Attention: TDR Forum Junkies This was an interesting article thought I would post it
The Toledo Blade
Article published Saturday, November 20, 2004
POOR FUEL
29% of Michigan gas samples fail quality standard
Finding could fuel Ohio testing effort
By JOE MAHR
BLADE STAFF WRITER
More than a fourth of Michigan gasoline tested by regulators last summer was substandard, and that finding may fuel the effort to get Ohio to test the quality of its gas, too.
In a report released this week, the Michigan Department of Agriculture found that 29 percent of the gasoline samples tested from May 1 to Sept. 7 failed to meet minimum quality standards, and 12 percent of the gas pumps short-changed customers on quantity.
With gasoline consumers seeing near-record prices this year, regulators said the report highlights the continuing quality problems within an industry that sells more than 6 billion gallons of gas and diesel fuel in Michigan each year.
Of the 953 gas stations tested, Michigan fined 48 for repeat violations related to problems with water, octane, vapor pressure, product misrepresentation, or product contamination.
Consumer advocates say poor gas can clog fuel filters, lower performance, and damage engines.
Eight stations were fined for short-changing customers.
Citing computer problems, the Department of Agriculture could not say yesterday whether any of those stations were in southeast Michigan.
Beyond the tests, the state received 112 complaints from consumers this year, more than double a year ago, with one in five of the consumer complaints substantiated.
The report already has drawn the interest of policymakers south of the border, where advocates of gasoline quality testing have been fighting for four years to allow similar testing in the Buckeye State.
Ohio is one of only four states that doesn't allow the government to test and punish gas stations for selling poor quality gas. The others are Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Alaska.
The law now allows Ohio's county auditors to test only to ensure the quantity is accurate.
So when somebody complains to Lucas County Auditor Larry Kaczala about buying poor quality gasoline, "all I can say is, 'I made sure you got a full gallon of bad gas. '●"
Mr. Kaczala, who has lobbied for the right to test gas-quality since 2000, said his office could do the testing for little extra cost - if state lawmakers allowed it.
Only Summit County, the home of Akron, has the power to test gas quality without the approval of state law because that county government operates under a special "home rule" charter. Summit County plans to begin testing gas quality and levying fines for bad gas early next year.
State Rep. Timothy Grendell (R. , Chesterland) is pushing a bill this year that would allow the rest of Ohio's county auditors to test gas quality and would demand gas stations fix gas-quality problems if uncovered.
But even though the bill doesn't allow any fines to be levied, it has failed to make it for a vote this year.
Advocates of quality testing blame the oil and gasoline industry for blocking the measure in the Republican-controlled chamber.
"I'm going the against the flow of my own party on this issue," Mr. Grendell said.
Industry representatives did not return phone calls yesterday seeking comment, but have said in the past that they already do quality testing, and that it would be unfair to punish gas stations because the problem may have originated with gas wholesalers.
Mr. Grendell said a hard part of the fight has been proving there's a problem.
A 1999 Ohio Department of Agriculture survey of 135 gas stations found that 12 percent of the gas samples didn't meet minimum quality standards. But there has been no follow-up surveys.
With little hope of passing the bill this year, Mr. Grendell said the Michigan results will provide ammunition next year.
He is becoming a state senator next year, and he vowed to resubmit a tougher version of the bill in that chamber, this time allowing fines for stations that sell bad gas.
"If the Michigan law [that levies fines] is good enough to protect Michigan consumers, it ought to be good enough to protect Ohio consumers," he said.
The Toledo Blade
Article published Saturday, November 20, 2004
POOR FUEL
29% of Michigan gas samples fail quality standard
Finding could fuel Ohio testing effort
By JOE MAHR
BLADE STAFF WRITER
More than a fourth of Michigan gasoline tested by regulators last summer was substandard, and that finding may fuel the effort to get Ohio to test the quality of its gas, too.
In a report released this week, the Michigan Department of Agriculture found that 29 percent of the gasoline samples tested from May 1 to Sept. 7 failed to meet minimum quality standards, and 12 percent of the gas pumps short-changed customers on quantity.
With gasoline consumers seeing near-record prices this year, regulators said the report highlights the continuing quality problems within an industry that sells more than 6 billion gallons of gas and diesel fuel in Michigan each year.
Of the 953 gas stations tested, Michigan fined 48 for repeat violations related to problems with water, octane, vapor pressure, product misrepresentation, or product contamination.
Consumer advocates say poor gas can clog fuel filters, lower performance, and damage engines.
Eight stations were fined for short-changing customers.
Citing computer problems, the Department of Agriculture could not say yesterday whether any of those stations were in southeast Michigan.
Beyond the tests, the state received 112 complaints from consumers this year, more than double a year ago, with one in five of the consumer complaints substantiated.
The report already has drawn the interest of policymakers south of the border, where advocates of gasoline quality testing have been fighting for four years to allow similar testing in the Buckeye State.
Ohio is one of only four states that doesn't allow the government to test and punish gas stations for selling poor quality gas. The others are Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Alaska.
The law now allows Ohio's county auditors to test only to ensure the quantity is accurate.
So when somebody complains to Lucas County Auditor Larry Kaczala about buying poor quality gasoline, "all I can say is, 'I made sure you got a full gallon of bad gas. '●"
Mr. Kaczala, who has lobbied for the right to test gas-quality since 2000, said his office could do the testing for little extra cost - if state lawmakers allowed it.
Only Summit County, the home of Akron, has the power to test gas quality without the approval of state law because that county government operates under a special "home rule" charter. Summit County plans to begin testing gas quality and levying fines for bad gas early next year.
State Rep. Timothy Grendell (R. , Chesterland) is pushing a bill this year that would allow the rest of Ohio's county auditors to test gas quality and would demand gas stations fix gas-quality problems if uncovered.
But even though the bill doesn't allow any fines to be levied, it has failed to make it for a vote this year.
Advocates of quality testing blame the oil and gasoline industry for blocking the measure in the Republican-controlled chamber.
"I'm going the against the flow of my own party on this issue," Mr. Grendell said.
Industry representatives did not return phone calls yesterday seeking comment, but have said in the past that they already do quality testing, and that it would be unfair to punish gas stations because the problem may have originated with gas wholesalers.
Mr. Grendell said a hard part of the fight has been proving there's a problem.
A 1999 Ohio Department of Agriculture survey of 135 gas stations found that 12 percent of the gas samples didn't meet minimum quality standards. But there has been no follow-up surveys.
With little hope of passing the bill this year, Mr. Grendell said the Michigan results will provide ammunition next year.
He is becoming a state senator next year, and he vowed to resubmit a tougher version of the bill in that chamber, this time allowing fines for stations that sell bad gas.
"If the Michigan law [that levies fines] is good enough to protect Michigan consumers, it ought to be good enough to protect Ohio consumers," he said.
