The EPA’s consolidation of fuel regulations into 40 CFR Part 1090 has increased the need for structured, reliable compliance systems across the fuel supply chain. While the technical amendments to Part 1090 do not change fuel quality limits, they sharpen expectations around how fuel compliance data is generated, controlled, and reported. For laboratories, terminals, refiners, and distributors, this places greater emphasis on laboratory information management systems, statistical quality control, and traceable digital records.
Datacor’s LIMS and SQC Suite of software supports this regulatory environment by providing tools that align laboratory operations and quality processes with EPA oversight requirements. By integrating testing workflows, statistical controls, and compliance documentation, Datacor helps fuel laboratories reduce regulatory risk while improving operational efficiency.
EPA Part 1090 serves as a unified regulatory framework for gasoline, diesel, marine fuels, fuel additives, and regulated blend stocks. It defines how fuels must be sampled, tested, certified, and documented before entering commerce. Compliance is demonstrated on a per-batch basis, which increases the need for precise sample tracking, consistent analytical methods, and defensible data management.
BLISS LIMS plays a central role in this environment by managing the complete lifecycle of fuel testing data. Sample receipt, chain of custody, test assignment, calculations, and approvals are all controlled within a single system. This centralized approach helps laboratories ensure that each fuel batch is tested according to Part 1090 requirements and that results are fully traceable during audits or inspections.
The technical amendments to Part 1090 focus on regulatory clarity. They correct wording, align definitions, and clarify reporting and notification requirements. While these changes appear administrative, they directly affect laboratory workflows, reporting logic, and compliance documentation.
BLISS LIMS allows laboratories to adapt quickly to regulatory refinements by enforcing standardized methods, controlled result entry, and versioned procedures. When definitions or reporting expectations are clarified by the EPA, workflows and templates within the LIMS can be updated to reflect the amended regulatory language. This reduces reliance on manual interpretation and helps maintain consistent compliance across multiple facilities or laboratories.
This on-demand webinar reviews the EPA’s Part 1090 technical amendments to fuel quality regulations under Title 40 of the CFR. It explains recent regulatory updates and clarifications to the EPA’s streamlined fuel compliance framework including how sampling, testing, definitions, reporting requirements, and other provisions have been amended, to help organizations understand and remain compliant with the revised fuel quality standards and technical requirements. These amendments are part of the EPA’s broader effort to clarify and correct aspects of the Part 1090 rule without changing the underlying stringency of the standards.
Part 1090 places significant emphasis on how fuel samples are collected and tested. Automatic and manual sampling procedures, composite samples, and method-specific conditions must be followed precisely. The technical amendments further clarify these requirements, increasing scrutiny on laboratory practices and quality assurance programs.
QC/PLUS SQC strengthens compliance by applying statistical process control to fuel testing data. Control charts, trend analysis, and automated alerts help laboratories identify analytical drift or abnormal variability before it impacts reportable results. This proactive quality monitoring supports the accuracy expectations embedded in Part 1090 and reduces the likelihood of reporting questionable or non-defensible data.
When paired with BLISS LIMS, sampling metadata and analytical results are linked directly to statistical quality indicators, creating a comprehensive compliance record that supports both operational decision-making and regulatory oversight.
EPA Part 1090 reinforces that compliance is based on both fuel quality and truthful reporting. Laboratories and regulated parties must ensure that reported values accurately reflect test results and that corrections or reruns are properly documented. The technical amendments clarify how reporting errors and atypical results should be handled.
BLISS LIMS supports fuel data integrity by maintaining secure audit trails, role-based access, and electronic approvals. Every change to a result is logged, time-stamped, and attributed to a user. This level of control helps organizations demonstrate transparency and compliance during regulatory reviews.
QC/PLUS’s SQC complements this by providing objective statistical evidence that reported results fall within expected performance limits. Together, these systems help organizations meet the EPA’s expectations for honest, consistent, and well-documented reporting.
Record retention and accessibility are core components of Part 1090. Regulated parties must be able to produce historical test results, certifications, and supporting documentation upon request. The technical amendments reinforce the need for consistency between reported data and underlying laboratory records.
BLISS LIMS improves audit readiness by consolidating all compliance-related records into a searchable, structured system. Fuel batches, test results, quality control data, and approvals can be retrieved quickly, reducing the effort and disruption associated with regulatory audits. This capability is especially valuable for organizations operating multiple labs or terminals under a single compliance program.
Responding to Part 1090 technical amendments requires more than procedural updates. It requires systems that can evolve with regulatory expectations while maintaining consistency and control. Laboratories and fuel companies benefit from solutions that integrate compliance logic directly into daily operations.
Bliss and QC/PLUS were specifically developed by knowledgeable laboratory experts to provide a scalable compliance foundation by aligning laboratory automation, statistical quality control, and regulatory reporting. This integrated approach reduces manual effort, improves data reliability, and supports long-term compliance with EPA fuel oversight requirements.
EPA Part 1090 technical amendments reinforce the importance of accuracy, consistency, and transparency in fuel compliance. While the fuel standards themselves remain unchanged, the expectations for how compliance is demonstrated continue to mature. Organizations that rely on modern LIMS and SQC solutions are better positioned to meet these expectations efficiently and defensibly.
By supporting sampling precision, analytical quality, data integrity, and audit readiness, Datacor’s LIMS and SQC software suite helps fuel laboratories and regulated parties turn regulatory oversight into a structured, manageable process rather than a reactive burden.