EPA Waiver Could Solve Area's Gas Shortage

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Some local gasoline stations are running out of gas.

"Just down the street, they didn't have any gas at all at the BP," Aaron Sutton, of North Versailles, said.

All of the gas in our area, for environmental reasons, must be lower vapor pressure after the first of May.

"With the pipeline problems, it's harder to get fuel into the terminal in order to get it out by May 1st," Nancy Maricondi, a spokesperson for the Petroleum Retailers Association, said.

So the supply is lagging.

"I'm getting some desperate people that are running out," Maricondi added.

There is plenty of the winter-formula of gasoline in our area. But gas stations daring to put it in their tanks right now risk $10,000 a day fines, unless the state and federal EPA can be convinced to waive the fuel requirement temporarily.

"We could use that product until we get more 7.8 in over the pipeline or barge or however," Maricondi said.

The Department of Environmental Protection Secretary sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator in Washington DC, asking for a waiver of the restrictions for the seven-county Pittsburgh/Beaver Valley area until May 31st.

Congressman Mike Doyle personally called the EPA administrator and asked her to institute the waiver immediately.

If the EPA grants the waiver, the gas shortage in the Pittsburgh area could be over in hours.

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