CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD
                                
                        DoubleTree Hotel
                      Gold Coast Ballroom
                     2055 Harbor Boulevard
                          Ventura, CA
                                
                        August 14, 1992
                           8:30 a.m.
                                
                             AGENDA

                                                             Page

92-13-1   Continuance of the Public Hearing to Consider       001
          Amendments to the Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Fee
          Regulation.

92-13-2   Public Hearing to Consider the Adoption of New      002
          Specifications for Gasoline Certification Fuel
          for Motor Vehicles.

                        ITEM NO.: 92-13-2

Public Hearing to Consider New Specifications for Gasoline
Certification Fuel for Motor Vehicles.

                          RECOMMENDATION

The staff recommends that the Air Resources Board (ARB/Board)
approve the proposed amendments to the motor vehicle emission
test procedures for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles and heavy
duty Otto-cycle vehicles.  The amendments would allow the use of
certification gasoline based on Phase 2 reformulated gasoline in
addition to the existing certification gasolines.  Staff also
recommends that the existing gasoline certification fuel
reflecting 1992 commercial gasoline no longer be an option after
1996.

                            DISCUSSION

Existing regulations of the Board establish test procedures which
are used for testing motor vehicles to determine if the vehicles
comply with the Board's motor vehicle emission standards and
accordingly quality for certification.  These test procedures
include specifications for the certification fuels to be used in
motor vehicle testing.  Certification fuel specifications have
been established for gasoline, diesel fuel, and various other
fuels.

In 1990 the Board approved regulations modifying the evaporative
emission requirements and testing procedures and regulation
establishing the low-emission vehicles/clean fuels program. 
These regulations tightened the motor vehicle evaporative and
exhaust standards and, as an interim step, added an optional set
of certification specifications for gasoline, reflecting
commercial gasoline as of 1992.  In November 1991, the Board
approved regulations for Phase 2 reformulated gasoline, The
regulations include a comprehensive set of specifications
affecting eight different gasoline properties and are designed to
ensure that in-use gasoline is a significantly cleaner-burning
fuel.  The approval of Phase 2 reformulated gasoline prompted the
need for a new certification fuel.

                       SUMMARY AND IMPACTS

The staff is proposing amendments to the motor vehicle emission
test procedures which would allow the use of a certification
gasoline based on Phase 2 reformulated gasoline in addition to
the existing certification gasolines.  This new certification
gasoline will be referred to as Phase 2 gasoline certification
fuel.  The new specifications would be allowed in certification
testing of 1993 and later model year low-emission vehicles, 1995
model year vehicles which must meet the evaporative emission
requirements approved in 1990, and 1996 and later model year
conventional gasoline-powered motor vehicles.  Beginning with
1996 model year vehicles, the existing gasoline certification
fuel reflecting 1992 commercial gasoline would no longer be an
option.

The specifications for the proposed Phase 2 gasoline
certification fuel require the use of a premium grade gasoline
blended from typical refinery feedstocks.  The specifications
fall within a narrow band of the specifications for Phase 2
reformulated gasoline.  In addition, the specifications include a
limit for multi-substituted alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, which is
based on a high end estimate of the content of these compounds
found in Phase 2 reformulated gasoline.  The specifications
include standards designed to ensure that the fuel is free of
contaminants and suitable for use as a motor vehicle fuel.

The ARB staff has determined that there would not be any
additional significant negative environmental impacts from the
production and use of the proposed gasoline certification fuel
over the production and use of the production and use of current
gasoline certification fuels.

The ARB staff has determined that the proposed regulatory action
will not create costs or savings to any state agency, local
agency or school district.  The ARB staff has also determined
that adoption of the proposed regulatory action will not have a
significant adverse economic impact on small businesses, or on
private persons or businesses (other than small businesses)
directly affected resulting from the proposed action.