Trump’s EPA Could Make Gas Cans Great Again

The government wants better gas cans with increased fuel flow

Gas cans used to be incredibly simple as many had a twist-off ring, which would reveal a plastic cap and a removable spout. They were cheap, easy to use, and foolproof.

That’s no longer the case as government regulations have made many gas cans a nightmare to use. The issues started in 2007, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule requiring companies to reduce evaporative emissions by sealing in vapors. This pushed many firms to remove vents, which resulted in slow-flowing gas cans.

More: Government Urges People Not To Fill Up Plastic Bags With Gasoline

A bigger annoyance came in 2008, when Congress passed the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act. This required gas cans to incorporate child-resistant locks, similar to ones used on prescription medications. This resulted in some terrible designs and a number of us have likely broken a nozzle or two on accident.

More recently, in 2022, Congress enacted the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act. It “mandated flame mitigation devices in cans to prevent flashback ignition,” which the EPA says further complicated nozzle and spout designs.

While the problems are widely known, the government now wants to address one of the pain points. As part of this effort, the EPA sent letters to gas can manufacturers last week to encourage them to add self-closing vents to their products. The government said the move “comes in response to years of complaints about slow, frustrating fuel flow from modern gas cans.”

The move only seeks to address one of the more minor issues, but EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said “The confusion surrounding gas cans has been a frustration for years. Moving forward, Americans should have gas cans that are compliant, but most importantly, that are effective and consumer-friendly.”

H/T to USA Today