November 25, 2020
2021 Membership Dues
It is time again for dues renewals. The PPGA 2021 membership dues mailing will be sent next week. Look for it in your mailbox soon. 
 
This year, we are pleased to report that you can now pay your dues online! Simply click below to pay your dues quickly, easily, and securely. 
FMCSA Preempts Washington Break Requirements 
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) granted a petition to preempt to meal and rest break hours of service rules issued by the state of Washington. Washington imposed on commercial motor vehicle drivers meal and rest break requirements in addition to the hours of service requirements by FMCSA.    
 
NPGA and the Pacific Propane Gas Association (PPGA) supported the petition of the Washington Trucking Associations to request that FMCSA issue a preemption determination against the Washington meal and rest break rules. The preemption determination states that the Washington rules are more stringent than the FMCSA hours of service requirements, present no additional safety benefits, and cause an unreasonable burden on interstate commerce. The preemption determination is effective immediately. 
 
The Washington meal and rest break rules required employers to provide a 30-minute meal break no less than two- to five hours from the start of the shift; a 30-minute meal break after three hours of any overtime; and a ten-minute rest period for every four hours of on-duty time. 
 
The FMCSA preemption notice is available here. Please direct any questions to Sarah Reboli, Senior Counsel, Regulatory & Industry Affairs.
DOT Cylinder Requalification Final Rule Takes Effect November 30 
NPGA reports that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved NPGA’s petition on the requalification of DOT-specification cylinders by hydrostatic testing, also known as the volumetric expansion testing method. This action, announced by PHMSA in an October 30, 2020 final rule, returns the requalification period to 12 years. 
 
NPGA had previously identified an oversight by PHMSA as part of the agency’s development of a 2016 rule that changed 49 CFR 180.209(e), which reduced the initial requalification period for DOT-specification cylinders following volumetric expansion testing from 12 years to 10 years and increased the timeframe for requalification following a proof pressure test from 7 years to 10 years. Nowhere, in either the 2015 proposed rule or 2016 final rule, did PHMSA provide any rationale or substantiation for the changes or address them in any form. This oversight resulted in a significant, negative impact on the propane industry. 
 
NPGA aggressively pursued resolution of this issue with PHMSA and engaged the support of members of Congress as well as prepared legal measures in order to secure a correction to this substantive, yet unjustified change. With PHMSA’s acceptance and final approval of NPGA’s petition, we estimate the regulatory savings to the propane industry to be more than $100 million per year.   
 
The table below depicts the previous changes in the requalification periods for volumetric expansion and proof pressure testing and reflects the final changes published by PHMSA resulting from NPGA’s petition.
Still Time to Apply for Rebates in 2020 
The PPGA has a number of great rebates for you and your propane customers to take advantage of in 2019, while funds last. Click here for more information. Members can utilize the latest PPGA rebate information and applications.  
 
2020 approved rebates include: 
  • On Road Vehicle Incentive: You, your employees and your customers are eligible to receive a $1,500 incentive on a newly purchased propane vehicle or conversion on an existing vehicle with a propane system. Vehicles registered and operated in Hawaii, Oregon or Washington qualify. 
  • Safe Appliance Installation Program: This program rewards propane customers to use a qualified technician to conduct a safety audit to ensure safe installation of certain propane appliances. Available for a variety of indoor and outdoor propane appliances.
  • Smart-Hose Safety Installation: You’ll receive a $500 rebate if you purchase and use a qualified Smart-Hose Safety System. Several types and sizes are covered.
  • Duty to Warn Rebate: The PPGA will cover up to $500 towards your efforts to distribute safety information to your customers. Encourage customers to follow the standard propane safety guidelines.
  • CETP Training Rebate: Companies are eligible to receive a rebate of $1,500 per office location with a maximum of $6,000 per member company for eligible CETP Training.
  • Regulator Rebate: The propane marketer may receive a rebate in the sum of $50.00 per replaced regulator. An application form and required safety check information must be submitted and approved before the rebate will be distributed.
  • DOT Training Rebate: This rebate is designed to reimburse a propane marketer for some expenses associated with instruction to train industry personnel on the requirements for safety and compliance issues related to DOT transport of hazardous fuels. Marketers that choose to participate are required to have a third-party perform an onsite DOT audit review and employee training.
PPGA 2021 Advertising
PPGA is now accepting ad placements for the 2021 advertising year in its digital magazine, The Propane Post.
 
The Propane Post is a digital publication emailed quarterly to all independent marketer, multistate marketer, associate, individual and honorary members of the association. The publication reaches the desks of over 150 propane professionals across the states of Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. The publication has an average open AND click through rate of nearly 40%. In addition, all ads are hyperlinked to the advertiser’s website.

With the pandemic not allowing for face to face visits as much as we would prefer, advertising in the Propane Post provides you with the ability to keep your company and your products in front of propane industry leadership, managers, and key decision makers. 
 
Tap into this highly engaged market today!
Member Benefit Programs
Marketing Services
Safety Compliance
The information contained herein is provided as a service by the Pacific Propane Gas Association (PPGA) for the purpose of education, communication, and information and PPGA accepts no liability relative to the contents, accuracy or use of these services. Nothing in this publication is intended to be construed as legal advice. The user is strictly cautioned to seek legal assistance when attempting to determine any legal rights, responsibilities and procedures with respect to business affairs, coding, or other legal aspects of operating a propane company. PPGA disclaims any and all liability for injury and/or other damages which result to a user from the material offered or discussed herein.