State Mandate Could Close Thousands Of Service Stations

Sacramento, CA — Thousand of California service stations could go out of business if they fail to subscribe to an April 1 mandate established by the 11 member California Air Resources Board.

The mandate calls for all service stations to increase the capture of vapor emissions to 98 percent. The current figure is 95 percent.

Senator Dave Cox says the expenditure for a service station owner for the new equipment would be in the neighborhood of $12-15,000 per pump nozzle.

Stated Cox, "This mandate could cause the closure of thousands of service stations. Three or four people per station would lose their jobs. Motorists would have to drive further for gas and the price of gas would increase given the law of supply and demand."

Cox is now asking the Board for at least a year’s moratorium on meeting the mandate’s demand.

Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com