May 1--VICTORVILLE

--Most gas stations in the High Desert have missed the April 1 deadline to meet a statemandated order to install high tech vapor-recovery systems on their pumps, according to the director of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District.

The major obstacle to installing the enhanced vapor-recovery system is cost, especially for the smaller, individually owned gas stations.

Installing the equipment runs about $11,000 per pump and most stations missed the deadl i n e b e c a u s e they just don't have the money.

Officials at the California Air Resources Board said they are sensitive to the money issue and told the 35 air districts to "exercise disc re t i o n a n d restraint in light of the current economic situation."

Violette Roberts, director of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, said this district is even more unique due to its size and location. The 22,000-squaremile district has 228 service stations that face other issues beside costs.

"In light of the economy, in light of the tight credit market, it's hard to find a contractor who can do the installation because they have to be certified," Roberts said. She added that the few engineers and technicians needed to install the upgrades to gas stations are tied up in the more populated areas of Southern California.

Executive director of the California Service Station and Automotive R e p a i r A s s o c i at i o n , Dennis DeCota, said the cost for the vapor capture system is putting a financial burden on every gas station in the state because they have already paid for one upgrade that was also costly.

"We are forced by regulation to install the enhanced vapor recovery, which is in phase two and we have to replace the phase one system that we've already paid for because the USCPA (United States Climate Partnership Association) said they did not work effectively," DeCota said.

He said the USCPA told the ARB that vapor recovery systems on the gas pumps now, installed in the early '90s, were only about 50 percent effective, leading the ARB to mandate the upgrade.

DeCota said there is another upgrade on the way scheduled for September when larger gas stations that do more than 50,000 gallons a month have to pay for the installation of an In Station Diagnostics. The ISD continuously monitors the underground pipes and tanks for seepage or leaks, and will automatically shut the system down if a leak occurs.

DeCota said that cost will be about $5,000 per station.

While only the larger gas stations are mandated for the ISD, all gas stations have to retrofit their pumps with the enhanced vapor recovery system.

Roberts said the district is helping the gas stations submit a compliance plan that shows they are actively working to have the enhanced vapor capture system eventually installed by applying for loans and talking with contractors.

She said 207 of the 228 service stations have submitted a compliance plan, which is about 91 percent of the gas stations. She said 23 percent of those have completed the installation.

"If they can show a good faith effort in reaching compliance, they may avoid fines," Roberts said.

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