Kentucky Notes

Kentucky to Open Regional Fuel & Pesticide Testing Lab
December 2007 - The Kentucky Department of Agriculture celebrated the groundbreaking for a new Frankfort-based Kentucky Fuel and Pesticide Testing Laboratory on May 15, 2007. Preliminary testing is slated for January 2008.

The lab will greatly enhance the department’s ability to test motor fuel for quality and octane level.

The facility will have a Biodiesel and Ethanol testing component that will enable the KDA to serve the Commonwealth’s rapidly growing biofuel industry.

The KDA tests motor fuel to ensure Kentucky does not become a dumping ground for poor quality fuel. The department also tests for the presence of MTBE, or methyl tertiary butyl ether, a fuel additive that is banned in Kentucky.


Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer and Executive Director of the Kentucky Petroleum Marketers Association, Richard Maxedon, shake hands after groundbreaking ceremonies.

Kentucky Fuel Quality Regulations

363.904 Requirements for sale and use of articles and commodities as motor fuel in Kentucky -- Labeling and testing of shipments of motor fuels.

(1) No article or commodity shall be sold or offered for sale and use in Kentucky as motor fuel unless it conforms to the following:

(a) The motor fuel shall be labeled and posted in accordance with applicable federal and state laws; and

(b) The motor fuel shall conform to the latest ASTM specifications for that particular type, class, and grade of motor fuel, except:

1. As provided by KRS 363.902(3); and

2. For gasoline containing up to ten percent (10%) ethanol, in which case the vapor pressure limit for each class shall be increased by one (1) pound per square inch and ASTM V/L (vapor to liquid ratio) specification is waived. Additionally, the department shall adopt a minimum temperature for fifty percent (50%) distillation of gasoline containing up to ten percent (10%) ethanol through the promulgation of an administrative regulation in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A.

(2) The motor fuel compliance with ASTM shall be determined in accordance with the test methods prescribed in the latest ASTM publications.

(3) All shipments of motor fuel shall state on either the bill of lading or invoice the destination of the shipment and that the shipment meets the standards and specifications required in this section. The division may obtain a sample of any shipment of motor fuel for testing. Motor fuel blending components shall be exempt from this section until they are offered for sale as motor fuel by the refiner or manufacturer.

Effective: July 15, 1994

History: Created 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 88, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1994.


Industry News

Study Shows Biodiesel Industry Steps Up to Fuel Quality Challenge

February 5, 2008 - The aggressive fuel quality outreach program put into place by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has demonstrated positive results. A new study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows the biodiesel industry has achieved a high degree of success in meeting national fuel quality standards.

According to the results, which NREL Senior Chemist Teresa Alleman presented at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Orlando, Fla., the in-spec samples represent 90 percent of the biodiesel produced in the U.S. last year.

Read the news release, Study Shows Biodiesel Industry Steps Up to Fuel Quality Challenge, for more.