Feds nix Georgia gas rule

Georgia was granted permission by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday to nix a rule requiring dozens of counties around Atlanta to sell a special and more expensive blend of gasoline during the summer months.

Federal approval for removal of Georgia’s Gasoline Marketing Rule, which has been in place since 2003, resulted in the 45-county nonattainment area being reduced to 13 counties surrounding metro Atlanta. In other words, 32 counties, including Monroe, Jones, Putnam, Upson and Pike, will no longer be required to sell the specially formulated fuel known as “Georgia gas.”

“Changes in the formula for federal gasoline have made it equivalent to Georgia gas,” Karen Hays, chief of Georgia EPD’s Air Protection Branch, said in a news release. “Therefore, there is no longer a compelling reason to require a unique gasoline for Georgia.”

Because the summer ozone season, when “Georgia gas” is sold, ends Sept. 15, the change won’t be seen until summer 2016, according to the news release

The rule was published in the Federal Registry on Tuesday.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Feds nix Georgia gas rule ."