diff --git a/Cantera/src/kinetics/InterfaceKinetics.cpp b/Cantera/src/kinetics/InterfaceKinetics.cpp
index 3ad664d24..00cf51f0c 100644
--- a/Cantera/src/kinetics/InterfaceKinetics.cpp
+++ b/Cantera/src/kinetics/InterfaceKinetics.cpp
@@ -1349,8 +1349,7 @@ namespace Cantera {
    * reduce the computational cost of repeated calls.
    */
   void InterfaceKinetics::
-  solvePseudoSteadyStateProblem(int ifuncOverride,
-				doublereal timeScaleOverride) {
+  solvePseudoSteadyStateProblem(int ifuncOverride, doublereal timeScaleOverride) {
     // create our own solver object
     if (m_integrator == 0) {
       vector<InterfaceKinetics*> k;
@@ -1366,7 +1365,7 @@ namespace Cantera {
   }
   //================================================================================================
 
-  void InterfaceKinetics::setPhaseExistence(const int iphase, const bool exists) {
+  void InterfaceKinetics::setPhaseExistence(const int iphase, const int exists) {
     if (iphase < 0 || iphase >= (int) m_thermo.size()) {
       throw CanteraError("InterfaceKinetics:setPhaseExistence", "out of bounds");
     }
@@ -1384,9 +1383,39 @@ namespace Cantera {
       }
     }
   }
+  //================================================================================================
+  // Gets the phase existence int for the ith phase
+  /*
+   * @param iphase  Phase Id 
+   *
+   * @return Returns the int specifying whether the kinetics object thinks the phase exists
+   *         or not. If it exists, then species in that phase can be a reactant in reactions.
+   */
+  int InterfaceKinetics::phaseExistence(const int iphase) const {
+    if (iphase < 0 || iphase >= (int) m_thermo.size()) {
+      throw CanteraError("InterfaceKinetics:phaseExistence()", "out of bounds");
+    }
+    return m_phaseExists[iphase];
+  }
+  //================================================================================================
+  // Gets the phase stability int for the ith phase
+  /*
+   * @param iphase  Phase Id 
+   *
+   * @return Returns the int specifying whether the kinetics object thinks the phase is stable
+   *         with nonzero mole numbers. 
+   *         If it stable, then the kinetics object will allow for rates of production of
+   *         of species in that phase that are positive.
+   */
+  int InterfaceKinetics::phaseStability(const int iphase) const {
+    if (iphase < 0 || iphase >= (int) m_thermo.size()) {
+      throw CanteraError("InterfaceKinetics:phaseStability()", "out of bounds");
+    }
+    return m_phaseIsStable[iphase];
+  }
  //================================================================================================
 
-  void InterfaceKinetics::setPhaseStability(const int iphase, const bool isStable) {
+  void InterfaceKinetics::setPhaseStability(const int iphase, const int isStable) {
     if (iphase < 0 || iphase >= (int) m_thermo.size()) {
       throw CanteraError("InterfaceKinetics:setPhaseStability", "out of bounds");
     }
@@ -1396,6 +1425,7 @@ namespace Cantera {
       m_phaseIsStable[iphase] = false;
     }
   }
+
   //================================================================================================
   void EdgeKinetics::finalize() {
     m_rwork.resize(nReactions());
diff --git a/Cantera/src/kinetics/InterfaceKinetics.h b/Cantera/src/kinetics/InterfaceKinetics.h
index 82f30bd4c..23a62928c 100644
--- a/Cantera/src/kinetics/InterfaceKinetics.h
+++ b/Cantera/src/kinetics/InterfaceKinetics.h
@@ -492,7 +492,16 @@ namespace Cantera {
      */
     void _update_rates_T();
 
+    //! Update properties that depend on the electric potential
+    /*!
+     *  This is called to update all of the properties that depend on potential 
+     */
     void _update_rates_phi();
+
+    //! Update properties that depend on the species mole fractions and/or concentration
+    /*!
+     *  This is called to update all of the properties that depend on concentration 
+     */
     void _update_rates_C();
       
     //! Advance the surface coverages in time
@@ -589,8 +598,7 @@ namespace Cantera {
      *  @param iphase  Index of the phase. This is the order within the internal thermo vector object
      *  @param exists  Boolean indicating whether the phase exists or not
      */
-    void setPhaseExistence(const int iphase, const bool exists);
- 
+    void setPhaseExistence(const int iphase, const int exists);
 
     //! Set the stability of a phase in the reaction object
     /*!
@@ -607,8 +615,27 @@ namespace Cantera {
      *  @param iphase  Index of the phase. This is the order within the internal thermo vector object
      *  @param exists  Boolean indicating whether the phase exists or not
      */
-    void setPhaseStability(const int iphase, const bool isStable);
+    void setPhaseStability(const int iphase, const int isStable);
  
+    //! Gets the phase existence int for the ith phase
+    /*!
+     * @param iphase  Phase Id 
+     *
+     * @return Returns the int specifying whether the kinetics object thinks the phase exists
+     *         or not. If it exists, then species in that phase can be a reactant in reactions.
+     */
+    int phaseExistence(const int iphase) const;
+
+    //! Gets the phase stability int for the ith phase
+    /*!
+     * @param iphase  Phase Id 
+     *
+     * @return Returns the int specifying whether the kinetics object thinks the phase is stable
+     *         with nonzero mole numbers. 
+     *         If it stable, then the kinetics object will allow for rates of production of
+     *         of species in that phase that are positive.
+     */
+    int phaseStability(const int iphase) const;
 
 
   protected:
@@ -840,9 +867,9 @@ namespace Cantera {
      *    length = number of phases in the object
      *    By default all phases exist.
      */
-    std::vector<bool> m_phaseExists;
+    std::vector<int> m_phaseExists;
 
-    //!  Vector of booleans indicating whether phases are stable or not
+    //!  Vector of int indicating whether phases are stable or not
     /*!
      *    Vector of booleans indicating whether a phase is stable or not
      *    under the current conditions.
@@ -851,7 +878,7 @@ namespace Cantera {
      *    length = number of phases in the object
      *    By default all phases are stable
      */
-    std::vector<bool> m_phaseIsStable;
+    std::vector<int> m_phaseIsStable;
 
     //!  Vector of vector of booleans indicating whether a phase participates in a
     //!  reaction as a reactant