43840-43844

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 43840-43844




43840.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that emission of air
pollutants from motor vehicles is a major contributor to air
pollution within the State of California and, therefore, declares its
policy to encourage the testing of various types of vehicle fuels,
which would contribute substantially to the protection and
preservation of the public health and well-being.
   (b) The Legislature further finds and declares that programs to
expand the use of alcohols as substitutes for gasoline and other
petroleum-based fuels can offer significant environmental benefits
while reducing the nation's dependence on imported crude oil.
   (c) The Legislature further finds and declares that pure alcohol
fuels burn cleanly and that motor vehicles fueled with alcohol can be
modified at reasonable cost to burn alcohol fuels without decreasing
efficiency and without creating air quality problems.



43843.  (a) The state board, in consultation with the State Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission, shall establish
and conduct, until January 1, 1988, an experimental program in which
fleet vehicles may utilize gasoline into which methanol has been
blended.
   (b) In order to participate in the methanol-gasoline experimental
vehicle fleet program, all of the following information shall be
submitted to the state board for each vehicle proposed for
participation in the program:
   (1) The make, model, vehicle identification number, and license
number of each vehicle.
   (2) A description of the fuel to be used in the vehicle.
   (3) Evidence that the vehicle's emissions using the
methanol-gasoline blend will be no higher than the vehicle's
emissions using gasoline which complies with the volatility standard
established pursuant to Section 43830. Evidence may be based on
emission tests or a combination of emission tests and engineering
evaluation.
   (4) A description of any modifications to the vehicle necessary to
comply with paragraph (3).
   (5) A valid certificate of compliance issued pursuant to Section
4000.1 or 4000.3 of the Vehicle Code.
   (c) Within 60 days of receipt of a request to participate in the
program, the state board, in consultation with the State Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission, shall approve or
deny the request. Approval shall be granted if adequate evidence is
provided that use of the fuel will not cause or contribute to an
increase in vehicle emissions when using the methanol-gasoline blend.
   (d) The state board may periodically test vehicles enrolled in the
program for compliance. Failure to meet state emission standards
shall not result in imposition of any fine or penalty if there are no
violations of Section 27156 of the Vehicle Code, and the vehicle is
restored to conform to applicable emission standards at the end of
the experimental program.
   (e) All of the following records shall be maintained on each
vehicle and shall be made available to the state board upon request:
   (1) Fuel economy.
   (2) Maintenance and repair.
   (3) Driveability.
   (f) The state board may exempt the vehicles in any fleet
participating in the program from the requirements of subdivision (b)
until July 1, 1985. The exemption shall be granted if the applicant
demonstrates that the evidence required pursuant to paragraph (3) of
subdivision (b) is not available, that there is likelihood that it
will become available within the exemption period, and that the
facility at which the fleet vehicle is normally refueled does not
have provisions for the distribution of more than one type of fuel.



43844.  Fuels used in vehicles participating in the
methanol-gasoline experimental vehicle fleet program shall not be
required to comply with the standards established pursuant to Section
43830 or the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 13440 of the
Business and Professions Code, if all of the following conditions
are met:
   (a) The fuel is dispensed only from a pump operated by a fleet
operator whose request to participate has been granted pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 43843.
   (b) The fuel is used only in vehicles participating in the
methanol-gasoline experimental vehicle fleet program.
   (c) The gasoline used in the blend meets the standards established
pursuant to Section 43830.