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More than a Fueling: MDARD’s Summer Gasoline Program Returns to Southeast Michigan June 1

Program Curbs Smog and Helps Michiganders Breathe Easy

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is gearing up to cut emissions and keep our skies smog-free through the annual summer gasoline program. From June 1 to September 15, MDARD will require suppliers and retailers in eight southeast Michigan counties to sell or dispense gasoline with a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) no greater than 7.0 pounds per square inch (psi).

“MDARD’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our fellow Michiganders begins with protecting the health of our soil, water and air,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “The summer gasoline program is one of MDARD’s many contributions to Governor Whitmer’s Healthy Climate Plan, which takes bold action to protect Michiganders and the natural resources we cherish.”

MDARD first introduced the summer gasoline program in Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties in 1996 after ozone measurements in those counties exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Under the program, MDARD inspectors conduct on-site testing and collect samples for laboratory analysis. Enforcing the low-RVP requirement improves air quality, protects public health and ensures that Michigan continues to receive federal highway funding.

“Summer formula gasoline increases fuel efficiency and helps prevent the release of smog-causing compounds into the atmosphere,” said Craig VanBuren, Director of MDARD’s Laboratory and Consumer Protection Bureau. “By enforcing a maximum RVP of 7.0 psi for gasoline during the summer months, MDARD protects Michigan’s air quality and helps our fellow Michiganders breathe a little easier.”

RVP is a measure of gasoline volatility. The greater the volatility, the more gasoline evaporates into the air. During the summer, elevated air temperatures can cause high-RVP gasoline to evaporate into the air at harmful rates. These gasoline vapors contribute to ozone build-up at the ground level.

Ozone is a key component of smog, an often brown or yellow haze produced by vehicle emissions, industrial activities and other sources. Smog can trigger asthma attacks, exacerbate lung disease and increase the likelihood of respiratory infections. Even healthy people may experience eye irritation, sore throats, coughing and shortness of breath when smog levels are high.

Michigan’s Motor Fuel Quality Act, Public Act 44 of 1984, charges MDARD with enforcing ozone protection measures and ensuring the quality of the gasoline dispensed throughout the state. Anyone who suspects problems at the pump should call MDARD’s 24-hour hotline for reporting complaints, 1-800-MDA-FUEL (1-800-632-3835).

Learn how MDARD helps ensure you pay a fair price at the gas pump.

Read about MDARD’s Weights and Measures Program