Trump's EPA Might Restore the Quality of Gas Cans | Carscoops

      The government is seeking to improve gas cans for better fuel flow

      19 hours ago

      by Michael Gauthier

      The EPA is urging manufacturers to create gas cans that are more user-friendly.

      They are recommending that producers incorporate vents to enhance fuel flow.

      Gas cans have been subject to strict regulations, resulting in overly complex designs.

      Previously, gas cans were quite straightforward, often featuring a twist-off ring that would expose a plastic cap and detachable spout. They were inexpensive, easy to handle, and very reliable.

      However, this is no longer the case, as government regulations have turned many gas cans into frustrating tools. The problems began in 2007 when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented a rule aimed at reducing evaporative emissions by sealing in vapors. This led many manufacturers to omit vents, causing gas cans to have sluggish fuel flow.

      More: Government Advises Against Filling Plastic Bags With Gasoline

      A significant inconvenience arose in 2008 when Congress passed the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act. This legislation mandated that gas cans feature child-resistant locks, similar to those found on prescription drugs. The result was some poorly designed products, and many of us have likely broken a nozzle or two unintentionally.

      More recently, in 2022, Congress enacted the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act, which "required flame mitigation devices in cans to prevent flashback ignition.” The EPA states that this has further complicated the designs of nozzles and spouts.

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      Although these issues are well-recognized, the government is now looking to tackle one of the primary concerns. In line with this initiative, the EPA recently sent letters to gas can manufacturers urging them to add self-closing vents to their products. The government noted that this action “is a response to years of complaints about the slow and frustrating fuel flow from modern gas cans.”

      This effort targets only one of the less significant issues, but EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated, “The confusion surrounding gas cans has been a source of frustration for years. Going forward, Americans should have gas cans that are compliant, but most importantly, effective and user-friendly.”

      H/T to USA Today

      Many fire codes restrict the amount of fuel you can store to 25 gallons in total, divided among approved, leak-proof containers with a capacity of less than five gallons each.

      Posted by Scepter Can on Saturday, September 28, 2019