ACTION: Notice of Intent to Consider the Adoption of Amendments to the Rules relating
to standards for petroleum products.
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:
Pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated §§ 10-1-155 and 50-13-4, notice is hereby given that the Georgia Department of Agriculture will hold a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 47 Trinity Avenue, Room G-07, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. Such hearing will be for the purpose of considering the adoption of amendments to the Rules of the Department relating to the Petroleum Products promulgated pursuant to Part 1 Petroleum Products Act of 1927, as amended (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-155, et seq.).
SYNOPSIS, MAIN FEATURES AND DIFFERENCES:
It is proposed to update Rule 40-20-1-.01 to conform to current standard specifications of ASTM International, current regulations of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), and current industry practice.
The proposed amendments and the reasons for the change are summarized as follows:
Georgia consumers would benefit from changing the minimum T50 in its regulations to reflect the new minimum T50 requirements for Class-D fuels beginning with the 2024 version of the gasoline specification, ASTM D4814, Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel.
In December 2023, ASTM approved changes to the gasoline specification (D4814) including updates to the volatility tables as well as the minimum T50 for Classes D and E fuels. The specification was published in April 2024, with additional technical corrections approved on July 9, 2024, making the reference D4814-24a. The update to the specification, which uses the most recent climate data compared to data from the 1970s, emphasizes the need for Georgia to align its code with current ASTM standards.
The proposed amendments and the reasons for the change are summarized as follows:
Rule 40-20-1-.01 Standards for Petroleum Products
The proposed amendments:
- Adds in the term “Non-Oxygenated” and removes the wording “The specification for spark engine fuel without oxygenates (gasoline)” to align with current ASTM standards and industry practices. Rule 40-20-1-.01(a).
- Adds in the term “Oxygenated” and removes the wording “The specification for spark ignition engine fuels with oxygenates (reformulated gasoline, gasohol.)” to align with current ASTM standards and industry practices. Rule 40-20-1-.01(b).
- Amends the rule to read as follows: “ ….or 85 % gasoline and 15% denatured ethanol where the ethanol (only) content is 9- 15% by volume (3.1-5.8) mass % oxygen as ethanol” to align with ASTM D4814 Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel and NCWM (National Council on Weights and Measures) Handbook 130 Section F. Rule 40-20-1-.01(b)(1).
- Adds in the phrase “T50 minimum distillation temperature of 150°F for all volatility classes in (a)4 with the exception that volatility Class D-4 is 145° F for gasoline-ethanol blends that contain 9 % to 15 % by volume ethanol.” to align with ASTM standards. Rule 40-20-1-.01(b)(1)(i).
- Amends the rule to read as follows: “From September 16 through May 31 (April 30 for gasoline/ethanol blend tankage at refineries, imports, pipelines, and terminals), a vapor pressure 1.0 psi higher than the values in volatility classes in (a)4. From June 1 (May 1 for gasoline/blend tankage at refineries, importers, pipelines, and terminals) through September 15, permissible vapor pressure increases provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may be applied.” to align with ASTM D4814 Specification for Automobile Spark-Ignition Engine Fuels, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and NCWM (National on Council Weights and Measures) Handbook 130 Section IV(F). Rule 40-20-1-.01(b)(1)(iii).
- Amends the rule to read as follows: “The finished product must meet all specifications for spark ignition engine fuels, except for enforcement purposes, the vapor pressure may be 1 psi higher than the values shown in (b)1 if the ethanol (only) content is 9-15% by volume (3.1 – 5.8) mass % oxygen as ethanol. It is recommended that 10 to 15 volume % ethanol blends with RBOB meet vapor pressure requirements.” to align with ASTM D4814 Specification for Automobile Spark-Ignition Engine Fuels, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and NCWM (National Council on Weights and Measures) Handbook 130 Section IV(F). Rule 40-20-1-.01(b)(4).
Interested persons may request a copy of the proposed rules or may submit written requests to:
Dr. David Au,
State Oil Chemist
Georgia Department of Agriculture
3150 U.S. Highway 41 South
Tifton, GA, 31794
Email: david.au@agr.georgia.gov
Please submit written comments to the above email address. Written comments must be received no later than the close of business (4:30 p.m. EDT) on December 5, 2025. You may download a copy of the synopsis and the proposed rules from the Georgia Department of Agriculture website at www.agr.state.ga.us.
This notice is given in compliance with the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act, O.C.G.A. §50-13-4.
