Portable fuel containers (PFCs, or gas cans) are consumer products used to refuel a wide variety of gasoline-powered equipment. California has established an emissions control program for gas cans which began in 2001. Since then, some other states have adopted the California requirements. Last year, California adopted a revised program. EPA is planning to propose standards to control VOCs as an ozone precursor and also to minimize exposure to VOC-based toxics such as benzene and toluene. Gasoline is highly volatile and evaporates easily from containers that are not sealed or closed properly. Although an individual gas can is a relatively modest emission source, the cumulative VOC emissions from estimated population of 80 million gas cans are quite significant. Left uncontrolled, the evaporative emissions from a gas can are up to 60 times the VOC of a new Tier 2 vehicle evaporative control system. Gas can emissions are primarily of three types: evaporative emissions from unsealed or open containers; permeation emissions from gasoline passing through the walls of the plastic containers; and evaporative emissions from gasoline spillage during use. This report proposes an approach to estimating the VOC inventory associated with PFCs used for gasoline. (This analyses does not consider PFCs used for either kerosene or diesel fuel.)

Title from PDF title screen (EPA, viewed Aug. 6, 2010). "February 2007." Includes bibliographical references (page 13). "EPA420-R-07-001."