The requirements of this section apply to any refiner approved for small refiner standards who wishes to be eligible for a hardship extension under §80.260.

(a) Compliance commitment. By no later than June 1, 2004, any refiner who is approved for small refinery standards must submit a preliminary report to EPA which outlines the refiner's timeline for compliance and a project plan which discusses permits, capital commitments and engineering plans for making the necessary modifications to produce gasoline that meets the 30 ppm refinery average and 80 ppm per-gallon cap sulfur standards under §80.195 on or before January 1, 2008. Documents showing activities and progress in these areas should be provided, if available.

(b) Demonstration of Progress.

(1)

(i) By no later than June 1, 2005, the small refiner must submit a report to EPA that states in detail the progress toward compliance with the 30 ppm refinery average and 80 ppm cap sulfur standards to date based on their timeline and project plan. The report must include:

(A) Copies of approved permits for construction of the equipment, or the permit application if approval is still pending;

(B) Copies of contracts for design and construction; and

(C) Any available evidence of having secured the necessary financing to complete the required construction;

(ii) If the refiner anticipates any difficulties in meeting its compliance commitments under this section, the refiner must submit a detailed report of all efforts made to date and the factors that may cause delay, including costs, specification of engineering or other design work needed and reasons for delay, specification of equipment needed and any reasons for delay, potential equipment suppliers and history of negotiations, and any other relevant information. If unavailability of equipment is a factor, the report must include a discussion of other options considered and the reasons these other options are not feasible.

(2) By no later than June 1, 2006, the small refiner must submit to EPA evidence that on-site construction has begun and that, absent unforeseen difficulties, the small refiner will be producing complying gasoline by January 1, 2008. If construction has not begun, the refiner must demonstrate that it has made all reasonable efforts to begin construction, that substantial progress is being made to begin construction as soon as possible, and that construction can be completed in time to begin production of gasoline that complies with the standards of §80.195 by January 1, 2008.

(c) Additional information. The Administrator may request any additional information necessary to determine a refiner's commitment and/or progress toward meeting the standards in §80.195 by 2008.

(d) Failure to comply with requirements. Any small refiner who fails to submit the progress reports required under this section will not be eligible for a hardship extension under §80.260.