Amendments to Ontario Regulation 271/91 (Gasoline Volatility) to simplify reporting requirements

We are proposing amendments to Ontario Regulation 271/91 - Gasoline Volatility, to align Ontario’s reporting requirements with:

• national standards set by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB)
• approaches taken in other jurisdictions

The amendments would simplify the regulation and reduce regulatory and administrative burden as well as ensure consistency with national standards, while maintaining protection of human health and the environment.

The proposed amendments are as follows:

1. Simplify and streamline reporting for companies while retaining company accountability to meet the O. Reg. 271/91 standards.

   Facilities would continue to test gasoline volatility levels for each of the four periods required under the regulation. However, instead of preparing and submitting four separate reports to the ministry, regulated facilities would be required to prepare only one report for the four reporting periods by September 30th each year. The report would be kept on site for five years. During this period, reports must be provided upon request.

   Facilities would still need to report on their testing as required by other provincial regulations or by federal requirements, such as the CGSB.

2. Harmonization with CGSB for summer volatility start and end dates.

   We are amending the testing period of May 15 – September 14 each year to May 16 – September 15 each year. This would align the testing period for motor gasoline with the CGSB requirements.

   Aligning the transition dates with the national standard would further streamline reporting and minimize compliance risks for affected companies.

3. Amend the regulation to clarify its applicability:
    
   1. Service stations are exempt from the “mixing” or “adding to” requirements of the regulation.

      The applicability of this regulation to service stations is not clear. The change would provide clarity to the regulated community and align Ontario's regulation with the CGSB and other Canadian jurisdictions, which do not require service stations to test and/or report.

      Service stations that import or refine gasoline would still be required to report gasoline volatility under the regulation.

   2. Volatility requirements do not apply to motor gasoline that is expected to be transported for use or sale outside of Ontario.

      The gasoline volatility requirements would not apply to gasoline that is shipped to outside jurisdictions.

Regulatory impact statement

Due to reduced reporting requirements, the proposal would result in limited cost reduction for the petroleum refineries and petroleum importers that currently report to the ministry.

A preliminary estimate of the cost reduction for the regulated companies is approximately $187,000 for the ten-year period from 2022 to 2031, or about $18,700 on an annualized basis, using a 2.5% real discount rate. This estimate may change with any additional information received as a result of this consultation.

The proposed changes are not expected to affect air quality.