NOTICE UNDER SECTION 17A OF THE FUEL QUALITY STANDARDS ACT 2000
DECISION UNDER SECTION 13 FOR AN APPROVAL FOR A VARIATION OF THE FUEL STANDARD (PETROL) DETERMINATION 2001
I, Andrew McNee, Assistant Secretary, Environment Protection Branch, delegate of the Minister, provide the following information concerning my decision to grant an approval under section 13 of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 (the Act).
Name of approval holder
Petrochem Carless Limited (PCL)
Period of operation
The period of operation of the approval is from the date of the approval until 31 December 2014.
Details of the approval
The approval varies the fuel standard for petrol set out in the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 (the Petrol Determination) so that specialist unleaded racing fuel containing either or both of the following parameters:
(a) methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) up to 14.9 percent v/v; and
(b) phosphorus up to 0.0260 g/L;
will be taken to comply with the MTBE and phosphorus parameters specified in the Petrol Determination in respect of the supply of the fuel for use in legitimate motor sport activities.
The approval applies to fuel supplied by PCL and the regulated persons specified in Annexure 1 to the approval instrument.
The approval is subject to conditions set out in Annexure 2 to the approval instrument and in section 17 of the Act.
Summary of reasons for the approval
I grant the approval as provided for in section 15 of the Act for the following reasons:
(a) The protection of the environment: the supply of the fuel is unlikely to impact on ambient air quality or occupational and public health and safety because it will be used in small quantities in motor or water sport activities and supplied to regulated users in small quantities.
(b) The protection of occupational and public health and safety: conditions have been attached to the approval to mitigate the risk of water contamination from MTBE and ensure safe handling of the fuel.
(c) The interests of consumers: the fuel is expensive compared with normal fuels available to the public and the price provides a strong disincentive for any waste, misuse or spillage. The supply of the fuel is required to meet the needs of a niche market and conditions have been attached to the approval to ensure the supply is limited to consumers in that market.
(d) The impact on economic and regional development: motor sport events provide an ongoing financial benefit to regional communities and it is not expected that use of small volumes of fuels which are the subject of the approval will have a significant effect on the environment.
Andrew McNee
Assistant Secretary
24 July 2013