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| 2004 Gas Cap Replacement Program |
| 2003 Participants | Gas Cap Fair Flyer (pdf) | Program History |
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RAQC To Host Employer Gas Cap Fairs to Eliminate Ozone Pollution
The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) will host gas cap fairs at employer sites around the Front Range region this spring and summer as a continuation of the "Put a Cap on Ozone" gas cap replacement program.
The RAQC launched the "Put a Cap on Ozone" program in the summer of 2000 in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Envirotest Systems Corporation, independent emissions testing stations, and NAPA Auto Parts. The goal of the effort was to reduce evaporative emissions from faulty or missing gas caps.
One faulty gas cap can leak one gallon of gasoline into the air every 15 days, which contributes to ground-level ozone pollution. Evaporative emissions from each faulty or missing gas cap can amount to an average of 165 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) per year. Not only is this bad for the air and for public health, but it is a waste of money and gasoline. By hosting a gas cap fair, employers can help curb summer ozone pollution in the Front Range region.
Faulty or missing gas caps emit VOCs, which combine with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone pollution. Ozone pollution can cause breathing problems and respiratory infections in the elderly, young, and those with pre-existing respiratory ailments.
During the three years of the "Put a Cap on Ozone" program, the RAQC and its partners replaced over 20,000 missing or faulty gas caps primarily at Envirotest testing stations around the metro area.
In 2001, the RAQC extended the program to include gas cap testing at employer sites around the Front Range region. This spring and summer RAQC staff will continue to travel to employer sites to host gas cap fairs to permanently eliminate VOCs from the air.
RAQC representatives will test gas caps of interested employees at the fairs. If a gas cap is faulty or missing, the RAQC will replace it with a free, new gas cap on the spot.
The RAQC will also set-up an informational booth at each employer site to help answer employees’ questions about ozone pollution.
Local governments and businesses that are interested in hosting a gas cap fair can contact Sara O’Keefe at 303-629-5450, ext. 220 or by email. For more information on hosting a gas cap fair, click on the Gas Cap Fair Flyer link at the top of the page.
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