OTHER NEWS - Oct. 17, 1992

EPA Rejects State Call for Gasoline Additive Cap: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that no cap was necessary on the amount of material soon to be added to gasoline to increase its oxygen content during the winter months. Adding oxygenates to the fuel decreases harmful carbon dioxide emissions. But it increases emissions of nitrogen dioxide, which forms smog. As of Nov. 1, the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 require 2.7% by weight of these oxygenates in gasoline sold in 39 U.S. cities, including Los Angeles. California had urged a lower requirement--2.2%--to balance the emissions without increasing nitrogen dioxide emissions in L.A., the only air basin in the country that exceeds wintertime nitrogen dioxide emissions standards.