'VENT THE DARN CAN': Lee Zeldin deregulates 'dribbling' gas can

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Thursday urged manufacturers of gas cans to "vent the darn can and let it flow baby flow," citing complaints from consumers, retailers, and elected officials "about the performance of newer gas cans."

Zeldin posted a letter from Deputy Assistant Administrator for Mobile Sources Alexander Dominguez, which stated that the EPA "is writing to clarify our evaporative emissions regulations for portable fuel containers (PFCs, or gas cans) and to encourage manufacturers to produce cans that best meet consumer needs, including by offering gas cans with vents to facilitate fast and smooth fuel flow.

"Since EPA’s evaporative emissions standards for PFCs went into effect in 2009, we have heard concerns from consumers, retailers, and elected officials about the performance of newer gas cans. One of the most common complaints is about slow fuel flow."

The letter stated that "some of these concerns appear to stem from confusion about the intent and scope of EPA’s regulations." Dominguez wrote that a review of gas cans on the market revealed that "only a small number include a separate vent to support smooth and fast delivery of fuel. Without a vent, PFCs must self-vent through the spout which we believe may explain consumer complaints related to slow dispensing of fuels from modern gas cans."

"To be clear, EPA’s regulations do not prohibit the inclusion of vents in PFCs. The Agency’s rules explicitly allow vented containers, provided that the vents are designed to automatically close when not in use, without requiring any action from the user."

The letter later added, citing other federal requirements manufacturers might be required to meet in addition to EPA requirements, "We recognize the technical challenges of designing a product that satisfies all applicable standards while remaining user-friendly. We believe incorporating vents is a practical step toward enhancing consumer usability."