Stage I requirements apply to facilities with which monthly throughput?

• A. Stage II vapor recovery
• B. Stage I vapor recovery
• C. No vapor recovery required
• D. Only if a spill occurs

Answer: (B)

Stage I vapor recovery targets the vapors released during the bulk transfer of gasoline to and from storage facilities. When a facility handles a substantial monthly amount of gasoline, it makes sense to install vapor-recovery equipment on storage and transfer operations to capture those emissions at the source. That’s why Stage I requirements apply to facilities with enough monthly throughput to justify this control, separate from the systems used at the pumps themselves.

Stage II, by contrast, deals with vapors released during vehicle fueling at dispensing islands, not the bulk transfer process. Vapor recovery is not contingent on spills; it’s a ongoing control for appropriate throughput levels.