LINKS
Division of Measurement Standards
Hydrogen Fuel
In 2005, Senate Bill 76 placed the responsibility to adopt specifications for hydrogen fuel on the Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Measurement Standards (DMS). This law requires DMS to have the standards in place on or before January 1, 2008. DMS is required to adopt by reference the latest standards for hydrogen established by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards development organization. If such a standard has not been developed, DMS is required to develop interim standards.
DMS has determined that no ANSI accredited standards development organization has established standards for hydrogen fuel used in fuel cell or internal combustion motor vehicles. Therefore, the Department proposes to establish interim standards for hydrogen fuel.
The Department of Food and Agriculture has now begun the formal process of adopting hydrogen fuel regulations (California Regulatory Notice Register 2007, Volume No. 40-Z). The Department is seeking comments by all interested parties.
The written comment period closes at 5:00 p.m. on December 17, 2007. The Department will consider only comments received at the Department offices by that time. Submit comments to: Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Measurement Standards, 6790 Florin Perkins Road, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95828. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile (FAX) at (916) 229-3026 or by email at DMS@cdfa.ca.gov.
The Department has scheduled a public hearing on this proposed action. The hearing will be held at 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, at 1:00 p.m. on December 17, 2007. At this hearing, any person may present statements of arguments orally or in writing relevant to the proposed action described in the Informative Digest. The Department requests but does not require that persons who make oral comments at the hearing also submit a written copy of their testimony at the time of the hearing. Any changes to the developmental engine fuel variance regulation will be dealt with separately.
DMS has received questions regarding the possibility of obtaining a variance from interim hydrogen fuel standards. Section 13405 of the California Business and Professions Code and Section 4140 of the California Code of Regulations do allow DMS to grant variances for developmental engine fuels. Detailed information on this topic can be found in the Developmental Engine Fuel Variance for Hydrogen document.
The Department plans to review the regulations related to the developmental engine fuel variances process. However, no changes to the variance process are part of this proposed hydrogen fuel regulation. Any changes to the developmental engine fuel variance regulation will be dealt with separately.
PROPOSED REGULATIONS
CONTACT
Kristin Macey, Branch Chief6790 Florin Perkins Road, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95828(916) 229-3044; FAX (916) 229-3064John Mough, Chemist6790 Florin Perkins Road, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95828(916) 229-3054; FAX (916) 229-3064