This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Consultation on petrol emission reduction
17/04/2002
A UK-wide consultation paper on proposals to implement new controls on harmful petrol vapour emissions is issued today.
The consultation, issued jointly by the UK administrations, sets out proposals to implement 'stage II' petrol vapour recovery controls in the UK by a negotiated agreement with industry.
The refuelling of vehicles at petrol stations releases harmful emissions, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and benzene into the atmosphere. These pollutants can affect human health and damage the environment. However, petrol vapour emissions can be caught and recycled by modifying fuel dispensers at petrol stations.
The basis of the agreement with industry would be conditional on industry converting three quarters of larger petrol stations by 2010 in line with forecourt reinvestment strategies.
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development Allan Wilson said:
"We are committed to working towards a cleaner and healthier environment. Air quality is getting better but there are still problems to be solved.
"One of these is ground-level ozone which continues to pose a problem in rural areas of Scotland and other parts of the UK. The measures we are proposing will help to reduce emissions of VOCs, which are one of the main contributors to the formation of ground level ozone. The controls will also reduce our exposure to other harmful pollutants such as benzene.
"But we are also mindful of the need to achieve the best balance between the costs and benefits of introducing new controls. In particular we are mindful of the need to protect small, rural petrol stations which might be particularly vulnerable to closure if required to fit new equipment.
"The approach that we are considering will protect small petrol stations, as they will not be required to fit the new controls. It will also offer industry the flexibility to introduce stage II controls in line with investment cycles and keep costs to a minimum.
"Before reaching a decision on the detail of an agreement with industry we would like to hear the views of all interested parties on our intended approach."
The proposal will also allow the UK to meet its commitments under the 1991 Protocol on VOCs which requires Parties to implement measures to reduce VOC emissions from motor vehicle refuelling operations by September 2002.
Today's consultation has been produced jointly by the Scottish Executive, the Department of Environment Transport and the Regions, National Assembly of Wales, and Department of Environment (Northern Ireland).
The refuelling of vehicles with petrol and diesel at service stations releases emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the atmosphere. VOCs are significant pollutants due to their role in the formation of ground level ozone, which poses a risk to health, damages plants and is a major component of summer smog. Petrol vapour also includes components such as benzene, which is a known carcinogen.
Stage I controls, which reduce VOC emissions during petrol distribution from terminals to service stations, were introduced in 1996.. Stage I is currently being phased in so that by 2004 all but the very smallest service stations and terminals will have such controls in place.
Views are sought in the consultation paper on whether a threshold of 2000 cubic metres per year or 3000 cubic meters per year would be the most appropriate for the size of petrol station to be covered by the scheme. No action would be required to be taken at stations below 2000 - 3000 cubic metres .
The UK is a signatory to the 1991 UNECE Protocol on the Control of Emissions of VOCs or their Transboundary fluxes This required Parties to cut VOC emissions by 30 per cent by 1999, relative to 1988 levels, which the UK has achieved. The Protocol also requires signatories to implement measures to reduce VOC emissions from motor vehicle refuelling operations by 2002 in areas in which national or international ozone standards are exceeded or where transboundary fluxes originate. It is this requirement that would be implemented by introducing stage II controls.