Regulation of Fuel and Fuel Additives: Modification to Octamix Waiver (TOLAD MFA-10A)

Lisa P. Jackson
November 1, 2012

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 212 (Thursday, November 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66074-66075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26753]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9748-4]


Regulation of Fuel and Fuel Additives: Modification to Octamix 
Waiver (TOLAD MFA-10A)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Correction notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency reconsidered a portion of 
a fuel waiver granted under section 211(f) of the Clean Air Act to the 
Texas Methanol Corporation (Texas Methanol) on June 14, 2012, by 
issuing a notice to approve the use of an alternative corrosion 
inhibitor, TOLAD MFA-10A, in Texas Methanol's gasoline-alcohol fuel, 
OCTAMIX. This correction notice explains that TOLAD MFA-10A is to be 
blended into the final fuel at 42.7 milligrams per liter (mg/l) rather 
than at 25 mg/l, as indicated in the June 14 notice.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0894. All documents and public comments in the 
docket are listed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. 
Publically available docket materials are available either 
electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at 
the Air Docket, EPA Headquarters Library, Mail Code: 2822T, EPA West 
Building, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading 
Room is (202) 566-1742, and the facsimile number for the Air Docket is 
(202) 566-9744.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this notice 
contact, Joseph R. Sopata, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office 
of Air and Radiation, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, (202) 
343-9034, fax number, (202) 343-2800, email address: 
sopata.joe@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 14, 2011, Baker Hughes requested that EPA allow the use 
of its alternative corrosion inhibitor, TOLADTM MFA-10A, at 
a concentration of 42 mg/l, in the OCTAMIX gasoline-alcohol fuel blend 
which otherwise would not be allowed under the OCTAMIX waiver.\1\ 
TOLADTM MFA-10A is a fuel additive formulation consisting of 
a corrosion inhibitor. On January 20, 2012, EPA published a notice in 
the Federal Register (77 FR 2979) announcing receipt of Baker Hughes's 
request and inviting comment on it. The comment period closed on 
February 21, 2012. On June 14, 2012, EPA approved the use of TOLAD MFA-
10A as an alternative corrosion inhibitor in Texas Methanol's gasoline-
alcohol fuel, OCTAMIX.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0894-0001.
    \2\ 77 FR 35677.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In that June 14, 2012 decision notice, EPA mistakenly listed the 
approved concentration of TOLADTM MFA-10A as 25 mg/l instead 
of the requested 42 mg/l. Today's notice corrects that mistake and 
explains why the previous approval is still appropriate when using the 
concentration of 42 mg/l as originally requested by Baker Hughes.

II. Analysis

    The Agency's decision on the overall efficacy of TOLAD MFA-10A as a 
corrosion inhibitor for use under the OCTAMIX waiver was largely based 
on Baker Hughes' original request for a concentration of 42.7 mg/l. 
However, in

[[Page 66075]]

reviewing our decision, we discovered that our analysis regarding the 
emission impacts of TOLAD MFA-10A was inadvertently based on the 
minimum treat rate of 25 mg/l, whereas Baker Hughes requested and 
provided data for TOLAD MFA-10A at a concentration of 42.7 mg/l.\3\ 
This correction notice therefore explains how our decision to approve 
TOLAD MFA-10A as an alternative corrosion inhibitor under the OCTAMIX 
waiver is still appropriate when using a concentration of 42.7 mg/l.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ NACE Standard TM-01-72.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With regards to the question of the emission impacts of using TOLAD 
MFA-10A, its treat rate of 42.7 mg/l is the same as the treat rate of 
TOLAD MFA-10, the original corrosion inhibitor approved under the 
OCTAMIX waiver. The chemical composition and the treat rate of TOLAD 
MFA-10A at 42.7 mg/l, which is less than 0.01 mass percent by weight, 
is such that it qualifies as a fuel additive falling under the baseline 
gasoline fuel category \4\ under our fuel and fuel additive 
registration regulations. In addition, the chemical composition and 
treat rate of TOLAD MFA-10A at 42.7 mg/l is such that it meets our 
substantially similar definition.\5\ Given that TOLAD MFA-10A at a 
concentration of 42.7 mg/l is a fuel additive that is both 
substantially similar to fuel additives used in our certification 
program and a fuel additive falling under our baseline gasoline fuel 
category, one would not expect significant emission changes from the 
use of TOLAD MFA-10A compared to other fuel additives that fall under 
the baseline gasoline fuel category, which also includes TOLAD MFA-10, 
DMA-67 and TXCeed. Therefore, as long as the other conditions of the 
OCTAMIX waiver are met, which include applicable volatility 
specifications, gasoline phase separation specifications, and alcohol 
purity conditions, the Agency believes that the use of TOLAD MFA-10A in 
place of TOLAD MFA-10 will allow engines and vehicles to remain 
compliant with their emissions standards when using fuels made as 
approved under the original conditions granted for the OCTAMIX waiver.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See 40 CFR 79.56(e)(3)(i).
    \5\ For our most recent substantially similar gasoline 
interpretive rule, please see: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgst/EPA-AIR/2008/April/Day-25/a8944.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Agency therefore modifies condition (3) of the OCTAMIX waiver 
to read as follows:
    (3) Any one of the following four corrosion inhibitors must be 
included:
    (a) Petrolite's corrosion inhibitor formulation, TOLAD MFA-10, 
blended in the final fuel at 42.7 milligrams/liter (mg/l); or
    (b) DuPont's corrosion inhibitor formulation, DMA-67, blended in 
the final fuel at 31.4 mg/l; or
    (c) Spirit of 21st Century LLC's corrosion inhibitor formulation, 
TXCeed, blended in the final fuel at 3.9 ml/gal (987.6 mg/l); or
    (d) Baker Hughes's corrosion inhibitor formulation, TOLAD MFA-10A, 
blended in the final fuel at 42.7 mg/l.

III. Do any of the statutory and executive order reviews apply to this 
action?

    This final decision corrects an error in our emissions impact 
analysis for TOLAD MFA-10A at 42.7 mg/l as well as corrects an error in 
the required treat rate of TOLAD MFA-10A at 42.7 mg/l for use with the 
OCTAMIX waiver. This final decision does not otherwise change the 
requirements in the June 14, 2012 decision notice. As a correction, 
this action is not subject to the statutory and Executive Order review 
requirements. For information about the statutory and Executive Order 
review requirements as they related to the final decision, see the Unit 
IV, in the Federal Register of June 14, 2012.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 77 FR 35679.

    Dated: October 25, 2012.
Lisa P. Jackson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-26753 Filed 10-31-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P