Legislation eliminating a “hidden” tax that drives up the costs of gasoline for western Pennsylvanians received final legislative approval Wednesday (May 7) and is headed to the Governor for his signature and enactment into law, according to Senator Elder Vogel, prime sponsor of the measure.
Senate Bill 1037 eliminates statutory requirements for low Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) gasoline in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland Counties during the summer months. This “summer gas” is routinely more expensive than gasoline sold in the rest of Pennsylvania and also in neighboring Ohio and West Virginia.
“I appreciate the support of my colleagues in the Senate and House for this bill that will eliminate an unfair and costly regulation on the people of western Pennsylvania,” said Senator Vogel. “Basically, the RVP regulation is nothing more than a hidden tax, not only at the pump but also on goods and services. Currently, the people in a seven-county area of western Pennsylvania are forced to pay at least 10 to 15 cents more per gallon for gas than those in neighboring counties and just across the border in Ohio.”
Since 1999, the state Department of Environmental Protection and federal Environmental Protection Agency have required that gasoline sold between May 1 and September 15 in the seven-county Greater Pittsburgh Area have a RVP of 7.8psi. Regular gasoline has an RVP of 9.0.
CONTACT:
Mike Rader
(717) 787-3076