On March 3, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final Tier 3 rule reducing average levels of sulfur emissions from motor vehicle gasoline consumption from 30 parts per million (ppm) to 10 ppm by 2017. Tier 3 is a new rule notification category that allows the most time, usually year(s), for the public and/or business to adequately adjust to the rule. According to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, the new rule will directly benefit public health by decreasing air pollutants coming out of 2017 model vehicles and beyond.

Critics of the rule consider air quality improvements negligible because of the extra energy needed to further refine the crude oil. To remove sulfur, refiners must hydrotreat gasoline, which, according to the American Petroleum Institute, could increase prices at the pump.

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing March 12 which included discussion on EPA justification of the Tier 3 rule.

Sources: Colorado School of Mines; Environmental Protection Agency; E&E News; House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; National Journal