16 Tex. Admin. Code § 97.3 - Adoption by Reference

In accordance with Chapter 2310 of the Code, the department adopts the currently published edition of each of the following nationally recognized minimum standards for the purpose of administering and enforcing this chapter:

(1) Legal standards for weights and measures. NIST Handbook 44, "Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices."

(2) Motor fuel quality testing standards.

(A) NIST Handbook 130, "Uniform Laws and Regulations in the Areas of Legal Metrology and Fuel Quality," relating to "Uniform Fuels and Automotive Lubricants Regulations," as standard specifications for ethanol blends with the following modifications:

(i) vapor pressure tolerance not exceeding one pound per square inch for motor fuels blended with up to 15 volume percent ethanol, excluding the time period from May 1 through October 1 for counties required to have low emissions fuels; and

(ii) vapor pressure seasonal specifications may be extended for a maximum period of 15 days to allow for the disbursement of old stocks. However, new stocks of a higher volatility classification must not be offered for retail sale prior to the effective date of the higher volatility classification; and

(iii) the vapor/liquid ratio specification must be waived for motor fuels blended with ethanol.

(B) ASTM D4814, "Standard Specification for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel," as the standard specifications for gasoline with the following modification, vapor pressure and vapor/liquid ratio seasonal specifications may be extended for a maximum period of 15 days to allow for the disbursement of old stocks. However, new stocks of a higher volatility classification must not be offered for retail sale prior to the effective date of the higher volatility classification.

(C) ASTM D975, "Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel," as the standard specifications for diesel motor fuels and renewable diesel fuels;

(D) ASTM D5798, "Standard Specification for Ethanol Fuel Blends for Flexible-Fuel Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines," as the standard specifications for 51 volume percent to 83 volume percent ethanol fuel;

(E) ASTM D6751, "Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels;"

(F) ASTM D7467, "Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel Oil, Biodiesel Blend (B6 to B20);" and

(G) ASTM D7794, "Standard Practice for Blending Mid-Level Ethanol Fuel Blends for Flexible Fuel Vehicles with Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines," as the standard specification for gasoline ethanol blends containing 16 to 50 volume percent ethanol.

(3) Automotive Fuel Rating. The testing methods, standards and specifications used to determine the automotive fuel rating shall be those prescribed by the most current editions of:

(A) ASTM D2699, "Standard Test Method for Research Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel;"

(B) ASTM D2700, "Standard Test Method for Motor Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel;"

(C) ASTM D2885 "Standard Test Method for Determination of Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuels by On-Line Direct Comparison Technique;" and

(D) ASTM D5599, "Standard Test Method for Determination of Oxygenates in Gasoline by Gas Chromatography and Oxygen Selective Flame Ionization Detection."

Notes

16 Tex. Admin. Code § 97.3

Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 35, August 28, 2020, TexReg 6084, eff. 9/1/2020; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 48, Number 34, August 25, 2023, TexReg 4657, eff. 9/1/2023