California Air Resources Board

1. What is Executive Order NVR-1?

Response: It is the Executive Order relating to the certification of conventional low permeation hoses and enhanced conventional nozzles for use at gasoline dispensing facilities exempt by district rules from Phase II vapor recovery requirements.

2. What is a conventional nozzle?

Response: A conventional nozzle is a nozzle that does not have a supplementary vapor recovery pathway and does not have features to control excess liquid releases such as spillage, spitting, post fueling drips, and liquid retention.

3. What is an enhanced conventional (ECO) nozzle?

Response: An ECO nozzle is a conventional nozzle certified by CARB per CP-207 that is equipped with features to control excess liquid releases such as spillage, spitting, post fueling drips, and liquid retention.  ECO nozzles also differ from conventional nozzles in appearance because they are equipped with a mini boot device that serves as an interlock to prevent gasoline flow when the boot is uncompressed.

4. Why did CARB adopt standards for ECO nozzles?

Response: Beginning with the 1998 model year, certain vehicles equipped with On-Board Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) systems were introduced. By 2006, ORVR was installed in all vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. ORVR systems are designed to capture the vapors that would otherwise be emitted at the nozzle/vehicle fill pipe interface during refueling, the same vapors that Phase II EVR systems seek to control.

In February 2008, CARB issued guidance to air districts that it would be appropriate to consider allowing non-retail GDFs that fuel a captive fleet of ORVR vehicles to operate without Phase II EVR. Many air districts amended their rules to exempt Phase II for such applications. 

In 2015, CARB adopted performance standards for conventional nozzles used at these facilities. These standards did not include vapor recovery collection, but did require ECO nozzles to meet the same EVR nozzle standards related to controlling liquid releases.

5. What is a low permeation conventional hose?

Response: A low permeation conventional hose is one that will limit the release of gasoline vapor emissions through thermoplastic or rubber materials that are used for hose construction.

6. What prompted CARB to adopt a hose permeation standard?

Response: CARB found that limiting permeation from hoses would result in a 96 percent reduction in permeation emissions. This reduction is cost effective due to fuel savings.

7. What are the components listed in Executive Order NVR-1?

 See table below (check the latest version of Executive Order NVR-1, as other hose and nozzle models are added):

8. How are ECO nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses certified for use in California?

Response: ECO nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses are certified under Certification Procedure 207 (CP-207), which describes the procedure for evaluating and certifying ECO nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses for the control of gasoline vapor emissions from hoses and nozzles with no vapor recovery function.

9. Where are enhanced conventional (ECO) nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses used?

Response: ECO nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses are for use exclusively at non-retail GDFs that refuel predominately ORVR equipped vehicles and are exempted from Phase II vapor recovery requirements by district regulations.

10. What are real world examples of gasoline dispensing facilities at which ECO nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses would apply?

Response: Examples include non-retail entities that operate a captive fleet of ORVR equipped vehicles such as new car rental facilities, new auto dealerships, and municipalities.  Certain mobile refueling operations are also subject.

11. What is the maximum length of a hose assembly for a low permeation conventional hose?

Response: For a dispenser installation, the maximum length of the hose assembly, including the low permeation curb hose, breakaway, and low permeation whip hose combined, shall not exceed 18 feet (measured from the base of the nozzle to the end of the dispenser adaptor or dispenser outlet casting).  For a mobile refueler, installations utilizing a hose real, hose lengths greater than 18 feet are permitted.

12. What are the compliance deadlines for low permeation hoses and ECO nozzles for non-retail gasoline facilities exempted from Phase II vapor recovery requirements?

Response: The compliance deadlines are listed in the following table. These deadlines are based on the date when the first low permeation hose and ECO nozzle were first certified.

13. Are ECO nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses required for pre-EVR systems?

Response: No, GDFs with pre-EVR Phase II systems must use EVR certified components, when determined to be compatible by CARB.  ECO nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses pertain to non‑retail GDFs, which are exempted from Phase II requirements due to refueling predominately ORVR vehicles by district rules.

14. Are Phase II exempt gasoline dispensing facilities also exempt from Phase I vapor recovery?

Response: No, in general, Phase I vapor recovery still applies, if required by CARB or air district regulations. Check with your local air district for certainty, as there may be some limited exemptions.

15. How many Phase II exempt non-retail gasoline dispensing facilities exist in California?

Response:Data provided by air districts in 2015 indicates that there are over 300 non-retail ORVR fleet fueling facilities statewide that are exempt from Phase II vapor recovery.

16. What types of gasoline storage tanks can ECO nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses be installed upon?

Response:  ECO nozzle and low perm conventional hoses are compatible with gasoline dispensing facilities equipped with underground storage tanks and aboveground storage tanks.  In addition, certain mobile refueling operations are required to install ECO nozzles and low permeation conventional hoses.  Storage tanks containing diesel are not subject to the requirements.