Gas Stations

Providing clean air includes regulating approximately 1,200 gas stations in our four-county region that emit gasoline vapors to the atmosphere.  These vapors are generated during the filling of gasoline station storage tanks and during refueling of automobiles.

Gasoline vapors can cause smog that can sting your eyes and aggravate respiratory problems such as asthma and emphysema. These vapors also contain compounds called air toxics that can cause cancer if you breathe them over a long period. 

Gas stations in our region all have vapor recovery equipment designed to capture gasoline vapors.  When working properly, this equipment captures over five tons of gasoline vapors every day in our region.  In order for this equipment to work properly, it must be and maintained properly.

The Clean Air Agency provides a tool kit to help gas station owners and operators comply with gas station rules and make vapor recovery more reliable and effective.  Additionally, the agency provides resources to gas station testing contractors.