36 Gas Stations Violate New Regulations

Of the county’s 111 gas stations, only 36 will fail to meet the state’s new pump emission control requirements by April 1, the day the new regulations go into effect. Of those 36 stations not in compliance, 24 are located on in South County.

The new vapor recovery equipment was mandated five years ago after state regulators discovered in 2000 that most gas pump vapor recovery equipment leaked. In fact, about one third of the vapors thought to be recovered were actually being released into the atmosphere. The new equipment costs thousands of dollars and takes at least a day to install, prompting many business interests, already bruised by the ailing economy, to seek further delays.