The Removal of the Federal Reformulated Gasoline Program from Jefferson, Bullitt, and Oldham Counties in Kentucky

On March 2, 2026, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) approved Kentucky’s petition to remove the Federal Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) requirements from Jefferson County and parts of Bullitt and Oldham counties, effective May 27, 2026.¹

The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAA Amendments) added RFG to reduce ozone-forming pollutants and air toxics in densely populated areas. RFG use is mandatory in severe ozone nonattainment areas, and other ozone nonattainment areas can opt into the program. Kentucky opted the Louisville region and surrounding counties into the program on January 1, 1995. Ambient ozone levels in the Kentucky portion of the area later improved enough for U.S. EPA to redesignate the area to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in 2007.²

On August 4, 2025, Kentucky submitted a noninterference demonstration to U.S. EPA showing that ending the RFG program would not interfere with the area’s ability to maintain compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA) and attainment with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In a letter dated February 26, 2026, U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin notified Governor Andy Beshear that the petition was approved under the CAA and 40 CFR 1090.290.³

What the RFG Program Required and Details of the Removal

RFG originally had lower benzene emissions than conventional gasoline but it is now the same for both fuels. What still sets RFG apart from conventional gasoline is that it evaporates less easily in summer heat, which reduces the fumes that help form ground-level ozone. The program applies to designated areas nationwide, including the Kentucky side of the Louisville, KY-Indiana metropolitan region. According to U.S. EPA’s website, RFG is still used in ozone nonattainment areas in 17 states and the District of Columbia. U.S. EPA approved Kentucky’s request to opt Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties out of the program in 2018.

As of May 27, 2026, retailers and suppliers in Jefferson, Bullitt, and Oldham counties may sell conventional gasoline that meets standard federal volatility and other fuel requirements. State and local leaders expect gas prices to fall about 10–25 cents per gallon.⁴ The change applies only to the Kentucky portion of the Louisville area. Indiana counties such as Clark and Floyd are not covered by Kentucky’s petition and remain subject to their own fuel requirements.

For complete details, see the Federal Register notice, “Removal of the Federal Reformulated Gasoline Program from the Kentucky Portion of the Louisville, KY-IN Area.”⁵ More information is available on the Kentucky Division for Air Quality’s (KDAQ) State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions page.²

Implications for Facilities and Distributors

For distributors and industrial facilities in the affected Kentucky counties, the change simplifies fuel supply chains and logistics. Facilities no longer need to manage separate inventories or delivery systems for RFG in these counties.

Facilities with air permits from the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (LMAPCD) or KDAQ should:

• Review any references to RFG in their emissions inventories or Potential to Emit (PTE) calculations.
• Check permit conditions, compliance plans, and reporting templates for outdated language related to RFG.
• Determine whether any updates to permit applications are required.
• Document the change for future compliance demonstrations during inspections or audits.

How ALL4 Can Help

ALL4 helps facilities evaluate how fuel-program changes affect air permits, update PTE calculations, prepare permit modifications, and revise compliance reporting documents so records match current RFG requirements. We can help you understand how this and other new or changing air quality requirements impact your facility, and we can compare air quality requirements across geographies.

If you have questions about how this RFG removal affects your operations, permitting, or compliance obligations, contact me at mballard@all4inc.com.

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References

1. U.S. EPA. (2026, March 2). Removal of the Federal Reformulated Gasoline Program from the Kentucky Portion of the Louisville Area. https://www.epa.gov/gasoline-standards/removal-federal-reformulated-gasoline-program-kentucky-portion-louisville-area
2. Kentucky Division for Air Quality. State Implementation Plan Revisions. https://eec.ky.gov/Environmental-Protection/Air/Pages/State-Implementation-Plan-Revisions.aspx
3. Letter from EPA Administrator Lee M. Zeldin to Governor Andy Beshear (February 26, 2026). https://governor.ky.gov/attachments/20260226_RFG-Approval.pdf
4. Governor Andy Beshear Announcement (February 26, 2026). https://www.facebook.com/GovAndyBeshear/posts/today-gov-andy-beshear-announced-that-his-request-for-the-louisville-area-to-be-/1481054613462824/
5. Federal Register. (2026, March 2). Removal of the Federal Reformulated Gasoline Program From the Kentucky Portion of the Louisville, KY-IN Area. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/02/2026-04127/removal-of-the-federal-reformulated-gasoline-program-from-the-kentucky-portion-of-the-louisville