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Chapter 296A

Section 296A.01

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296A.01 DEFINITIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Terms. Unless the language or context clearly indicates that a different
meaning is intended, the terms used in this chapter and sections 239.75 to 239.80 have the
meanings given them in this section. The petroleum product definitions and specifications are
intended to match the definitions and specifications in sections 41A.09 and 239.761.
    Subd. 2. Agricultural alcohol gasoline. "Agricultural alcohol gasoline" means a
gasoline-ethanol blend of up to ten percent agriculturally derived fermentation ethanol derived
from agricultural products, such as potatoes, cereal, grains, cheese whey, sugar beets, forest
products, or other renewable resources, that:
(1) meets the specifications in ASTM specification D4806-04a; and
(2) is denatured as specified in Code of Federal Regulations, title 27, parts 20 and 21.
    Subd. 3. Aircraft. "Aircraft" means any contrivance, now or hereafter invented, used or
designed for navigation of or flight in the air.
    Subd. 4. Alternative fuel. "Alternative fuel" means natural gas; liquefied petroleum gas;
hydrogen; coal-derived liquefied fuels; electricity; methanol, denatured ethanol, and other
alcohols; mixtures containing 85 percent or more, or other percentage as may be set by regulation
by Secretary of the United States Department of Energy, by volume of methanol, denatured
ethanol, and other alcohols with gasoline or other fuels; fuels other than alcohol that are derived
from biological materials; and other fuels that the Secretary of the United States Department of
Energy determines by regulation to be an alternative fuel within the meaning of section 301(2) of
the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 and intended for use in motor vehicles.
    Subd. 5. Alternative fuel vehicle. "Alternative fuel vehicle" means a dedicated, flexible, or
dual-fuel vehicle operated primarily on alternative fuel.
    Subd. 6. ASTM. "ASTM" means the American Society for Testing and Materials, which
is a private organization that utilizes committees of industry representatives and regulators to
develop product quality standards and test methods to be used by industries, regulatory agencies,
and purchasing agents.
    Subd. 7. Aviation gasoline. "Aviation gasoline" means any gasoline that is capable of use for
the purpose of producing or generating power for propelling internal combustion engine aircraft,
that meets the specifications in ASTM specification D910-04a, and that either:
    (1) is invoiced and billed by a producer, manufacturer, refiner, or blender to a distributor
or dealer, by a distributor to a dealer or consumer, or by a dealer to consumer, as "aviation
gasoline"; or
    (2) whether or not invoiced and billed as provided in clause (1), is received, sold, stored, or
withdrawn from storage by any person, to be used for the purpose of producing or generating
power for propelling internal combustion engine aircraft.
    Subd. 8. Aviation turbine fuel and jet fuel. "Aviation turbine fuel" and "jet fuel"
mean blends of hydrocarbons derived from crude petroleum, natural gasoline, and synthetic
hydrocarbons, intended for use in aviation turbine engines, and that meet the specifications in
ASTM specification D1655-06a.
    Subd. 8a. Biodiesel fuel. "Biodiesel fuel" means a renewable, biodegradable, mono alkyl
ester combustible liquid fuel derived from agricultural plant oils or animal fats and that meets
American Society for Testing and Materials specification D6751-07 for Biodiesel Fuel (B100)
Blend Stock for Distillate Fuels.
    Subd. 9. Bulk purchaser. "Bulk purchaser" means any person not principally engaged in
buying and selling petroleum products or combustible gases who receives special fuel for storage
and subsequent delivery into the supply tank of an aircraft or a licensed motor vehicle operated
by the person.
    Subd. 10. Casinghead, absorption, condensation, drip, or natural gasoline. "Casinghead
gasoline," "absorption gasoline," "condensation gasoline," "drip gasoline," and "natural gasoline"
mean a low-octane, high-volatility, liquid hydrocarbon by-product of crude oil extraction and
pumping, coal gasification, or shipping of natural gas through a pipeline.
    Subd. 11. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of revenue.
    Subd. 12. Compressed natural gas or CNG. "Compressed natural gas" or "CNG" means
natural gas, primarily methane, condensed under high pressure and stored in specially designed
storage tanks at between 2,000 and 3,600 pounds per square inch. For purposes of this chapter, the
energy content of CNG is considered to be 1,000 BTUs per cubic foot.
    Subd. 13. Dealer. "Dealer" means any person, except a distributor, engaged in the business
of buying and selling gasoline and other petroleum products in this state.
    Subd. 14. Diesel fuel oil. "Diesel fuel oil" means a petroleum distillate or blend of petroleum
distillate and residual fuels that is intended for use as a motor fuel in internal combustion diesel
engines and that meets ASTM specification D975-06b.
    Subd. 15. Distributor. "Distributor" means any person who (1) receives petroleum products
in this state for storage and subsequent distribution by tank car or tank truck or both, (2) produces,
manufactures, or refines petroleum products in this state, or (3) imports petroleum products
into this state via boat, barge, or pipeline for storage and subsequent delivery at or further
transportation from boat, barge, or pipe line terminals in this state.
    Subd. 16. Dyed fuel. "Dyed fuel" means diesel fuel to which indelible dye has been added,
either before or upon withdrawal at a terminal or refinery rack, and which may be sold for exempt
purposes. The dye may be either dye required to be added per the EPA or dye that meets other
specifications required by the Internal Revenue Service or the commissioner.
    Subd. 17. EPA. "EPA" means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
    Subd. 18. ETBE. "ETBE" means ethyl tertiary butyl ether, or the equivalent term tert-butyl
ethyl ether. ETBE is a hydrocarbon compound approved by the EPA for use as an oxygenate
in gasoline. ETBE is a liquid at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature. The chemical
composition of ETBE is C2H5OC(CH3).
    Subd. 19. E85. "E85" means a petroleum product that is a blend of agriculturally derived
denatured ethanol and gasoline or natural gasoline that typically contains 85 percent ethanol by
volume, but at a minimum must contain 60 percent ethanol by volume. For the purposes of
this chapter, the energy content of E85 will be considered to be 82,000 BTUs per gallon. E85
produced for use as a motor fuel in alternative fuel vehicles as defined in subdivision 5 must
comply with ASTM specification D5798-99 (2004).
    Subd. 20. Ethanol, denatured. "Ethanol, denatured" means ethanol that is to be blended
with gasoline, has been agriculturally derived, and complies with ASTM specification D4806-06c.
This includes the requirement that ethanol may be denatured only as specified in Code of Federal
Regulations, title 27, parts 20 and 21.
    Subd. 21. For use in motor vehicles. "For use in motor vehicles" means for use in
producing or generating power for propelling motor vehicles on the public highways of this state
or in machinery operated on the public highways of this state for the purpose of constructing,
reconstructing, or maintaining those public highways. For purposes of this subdivision, "public
highways" includes bridges.
    Subd. 22. Gas turbine fuel oil. "Gas turbine fuel oil" means fuel that contains mixtures of
hydrocarbon oils free of inorganic acid and excessive amounts of solid or fibrous foreign matter,
intended for use in nonaviation gas turbine engines, and that meets the specifications in ASTM
specification D2880-03.
    Subd. 23. Gasoline. (a) "Gasoline" means:
    (1) all products commonly or commercially known or sold as gasoline regardless of their
classification or uses, except casinghead gasoline, absorption gasoline, condensation gasoline,
drip gasoline, or natural gasoline that under the requirements of section 239.761, subdivision 3,
must not be blended with gasoline that has been sold, transferred, or otherwise removed from
a refinery or terminal; and
    (2) any liquid prepared, advertised, offered for sale or sold for use as, or commonly and
commercially used as, a fuel in spark-ignition, internal combustion engines, and that when tested
by the Weights and Measures Division meets the specifications in ASTM specification D4814-06.
    (b) Gasoline that is not blended with ethanol must not be contaminated with water or
other impurities and must comply with both ASTM specification D4814-06 and the volatility
requirements in Code of Federal Regulations, title 40, part 80.
    (c) After gasoline is sold, transferred, or otherwise removed from a refinery or terminal, a
person responsible for the product:
    (1) may blend the gasoline with agriculturally derived ethanol, as provided in subdivision 24;
    (2) must not blend the gasoline with any oxygenate other than denatured, agriculturally
derived ethanol;
    (3) must not blend the gasoline with other petroleum products that are not gasoline or
denatured, agriculturally derived ethanol;
    (4) must not blend the gasoline with products commonly and commercially known as
casinghead gasoline, absorption gasoline, condensation gasoline, drip gasoline, or natural
gasoline; and
    (5) may blend the gasoline with a detergent additive, an antiknock additive, or an additive
designed to replace tetra-ethyl lead, that is registered by the EPA.
    Subd. 24. Gasoline blended with nonethanol oxygenate. "Gasoline blended with
nonethanol oxygenate" means gasoline blended with ETBE, MTBE, or other alcohol or ether,
except denatured ethanol, that is approved as an oxygenate by the EPA, and that complies with
ASTM specification D4814-06. Oxygenates, other than denatured ethanol, must not be blended
into gasoline after the gasoline has been sold, transferred, or otherwise removed from a refinery or
terminal.
    Subd. 25. Gasoline blended with ethanol. "Gasoline blended with ethanol" means gasoline
blended with up to 20 percent, by volume, agriculturally derived, denatured ethanol. The blend
must comply with the volatility requirements in Code of Federal Regulations, title 40, part 80.
The blend must also comply with ASTM specification D4814-06, or the gasoline base stock from
which a gasoline-ethanol blend was produced must comply with ASTM specification D4814-06;
and the gasoline-ethanol blend must not be blended with casinghead gasoline, absorption gasoline,
condensation gasoline, drip gasoline, or natural gasoline after the gasoline-ethanol blend has been
sold, transferred, or otherwise removed from a refinery or terminal. The blend need not comply
with ASTM specification D4814-06 if it is subjected to a standard distillation test. For a distillation
test, a gasoline-ethanol blend is not required to comply with the temperature specification at the
50 percent liquid recovery point, if the gasoline from which the gasoline-ethanol blend was
produced complies with all of the distillation specifications.
    Subd. 26. Heating fuel oil. "Heating fuel oil" means a petroleum distillate, blend of
petroleum distillates and residuals, or petroleum residual heating fuel that meets the specifications
in ASTM specification D396-05a.
    Subd. 27. Highway. "Highway" means the entire width between the boundary lines of every
way publicly maintained when part of the way is open for the public.
    Subd. 28. Kerosene. "Kerosene" means a refined petroleum distillate consisting of a
homogeneous mixture of hydrocarbons essentially free of water, inorganic acidic and basic
compounds, and excessive amounts of particulate contaminants and that meets the specifications
in ASTM specification D3699-06.
    Subd. 29. Licensed motor vehicle. "Licensed motor vehicle" means (1) any vehicle subject
to a motor vehicle registration in which the power is produced with any fuel in an internal
combustion engine, and (2) any motor vehicle not subject to a motor vehicle registration on which
is mounted a corn shelling, feed grinding, well drilling, or sawing machine.
    Subd. 30. Liquefied natural gas or LNG. "Liquefied natural gas" or "LNG" means natural
gas, primarily methane, which has been condensed through a cryogenic cooling process and is
stored in special pressurized and insulated storage tanks. For purposes of this chapter, the energy
content of LNG will be considered to be 69,000 BTUs per gallon.
    Subd. 31. Liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, or propane. "Liquefied petroleum gas," "LPG,"
or "propane" means a product made of short hydrocarbon chains and containing primarily propane
and butane that is stored in specialized tanks at moderate pressure. For purposes of this chapter,
the energy content of LPG or propane will be considered to be 86,000 BTUs per gallon.
    Subd. 32. Marine gasoline. "Marine gasoline" means gasoline used in producing and
generating power for propelling motorboats used on the waters of this state.
    Subd. 33. Motor fuel. "Motor fuel" means a liquid, regardless of its composition or
properties, used to propel a motor vehicle.
    Subd. 34. MTBE. "MTBE" means methyl tertiary butyl ether, or the equivalent term
tert-butyl methyl ether. MTBE is a hydrocarbon compound approved by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency for use as an oxygenate in gasoline. MTBE is a liquid at normal
atmospheric pressure and temperature. The chemical composition of MTBE is (CH3)3COCH3.
    Subd. 35. M85. "M85" means a petroleum product that is a liquid fuel blend of methanol and
gasoline that contains at least 85 percent methanol by volume. For the purposes of this chapter,
the energy content of M85 will be considered to be 65,000 BTUs per gallon. M85 produced for
use as a motor fuel in alternative fuel vehicles, as defined in subdivision 5, must comply with
ASTM specification D 5797-96.
    Subd. 36. Motor vehicle gasoline excise tax. "Motor vehicle gasoline excise tax" means the
tax imposed on gasoline used in producing and generating power for propelling motor vehicles
used on the public highways of this state.
    Subd. 37. Motor vehicles used on public highways of this state. "Motor vehicles used on
public highways of this state" means every vehicle operated upon the highways of this state, the
power for the operation of which is produced or generated in an internal combustion engine, but
does not include tractors used solely for agricultural purposes.
    Subd. 38. Motorboat. "Motorboat" means any contrivance used or designed for navigation
on water other than a seaplane, propelled in any respect by machinery, including detachable
motors.
    Subd. 38a. Nonethanol oxygenate. "Nonethanol oxygenate" means ETBE or MTBE, as
defined in this section, or other alcohol or ether, except denatured ethanol, that is approved as
an oxygenate by the EPA.
    Subd. 39. Passenger snowmobile. "Passenger snowmobile" means a self-propelled vehicle
designed for travel on snow or ice, steered by skis or runners, with an enclosed passenger section
that provides seating for not less than four nor more than 12 passengers.
    Subd. 40. Person. "Person" means any individual, firm, trust, estate, partnership,
association, cooperative association, joint stock company or corporation, public or private, or any
representative appointed by order of any court; or an officer or employee of a corporation, or a
member or employee of a partnership, who as such officer, employee, or member is under a duty
to perform any act prescribed by this chapter.
    Subd. 41. Petroleum distillate. "Petroleum distillate" means a hydrocarbon or group of
hydrocarbon compounds that have been extracted from petroleum crude oil by a distillation
process involving evaporation by heating, and subsequent condensation by cooling.
    Subd. 42. Petroleum products. "Petroleum products" means all of the products defined in
subdivisions 2, 7, 8, 8a, 10, 14, 16, 19, 20, 22 to 26, 28, 32, and 35.
    Subd. 43. Petroleum residual. "Petroleum residual" means a heavy hydrocarbon or group of
heavy hydrocarbon compounds that do not evaporate during a distillation process.
    Subd. 44. Received. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, petroleum products
brought into this state shall be deemed to be "received" in this state at the time and place they are
unloaded in this state. When so unloaded such products shall be deemed to be received in this state
by the person who is the owner immediately after such unloading; provided, however, that if such
owner is not licensed as a distributor in this state and if such products were shipped or delivered
into this state by a person who is licensed as a distributor, then such products shall be deemed to be
received in this state by the licensed distributor by whom the same were so shipped or delivered.
(b) Petroleum products produced, manufactured, or refined, at a refinery in this state and
stored there, or brought into the state by boat or barge or like form of transportation and delivered
at a marine terminal in this state and stored there, or brought into the state by pipeline and
delivered at a pipeline terminal in this state and stored there, shall not be considered received until
they are withdrawn from such refinery or terminal for sale or use in this state or for delivery or
shipment to points within this state.
(c) When withdrawn such products shall be deemed received by the person who was the
owner immediately prior to withdrawal; unless (1) such products are withdrawn for shipment
or delivery to another licensed distributor, in which case the licensed distributor to whom such
shipment or delivery is made shall be deemed to have received such products in this state, or (2)
such products are withdrawn for shipment or delivery to a person not licensed as a distributor,
under one or more sale or exchange agreements by or between persons one or more of whom is
a licensed distributor, in which case the last purchaser or exchangee under such agreement or
agreements, who is licensed as a distributor, shall be deemed to have received such products in
this state.
(d) Petroleum products produced in this state in any manner other than as covered in this
subdivision shall be considered received by the producer at the time and place produced.
    Subd. 45. Refinery or terminal. "Refinery" or "terminal" means any petroleum refinery,
pipeline terminal, river terminal, storage facility, or other point of origin where petroleum
products are manufactured, or imported by rail, truck, barge, or pipe; and held, stored, transferred,
offered for distribution, distributed, offered for sale, or sold. For the purpose of restricting
petroleum product blending, this definition includes all refineries and terminals within and outside
of Minnesota. For the purpose of assessing fees, this definition does not include a licensed
distributor's bulk storage facility that is used to store petroleum products for which the petroleum
inspection fee charged under chapter 239 is either not due or has been paid.
    Subd. 46. Special fuel. "Special fuel" means:
(1) all combustible gases and liquid petroleum products or substitutes including undyed
diesel fuel, except gasoline, gasoline blended with ethanol, and agricultural alcohol gasoline which
are delivered into the supply tank of a licensed motor vehicle or into storage tanks maintained by
an owner or operator of a licensed motor vehicle as a source of supply for such vehicle;
(2) all combustible gases and liquid petroleum products or substitutes, except gasoline,
gasoline blended with ethanol, and agricultural alcohol gasoline, when delivered to a licensed
special fuel dealer or to the retail service station storage of a distributor who has elected to pay the
special fuel excise tax as provided in this chapter;
(3) all combustible gases and liquid petroleum products or substitutes, except gasoline,
which are used as aviation fuel; or
(4) dyed fuel that is being used illegally in a licensed motor vehicle.
    Subd. 47. Special fuel dealer. "Special fuel dealer" means any person engaged in the business
of selling and delivering special fuel into the supply tank of an aircraft or a licensed motor vehicle.
    Subd. 48. Use in licensed motor vehicles. "Use in licensed motor vehicles" means use in
producing or generating power for propelling licensed motor vehicles on the public highways of
this state.
    Subd. 49. Waters of this state. "Waters of this state" means any waters capable of substantial
beneficial public use and any waters to which the public has access, which are within the territorial
limits of this state including boundary waters.
    Subd. 50. Wet alcohol. "Wet alcohol" means agriculturally derived fermentation ethyl
alcohol having a purity of at least 50 percent but less than 99 percent.
History: 1998 c 299 s 1; 1Sp2001 c 2 s 145; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 7 s 69-81; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 4
s 76-87; 2007 c 62 s 5-15

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