EPA Says "No" to Continue Using "Winter Gas"

Although some service stations in the Pittsburgh region are running out of gasoline, the Environmental Protection Agency has announced it has denied Pennsylvania's request to waive gasoline volatility standards and allow terminals in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties to continue selling the winter blend of gasoline through the end of this month.
Under federal law the distributors cannot sell the winter blend to service stations after May 1 because of air pollution levels in the Pittsburgh region.
The shortage of the summer blend is due to a recent outage at a New Jersey refinery and a since repaired leak in the pipeline that links the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh markets.
Western Pennsylvania Congressmen Jason Altmire, Mark Critz, Mike Doyle, Mike Kelly and Tim Murphy said they will continue to urge the EPA to grant the waiver.

“Rising gas prices are already causing pain at the pump for Pennsylvania’s families. While disappointed in today’s decision by the EPA, we urge the agency to monitor on a moment-by-moment basis the supplies in Western Pennsylvania and react swiftly should the situation deteriorate. We will work together to do all that we can to ensure this issue is resolved quickly.”