Representative Brian Mast (FL-21) introduced legislation to lower gas prices nationwide by waiving the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements for the entire 2026 summer season.
I will lower gas prices nationwide by waiving the Environmental Protection Agency's Reid Vapor Pressure requirements for the entire 2026 summer season.
Occurrences
introduced legislation to lower gas prices nationwide by waiving the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) requirements for the entire 2026 summer season
Evidence
The report says EPA temporarily waived certain fuel restrictions, allowing expanded sales of E15 and E10 nationally while easing enforcement of summer RVP standards; it also notes summer gasoline is normally limited to 9 psi RVP and the season runs through Sept. 15.
EPA's 2026 nationwide fuel-waiver entry says the March 25, 2026 waiver allowed a single national gasoline pool with 9 to 15 percent ethanol at a common 10 psi RVP standard, effective May 1, 2026 to May 20, 2026. EPA later listed an April 30 extension of federal enforcement relief for state boutique fuel requirements effective May 4, 2026 to May 23, 2026, and says other requirements not explicitly waived still apply.
The current eCFR text for 40 CFR 1090.215 says gasoline designated as summer gasoline or located in the United States during the summer season is subject to maximum RVP standards, generally 9.0 psi unless lower standards apply; RFG areas must meet 7.4 psi and SIP-controlled areas must meet the federally approved SIP standard.
The eCFR definition of summer season or high ozone season is June 1 through September 15 for retailers and wholesale purchaser-consumers, and May 1 through September 15 for all other persons, unless a SIP control period is longer.
Axios reported that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the administration was expanding higher-ethanol gasoline sales in summer 2026 to address rising gas prices; the report said E15 is usually restricted in summer due to evaporation and air-pollution concerns and cited typical E15 savings of 10 to 40 cents per gallon.
EPA's 2026 fuel-waiver page lists a March 25 nationwide waiver, an April 13 extension effective April 14 to May 3, and an April 30 extension effective May 4 to May 23. The page's 2026 section does not list any nationwide waiver extending through June, July, August, or September 15, 2026.
Assessments
EPA did take a related nationwide 2026 fuel-waiver action, allowing a temporary common 10 psi RVP standard for certain gasoline blends from May 1 to May 20, with a narrower enforcement-relief extension through May 23. But the federal summer RVP season runs through September 15 for retailers, and current EPA/eCFR materials show the broader summer RVP standards remained in force after those short waiver periods. The promise was to waive EPA Reid Vapor Pressure requirements nationwide for the entire 2026 summer season, so the core promised outcome was not fully delivered. The record also does not show Brian Mast personally wrote, sponsored, or materially advanced the EPA action, so no effort badge is warranted.
The evidence shows EPA took a temporary, narrower summer fuel-rule relaxation that eased enforcement and expanded fuel options, but not a clear nationwide waiver of RVP requirements for the entire 2026 summer season. There is also no evidence that Brian J. Mast directly wrote, sponsored, or materially advanced the EPA action, so this does not justify full delivery credit.