California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 3 - Air Resources Board
Chapter 5 - Standards for Motor Vehicle Fuels
Article 1 - Standards for Gasoline
Subarticle 2 - Standards for Gasoline Sold Beginning March 1, 1996
Section 2262 - The California Reformulated Gasoline Phase 2 and Phase 3 Standards

The CaRFG Phase 2 and CaRFG Phase 3 standards are set forth in the following table. For all properties but Reid vapor pressure (cap limit only) and oxygen content, the value of the regulated property must be less than or equal to the specified limit. With respect to the Reid vapor pressure cap limit and the oxygen content flat and cap limit, the limits are expressed as a range, and the Reid vapor pressure and oxygen content must be less than or equal to the upper limit, and more than or equal to the lower limit. A qualifying small refiner may comply with the small refiner CaRFG Phase 3 standards, in place of the CaRFG Phase 3 standards in this section, in accordance with section 2272.

The California Reformulated Gasoline Phase 2 and Phase 3 Standards

1 The Reid vapor pressure (RVP) standards apply only during the warmer weather months identified in section 2262.4.

2 The 6.90 pounds per square inch (psi) flat limit applies when a producer or importer is using the CaRFG Phase 3 Predictive Model to certify a final blend not containing ethanol. Otherwise, the 7.0 psi limit applies.

3 For sales, supplies, or offers of California gasoline downstream of the production or import facility starting on the date on which early compliance with the CaRFG Phase 3 standards is permitted by the Executive Officer under section 2261(b)(3), the CaRFG Phase 2 cap limits for Reid vapor pressure and aromatics content shall be 7.20 psi and 35.0 percent by volume respectively.

4 The CaRFG Phase 3 sulfur content cap limits of 60, 30, and 20 parts per million are phased in starting December 31, 2003, December 31, 2005, and December 31, 2011, respectively, in accordance with section 2261(b)(1)(A).

5 Designated alternative limit may not exceed 310.

6 The 1.8 percent by weight minimum oxygen content cap only applies during specified winter months in the areas identified in section 2262.5(a).

7 If the gasoline contains more than 3.5 percent by weight oxygen from ethanol but no more than 10.0 volume percent ethanol, the maximum oxygen content cap is 3.7 percent by weight.

1. New section filed 8-3-2000; operative 9-2-2000 (Register 2000, No. 31). For prior history see Register 92, No. 4.
2. Amendment of table footnotes filed 12-24-2002; operative 12-24-2002 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2002, No. 52).
3. Amendments to Table (footnotes 2 and 7) filed 3-10-2005; operative 4-9-2005 (Register 2005, No. 10).
4. Amendment of table footnotes 1 and 2 filed 9-9-2005 as an emergency; operative 9-9-2005 (Register 2005, No. 37). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 1-10-2006 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
5. Reinstatement of section as it existed prior to 9-9-2005 emergency amendment pursuant to Government Code section 11346.1(f) (Register 2006, No. 35). The repealed emergency language affecting footnote 1 of the Standards Table identified CaRFG Phase 3 flat and cap maximum RVP limits of 9.00 psi during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina RVP relaxation period identified in section 2262.4.
6. Editorial amendment of HISTORY 5 (Register 2006, No. 42).
7. Amendment of table and table footnotes filed 8-29-2008; operative 8-29-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2008, No. 35).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 39600, 39601, 43013, 43013.1, 43018, 43101 and 43830, Health and Safety Code; and Western Oil and Gas Ass'n. v. Orange County Air Pollution Control District, 14 Cal.3d 411, 121 Cal. Rptr. 249 (1975). Reference: Sections 39000, 39001, 39002, 39003, 39010, 39500, 39515, 39516, 41511, 43000, 43013, 43013.1, 43016, 43018, 43101, 43830 and 43830.8, Health and Safety Code; and Western Oil and Gas Ass'n. v. Orange County Air Pollution Control District, 14 Cal.3d 411, 121 Cal. Rptr. 249 (1975).