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Air Pollution: EPA's Efforts To Control Vehicle Refueling and Evaporative Emissions

RCED-87-151 Published: Aug 07, 1987. Publicly Released: Sep 15, 1987.
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Highlights

In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposals to adequately control motor vehicle refuelling and evaporative emissions, including the costs and benefits of alternative methods.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator, EPA, should direct the Office of Air and Radiation to include in its refuelling and evaporative control analyses better documentation of the cost-effectiveness of alternative ozone control strategies, including support for its $2,000 benchmark standard.
Closed – Implemented
EPA stated that while the preliminary version of rulemaking that GAO reviewed did not contain the documentation, the documentation was in the final version published in the Federal Register in August 1987. GAO preliminary review of the August 1987 rulemaking disclosed no such documentation. GAO current work will determine whether the recommendation remains appropriate.
Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator, EPA, should direct the Office of Air and Radiation to include in its refuelling and evaporative control analyses a more explicit comparison of all the costs and benefits associated with the various refuelling and evaporative emission control strategies, including a more thorough analysis of the effects of key uncertainties.
Closed – Implemented
EPA August 1987 proposed rulemaking discussed the sensitivity of different cost variables and their impact in the cost/benefit estimates associated with refuelling and evaporative emission controls. An accomplishment report is not planned because, according to EPA, sensitivity analysis prompted by its own internal review and Office of Management and Budget input.

Full Report

Full Report (64 pages)

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Topics

Natural Resources and Environment
Air pollution controlEnvironmental policiesFuel salesGasolineHealth hazardsMotor vehicle pollution controlOzoneOil refineriesApplication programming interfaceMotor vehicles