§ 31-37-7.1. Minimum standards for gasoline.
(a) Beginning June 1, 2007, no person shall sell, deliver for sale, import, or cause to be imported into the state for sale any gasoline containing methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) or other ether oxygenates in quantities greater than one-half of one percent (0.5%) by volume. For the purpose of this section, “other ether oxygenates” shall include the following gasoline additives: Methanol; Isopropanol; n-Propanol; N-Butonal; sec-Butanol; tert-Butanol; Tert-pentalol (tert-amylalcohol); Ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE); Diisopropylether (DIPE); Tertiary Butyl alcohol (TBA); Iso-butanol; and Tert-amymethylether (TAME). Nothing in this section shall prohibit the transshipment of gasoline containing the oxygenates within the state for disposition outside the state, including storage coincident to the transshipment.
(b) No person shall sell, offer for sale, deliver, or have in the person’s possession for the purpose of sale, any article or product represented as gasoline for use in internal combustion engines used in motor vehicles that does not equal the most recent version of the “American Society for Testing and Materials Standard Specification for Automotive Gasoline D-4814.”
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it shall be the responsibility of the director of the department of environmental management to administer and enforce this section.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 31-37-17, penalties for violations of this section shall be assessed pursuant to § 23-23-14 as administered by the department of environmental management. In addition, the department is hereby authorized to administer this section according to the provisions of chapter 12.1 of title 46 in conjunction with its authority relating to underground storage tanks.
(e) The director of the department of environmental management shall have the authority to temporarily waive a control or prohibition respecting the use of a fuel or fuel additive required under this section to avoid a disruption in the supply of fuel to the state or to other states as a result of a natural disaster or other emergency. The director shall provide, in writing, the notice of waiver; the nature of the emergency; and the time frame for which the waiver shall remain in effect.
History of Section.P.L. 2005, ch. 181, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 291, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 37, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 43, § 2.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-37 - Retail Sale of Gasoline
Section 31-37-1. - Filling station license.
Section 31-37-2. - Refusal, suspension, or revocation of license.
Section 31-37-3. - Filling station records.
Section 31-37-4. - Inspection of pumps and tanks.
Section 31-37-5. - Information furnished by fuel vehicle drivers — Inspection and sampling.
Section 31-37-6. - Method of testing for quality of fuels.
Section 31-37-7. - Weights and measures.
Section 31-37-7.1. - Minimum standards for gasoline.
Section 31-37-8. - Peddler’s license.
Section 31-37-9. - Peddler’s records of purchases and sales.
Section 31-37-10. - Term of licenses — Fee.
Section 31-37-11. - Prices shown on pumps.
Section 31-37-12. - Unauthorized signs advertising price of fuel.
Section 31-37-16. - Brand names to be displayed.
Section 31-37-16.1. - No smoking signs to be displayed.
Section 31-37-16.2. - Air pumps.
Section 31-37-16.3. - Additives.
Section 31-37-17. - Penalties for violations.
Section 31-37-18. - Costs on prosecution of violations.
Section 31-37-19. - Ordinances controlling location of pumps.