October 2, 2020
Oregon Wildfire Waivers
PHMSA: Emergency Waiver to Recover Tanks
The Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published an Emergency Waiver to enable efficient removal of propane storage containers from the disaster and emergency areas affected by the wildfires in Oregon. Please carefully review the waiver for strict conditions of use including the eligible areas. The waiver is in effect for thirty days from September 21, 2020. 

Please direct any questions to or share new information with Sarah Reboli, NPGA Deputy Counsel, Regulatory Affairs. 
Oregon Hours of Service Waiver
In accordance with the authority granted the Department in ORS 823.012, the following commercial motor vehicle requirements are suspended effective September 8, 2020, for operators of commercial vehicles to travel in and through the state of Oregon to provide assistance in the suppression and relief from the wild fire disasters in various locations in Oregon: 
  • ORS 825.252 Hours of service for commercial motor vehicles responding to the wild fires is waived [with stipulations.]
If stopped, be sure to let enforcement personnel know that you are responding to an emergency. As a precaution, we recommend you carry a copy of the waiver in your vehicle. The vehicle may be allowed to proceed and obtain required permits and/or credentials as soon as possible afterwards. 
Two New Marketer Rebates Available
The PPGA has a number of great rebates for you and your propane customers to take advantage of in 2020 while funds last. Members can click here to easily access the latest PPGA rebate information and applications. Members can also submit applications directly through the online forms.
WPGA: Path to Renewable Propane Conference
On November 4, the Western Propane Gas Association (WPGA) will virtually host the Path to Renewable Propane conference, the first event of its kind in the U.S. that is uniquely focused on propane derived from sustainable sources. The event is aptly named, as WPGA sets forth on an ambitious path to achieve 100% renewable propane in California by 2030. This conference will tackle some of the challenges of how to achieve this sustainability target from multiple angles, including consumers, producers, retailers, and policymakers. The event will explore the opportunities for how various stakeholders can work together to develop the market for this burgeoning fuel.

For starters, attendees will learn what renewable propane is, the theoretical and practical ways it can be produced, and the carbon reduction impacts of the innovative fuel. The conference features speakers who have dedicated expertise with renewable propane and will share how some regions of the globe have made a large commercial production investment to benefit both the planet and the corporate bottom line. Attendees will also learn the current production volumes of renewable propane today and the future production outlook. A panel of retailers will share why they elected to sell renewable propane and their experience thus far from navigating the credit systems to the unexpected speedbumps others can avoid when marketing the fuel. The event will also feature one of the first school districts in the country to use the renewable fuel in their school bus fleet.

The Path to Renewable Propane conference will outline other markets that provide great promise for renewable energy.

The Path to Renewable Propane conference will outline other markets that provide great promise for renewable energy, including providing clean energy resiliency for the building sector. Advanced technologies provide opportunities from charging electric vehicles and netting renewable electricity back to the grid, to providing comprehensive, sustainable, off-grid building energy, all sourced with renewable propane.

Learn more about this virtual conference and register today. Industry members will receive a $50 discount when using the code ‘Industry Member 2020’ at checkout.
Reminder: Hours of Service Modifications
As a reminder, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published several modifications to Hours of Service regulatory provisions, including expanding and extending elements of the short-haul operation exemption. Motor carriers and drivers can now start implementing these modifications as of September 29, 2020.  

NPGA crafted a Fact Sheet to assist members in implementing the new hours of service provisions. The Fact Sheet is also available on the Membership Dashboard of the NPGA website.   

The modifications include improving the short-haul operation exemption by extending the maximum on-duty time from 12- to 14-hours and expanding the maximum air-mile radius from 100- to 150-air miles. The modifications also include changes to the regulations on adverse driving conditions, 30-minute rest break requirements, and split sleeper-berth. NPGA estimates these modifications will save the industry more than $11 million annually in paperwork costs, and provide 30,000 bobtail drivers more time to serve customers during deliveries.

Please direct any questions or comments to NPGA’s Sarah Reboli, Deputy Counsel, Regulatory Affairs.