October 1, 2021
Oregon Members: Still Time to Act
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently released a rule that is currently open for public comment until Oct. 4. This rule will increase costs to propane marketers and limit choice of propane customers. We need Oregon Marketers to send emails to the DEQ to ensure there are diverse voices and opinions from people who support propane and believe it can be part of our decarbonization process rather than full electrification.

The PPGA, natural gas utilities, labor unions, and a wide range of business interests are all engaging on this issue to raise concerns with the DEQ proposal. There are two links for your use. Link 1 contains a message to be used by those in the propane industry. Link 2 contains a message you can share with all the customers you have.

For industry members, click on your link below. You will be directed to the email campaign page. Simply fill out the form and submit the email that has already been generated. If you have customers willing to participate, please send them the customer link and ask them to submit the email.

Please contact Matt Solak with any questions.
Join us October 27-29 at Kauai Beach Resort for the PPGA Annual Conference & WPGA Chairwoman’s Board Meeting. This conference offers valuable and timely propane-focused education as well as opportunities to network with industry colleagues and friends. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and donations to the PPGA Dick Start Scholarship Chance Auction are being accepted. Registration deadline is October 13.

Kauai Beach Resort is offering special discounted rooms for conference attendees but availability is limited, please contact the PPGA office at 844-585-4940 or email ppga@kdafirm.com for assistance.
Oregon First State to Pass New Legislative Maps
On Monday, Oregon lawmakers approved the majority Democrats’ new congressional and legislative district maps with party-line votes. This action was made possible when House Republicans ended a boycott that stalled redistricting action on Saturday, making Oregon the first state in the nation to pass both congressional and legislative maps.

In the end, Democrats passed a congressional plan with three super safe Democratic seats, one super safe Republican seat, one seat that tilts in Democrats’ favor and one seat that is a virtual 50-50 tie in terms of how its voters have sided in key Republican-Democratic match-ups since 2015, according to an analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Checkout NPGA's New Registered Apprenticeship Program
NPGA’s Registered Apprenticeship Program launched in April and has already been accepting enrollment applications from employers including smaller, independent marketers as well as multistate marketers. We encourage you to review and consider the program as an opportunity to address your company’s workforce needs. You can do so through the hiring of eligible candidates from outside your company or through the identification of existing employees, who are also eligible to enroll in the apprenticeship program.

There are four (4) total apprenticeship programs registered with the Labor Department’s Office of Apprenticeship covering the jobs of:
  • Propane Service Technician
  • Bobtail Vehicle Driver
  • Transport Vehicle Driver
  • Utility/Service Vehicle Driver

Unlike some apprenticeship programs that are time-based, which requires the completion of a requisite number of hours for instruction and experience, NPGA’s Registered Apprenticeship Program is competency-based. This means the apprentice must learn and demonstrate that they fully understand and can properly perform the on-the-job tasks associated with the given program or job function before earning a Certificate of Completion as an apprentice from the Department of Labor.

Each program area contains a set of core competencies that must be completed with each competency having one or more educational lessons associated with it. All of the related instruction material is based on PERC’s existing education and training materials.

To learn more about NPGA’s Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), please visit NPGA’s website at:  http://npga.org/apprenticeship-program. Here, you will find much more information regarding enrollment forms, program standards, etc. We would especially refer you to the Program Guide or Handbook, that provides detailed information on each program’s instruction and experience requirements, among many other things. We have also set up a unique email address (apprenticeship@npga.org) in which you can reach out to us with questions or submit the necessary information once enrolled in the program.
NPGA Addresses Hazcom Standard at OSHA Hearing
This week, NPGA testified at an Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) public hearing that was held to accept comments on the agency’s existing proposal to update its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). OSHA is proposing updates to the HCS to align the standard with the U.N.’s Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification of Chemicals. The agency’s primary goal for these changes is to align itself with the GHS system in order to foster international consistency and facilitate international commerce.

NPGA stated that while the goal of this effort is international harmonization, the U.S. propane industry is primarily a domestic industry and that NPGA’s members would not reap the benefits of these changes that other industries operating in international commerce would. We urged the agency to bear in mind the impacts on domestic industries that the proposed changes to the HCS would have.

NPGA, as well as numerous other hearing witnesses, also opposed the inclusion of a Released for Shipment date on hazard labels, which would be required every time a cylinder or propane container was filled. The inclusion of this date on the label could create confusion with other dates on the cylinder, e.g., requalification date, create inefficiencies in the labeling process and result in unnecessary cost burdens with no increased benefit in safety.
NPGA did support OSHA’s efforts to codify the elements of a recently published Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between OSHA and DOT. The intent of the MOU was to clarify each agency’s jurisdiction on matters of labeling containers that are used in the transportation of hazardous materials.

In light of questions and comments received from the agency during the hearing, NPGA will be submitting post-hearing comments, which will be accepted through the end of October.
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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.