Those chunky rubber nozzles on gas pumps will soon be a thing of the past in Maricopa County.
The nozzles were introduced to Valley gas stations in 1992 to help reduce the vapors released when drivers refuel their cars.
The Maricopa Association of Governments announced Friday that the Environmental Protection Agency approved a state proposal to remove the devices because most cars on the road today have their own vapor reduction systems.
Matt Poppin with MAG said those dueling systems can ultimately be counter productive and release harmful vapors into the atmosphere.
"It really is an air quality benefit to have these removed as well as its an economic benefit for gas stations since they don’t have to test the systems anymore and keep up the maintenance on the systems," said Poppin.
Poppin said gas station owners will have an initial expense removing the nozzles but will end up saving money in the long run.
