There are problems with the bootless vacuum assist vapor recovery systems installed in many service stations in California. Air Quality Districts are tagging the systems because they fail to pass on site tests. There are so many failures that experts seem to believe the systems are fatally flawed.

Wednesday, at the Air Resources Board Headquarters in Sacramento, a meeting was held to discuss the issue. CSSARA, the only industry association in attendance, made it clear service station operators installed these systems in good faith based on the states approval and certification. If there are design failures, or equipment that does not operate properly in the field, the retailer/owner is not the person responsible. We will keep you advised of this issue.

If you have a vacuum assisted system and are cited for system failure calls us at 415-892-1243

SMOG CHECK: MITIGATION LEGISLATION

Legislation has been introduced by Assemblyman Baugh to address the issue of mitigating the cost of BAR-97 equipment. AB2311, sponsored by CSSARA, is addressing the issue of protecting the industry's investment above $10,000. At present, BAR-97 is planned to continue until January 1, 2005. Mitigation, probably in the form of a tax credit, would become a factor if the program stops prior to that date.

GASOLINE PRICES CONTINUE TO DROP

Gasoline prices nationwide fell another 1.6 cpg last week. Average national price for regular unleaded is $1.03, 22 cpg below the price peak last August and 19 cpg below the same period last year.

Four of the major players manufacturing California's new smog check equipment have received full BAR certification of their BAR-97 Emissions Inspection System. SPX Corporation Bear/Allen was the first to be approved. Sun-Snap-on, John Bean Co., and ESP all received certification on the last working day in February.

WorldWide and Unidyne have not been certified but have till March 15, 1998 to do so. If they are not certified by then BAR will stop accepting TAS data and their customers will not be allowed to continue in the state's Smog Check Program.

If your supplier has not received approval call CSSARA at 415-892-1243 and we can advise you on how to address this critical issue.

SMOG CHECK TIME TABLE

April 1, 1998:
Fully certified BAR97 units, including dynos and final software, must be completely installed and operational in Enhanced Areas. Stations must transmit at least one ASM Test to the Vehicle Identification Database (VID), as evidence of installation. Two-speed idle test will be acceptable through April 30, 1998. Enhanced Area stations without certified and installed BAR-97 equipment will be locked-out from sending Smog Check Test results to the VID.

May 1, 1998:
The full program of Implemented-Only ASM Tests on the dynos (enhanced areas) will be accepted.

OIL COMPANY MARKET SHARE

The California Energy Commission says the number one gasoline retailer in the state is Chevron with 19.6% market share. Arco is second at 19.1%, Tosco third at 17.8%, Shell fourth at 11.8%, followed by Mobil 9.4%, Exxon 7.2%, Ultamar 7.1%, Texaco 5.6%, others 2.4% (interesting; 97.6% of the gasoline sales in Calif. is sold via branded majors). Sales are based on taxable sales between Jan. 1997 and Nov. 1997.