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

As of November 25, 2022 amendments to Ontario Regulation 271/91 - Gasoline Volatility took effect to align Ontario’s reporting requirements with:

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

The amendments will:

• simplify the regulation and reduce regulatory and administrative burden
• ensure consistency with national standards
• continue to maintain the protection of human health and the environment

Amendments to the Gasoline Volatility regulation

The amendments to Ontario Regulation 271/91 – Gasoline Volatility are as follows:

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

   Facilities will 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 are now required to prepare only one report for the four reporting periods by September 30 each year. The report must be kept on site for five years. During this period, reports must be provided to the ministry upon request.

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

   We have amended the current testing period of May 15 – September 14 each year to May 16 – September 15 each year. This aligns the testing period for motor gasoline with the CGSB requirements.

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

3. Clarify that the regulation does not apply to service stations or gasoline intended for export:

   The applicability of this regulation to service stations was not clear before the amendment was made. The amendment provides clarity to the regulated community and aligns 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 are still required to report gasoline volatility under the regulation.

   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 do not apply to gasoline that is shipped to outside jurisdictions.

4. Updating the methodologies for testing and for calculating compliance with the vapour pressure limit.

   Prior to amendment, the regulation listed outdated and, in some cases, obsolete, procedures for testing and for calculation of absolute limits. The new amendment updates the section to reference current widely accepted testing procedures. This change provides clarity for all subsequent testing methodologies.

Regulatory impact statement

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

Over a ten-year period (2023-2032), the amendments are expected to result in limited cost reductions for these regulated companies of approximately $206,000 over a ten-year period from 2023 to 2032, or about $20,600 on an annualized basis, based on a 2.5% real discount rate.

The changes are not expected to affect air quality as the requirement to comply with vapour pressure limits has not changed.