FOR RELEASE:  JULY 15, 1992

 FTC CHARGES F.A. STEIN OIL COMPANY WITH VIOLATING OCTANE RULE;
               CONSENT DECREE WOULD SETTLE CHARGES

      An Illinois oil distributor has been charged by the Federal
Trade Commission with violating the FTC's Octane Rule by, among
other things, failing to certify the octane rating of gasoline it
sold to service stations and other distributors.  Under a
proposed consent decree to settle the charges, Frederick A.
Stein, sole owner of the F.A. Stein Oil Company, of Belleville,
Illinois, would pay a civil penalty of $10,000 and would be
prohibited from any future violations of the Octane Rule.
     Under the FTC's 1979 Octane Rule, gasoline refiners and
importers determine the octane rating.  Each subsequent link in
the marketing chain -- wholesalers, distributors and retailers --
must certify the octane rating to the next recipient.  Retailers
do so by posting the yellow octane rating sticker on each pump.

     According to the FTC's complaint, in numerous instances, the
defendant sold gasoline to service stations without providing a
written certification to the station.  The FTC also alleged that 
Stein failed to retain the delivery ticket or a written certifi-
cation, as required by the rule.

     The $10,000 penalty required under the proposed consent
decree would be due on the date the judge accepts the settlement.

     The complaint was filed on behalf of the FTC by the
Department of Justice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of Illinois in East St. Louis on July 10.  The proposed
consent decree was filed on July 14.  They are subject to court
approval.  

                            - more -

(Stein Oil--07/15/92)

NOTE:  This consent decree is for settlement purposes only and
does not constitute an admission by the company that it violated
the law.  Consent decrees have the force of law when signed by
the judge.

     The FTC has issued a bulletin, "Octane Ratings" which
explains how consumers can choose the best gasoline for their
automobiles.

     Copies of the complaint, consent decree and consumer fact
sheet are available from the FTC Public Reference Branch, Room
130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20580; 202-326-2222; TTY 202-326-2502.

                             # # # 

MEDIA CONTACT:  Don Elder, Office of Public Affairs
                202-326-2181

STAFF CONTACT:  Jeffrey Feinstein, Bureau of Consumer Protection
                202-326-2372

(Civil No. 92-CV-532-WDS)

(FTC file No. 912-3322)

(STEINOIL)