EPA rolls back gas can regulations

If you've filled a gas can, or portable fuel container, in the last 15 years, you are likely familiar with the post-regulation, redesigned version which many complain is inefficient. Worry not, as a statement released by the EPA on July 24 indicates that gas cans may soon revert back to their simpler, pre-regulation designs.

A historically simple product, gas cans fell under a federal regulation in 2009 that required manufacturers to implement special vents that close automatically when not in use in an effort to reduce evaporative emissions and ozone-polluting vapors from escaping.

Additional regulations required cans to be child-resistant, leading to many spring-loaded nozzles that are common on most gas cans today.

Although these "evaporative emissions standards were designed to protect public health without compromising usability," according to the EPA press release, they likely won't be around for much longer.

“The confusion surrounding gas cans has been a frustration for years," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "We are proud to address this issue head on. Moving forward, Americans should have gas cans that are compliant, but most importantly, that are effective and consumer friendly.”

The EPA has issued letters to manufacturers of portable fuel containers encouraging them to add vents to gas cans, allowing for safe and effective refueling, an announcement that comes in response to years of complaints about slow, frustrating fuel flow from modern gas cans.

"I think we can find common ground in making the gas cans easier to use again," said Andrew Swirsky, founder of Infrasync Technology Services, on LinkedIn. "It's likely to have the biggest direct impact to millions of Americans in getting rid of the complex gas can setups."

Jennifer Worrel, managing director, Mid-Con Operations, Boyett Petroleum, had a similar opinion after receiving the letter from the EPA.

"I believe in pragmatic regulation that balances safety for humans and environments, not overly onerous restrictions that, when implemented, do more harm than good," she said. "This is welcome clarification from a government agency."

Overall, the statement is being embraced with a sense of relief, as the shift aims to make gas can operation more practical for everyone.

"In time for weekend chores, good news," said Renita Sommers, VP brokerage at HREC Investment Advisors. "Regular old normal gas cans that do not take an engineering degree to open will be legal again!"