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SCAQMD Rule 462: Organic Liquid Loading

February 24, 2026

Applicability and Purpose

On August 1, 2025, the SCAQMD adopted amendments to Rule 462, which regulates VOC emissions during the transfer of organic liq-uids with a true vapor pressure of 1.5 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) or greater (e.g., gasoline and ethanol) into tank trucks, trailers, and railcars. The rule also establish-es contingency measures for appli-cable ozone standards for the reduc-tion of VOCs.

Lower VOC Limit for VR Systems

Under Rule 462 Section (d)(1)(D), the allowable VOC emission rate from vapor recovery (VR) and disposal systems at large loading facilities (“Class A” facilities that load more than 20,000 gallons per day) was reduced from 0.08 pound (lb) to 0.04 lb per 1,000 gallons of organic liquid transferred. According to the SCAQMD, the amendment to lower the VOC emission rate formalizes best performance, since the source testing data reviewed by the SCAQMD during rulemaking re-portedly showed that most facilities were already meeting the new limit. Permit modifications incorporating the new limit are due by February 1, 2027 [Rule 462 Section (e)(1)(C)].

New 5-Year Source Testing Requirement

To verify ongoing compliance, each Class A facility must conduct peri-odic source tests every 60 months using United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) or SCAQMD-approved methods [Rule 462 Section (f)(8)]. Facilities that are not already conducting periodic source tests must submit a source test protocol by August 1, 2026, and complete testing by August 1, 2027.

Monthly OGI Inspections

Beginning August 1, 2026, Class A and B facilities (i.e., facilities that load more than 4,000 gallons per day) must perform monthly optical gas imaging (OGI) inspections to detect fugitive VOC emissions [Rule 462 Section (d)(6)]. Each detection of a vapor or liquid leak must be addressed within 3 days, and re-paired or replaced components must be reinspected.

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