Why does the White House want to redesign gas cans? Explaining the situation
Under a plan announced July 24 by President Donald Trump's Environmental Protection Agency, the federal government is encouraging manufacturers to add vents to portable fuel containers, also known as gas cans.
It would effectively reverse a 2009-rule by federal environmental officials at the time that required portable gas cans - used for lawnmowers, chainsaws, ATVS and stranded vehicles - to have special vents that stop the vapors from escaping.
Proponents of that rule - which was finalized in 2007 - said the vapors that escape contributed to ozone pollution.
But the 2009 rule created an online market for pre-ban gas cans among buyers dissatisfied with the new cans.
Why does Trump want to redesign gas cans?
'Gas cans used to pour gas,' Trump's head of the EPA, Lee Zeldin, said on X, formerly Twitter. 'Now they just dribble like a child's sippy cup.'
But many modern designs are often infuriatingly ineffective at actually filling tanks because the vents work so poorly, critics argue. Instead of stopping vapors from flowing out the complicated spouts and relief valves, the new designs often cause gasoline spills, which some critics say are far worse than a tiny amount of vapor escaping from an older design.
Some rules for gas cans will still remain in place
Other rules for gas cans have to remain in place under federal law, like making sure they're child-resistant and limiting the risk of flash fires.
What happens next for gas cans?
The EPA's announcement is non-binding for manufacturers and doesn't prohibit the vents.
Rather, the EPA is asking manufacturers to redesign the gas cans to have vents 'to facilitate fast and smooth fuel flow.'
This article contains material from USA TODAY
Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record.
Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter:@danielmunoz100 and Facebook
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Gas can redesign considered by Trump White House. Here's why
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