EPA Issues Waiver on Ethanol Blending & RVP
Yesterday afternoon the EPA issued a national waiver on ethanol blending limits and RVP requirements:
“On March 25, 2026, EPA, in consultation with U.S. Department of Energy and in accordance with the Clean Air Act, issued a waiver regarding the requirements in 40 C.F.R. § 1090.215 to allow the production and distribution of a single national gasoline pool with 9 to 15 percent ethanol content at a common Reid Vapor Pressure standard of 10 psi. The 10 psi waiver is effective from May 1, 2026 to May 20, 2026, therefore expanding nationwide ethanol blending limits. Additionally, effective March 25, 2026 until April 14, 2026, EPA is waiving federal enforcement of state level fuel controls under 40 CFR 1090.215. States may choose to continue or adjust enforcement of their own requirements.”
Though the initial waiver periods would be 20 days, the EPA expressed an intention to continuously renew them until extreme and unusual fuel supply circumstances are no longer present.
The waivers do impact state “boutique” fuel requirements, but left room for state governors to maintain their current enforcement regimes if they wished.
Governor Hobbs and AZDA Weights & Measures responded quickly and announced that they would allow the waivers to take effect in Arizona.
“As of March 25th, 2026, the EPA’s waiver of federal enforcement of state boutique fuel requirements is effective immediately for 20 days. Furthermore, the waiver of federal low RVP limits takes effect on May 1st, 2026, for 20 days…During the waiver periods, OWM will use enforcement discretion to allow the distribution and sale of conventional gasoline with an RVP of up to 9.0 PSI, or 10.0 PSI when blended with 9 to 15% ethanol, in the CBG covered areas. This temporarily supersedes the strict 7.0 PSI summer blend limits and specific CBG formulation requirements usually enforced by the OWM.“
We urge APMA members to review the EPA waiver announcements and OWM response carefully for further details: