What are EPA Standards for Portable Marine Gas Tanks?

by Brandon Hefner Custom Marine Fuel Tanks

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established by the federal government of the US in 1970 to ensure environment protection from growing pollution content. In 2011, EPA issued a zero-emission policy for outboard engines. It is required for boat gas tanks manufacturers to meet industry safety standards along with EPA regulations. The EPA standards apply to the fuel lines, fuel tanks, couplings, and fittings, and fuel caps used or intended to be used in new engines and equipment that are fueled with a volatile liquid fuel such as gasoline, but not including diesel fuel and to the equipment in which these components are installed.

Installing permanent EPA standards marine gas tanks is never recommended for people who have never certified or tested a tank before. It must meet with the Federal regulation and rules of USCG and EPA. The idea of buying portable tanks from a merchant or from a manufacturer is safe and ideal.

Ethanol Blended Fuel

The US EPA has made it mandatory to use ethanol-blended gasoline in boats that manufactured to support the E10 fuel type which includes 10% ethanol. E15 is not recommended for marine engines and limited to certain vehicles. There may be extensive requirements of ABYC standards and federal regulations for boat gas tanks which are not described here so you’re encouraged to contact to ABYC and coast guard to know the latest standards.

Do Not Use Prohibited Material

There is mainly three material used widely by the boat manufacturers – aluminum, stainless steel, and hard plastic (polyethylene). But there are some EPA standards for plastic fuel tanks. A fuel tank must not be created from terneplate. It should be manufactured with Black Iron or Carbon Steel unless the tank is coated with an inorganic sacrificial galvanic coating from all the sides. While purchasing aluminum fuel tanks make sure you ask the tank builder whether it meets with the latest EPA standards.

Fuel Tank Label

Is there a label on the fuel tank? While the law only requires that there should be a label on the tank which should be visible from the helm, the tank builder should work to ensure that the label will be visible for inspection after the tank has been installed. The label contains basic information about EPA standards marine gas tanks builder, material, capacity, and statement of low permission permeation testing.

Evaporative Emission

According to the USCG, Outboard engines, their fuel systems, along with other spark-ignition, marine engine systems should be covered by the EPA regulations. The new requirements require that evaporative emissions should be controlled by either a carbon canister or a sealed pressure system.

There are many other rules and regulations set by the government and authorized agencies to be followed by aluminum fuel tanks manufacturers. However, the given information in this article may be incomplete or is never guaranteed, so tank buyers or tank builders should read all the EPA standards and other rules on its official site.