFG) and anti-dumping programs they instituted. Report highlights included:

Gasoline sulfur decreases – Average annual sulfur content in all gasoline dropped from about 300 ppm in 1997 to about 90 ppm in 2005.

RFG nitrogen oxide (NO_X) reductions exceed requirements – RFG exceeded applicable NO_X performance standards during both Phase I (1998-1999) and Phase II (2000 and beyond).

RFG toxics reductions exceed requirements – On average, Phase I RFG complied with Phase II standards, and toxic performance still improved with the transition to Phase II standards.

Conventional gasoline NO_X and toxics emissions decreased – Between 1998 and 2005, the summer NO_X emissions of conventional gasoline were reduced by 5.7 percent, while summer exhaust toxics were reduced by 4.7 percent.

Ethanol use in RFG increased and MTBE use decreased – In the summer of 1996, about 11 percent of the RFG sold contained ethanol while virtually all the remainder contained MTBE. By the summer of 2005, the ethanol share increased to about 53 percent, with corresponding decreases in MTBE.

Visit epa.gov/otaq/gasoline.htm to get more information about the various clean fuels programs at the EPA.