Propane industry news roundup: September 2007

Fisher Controls recalls some regulators

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Fisher Controls issued a safety notice on July 10 requesting the return of regulators in customer inventory and those that have been installed in the field.

The returns include several regulator products used to control liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas used in residential and light commercial applications and pressurized air used in commercial and industrial applications.

Fisher discovered that some of the screws used to hold the regulator product together were – or could be – fractured, leaving the regulators prone to gas leakage that could result in fire or explosions.

The models affected are HSR, HSRL, 67C, 67CF, 67CR, 67CFR, R122H, R222, R232, R622, R622E, R622H, R632, R642, R652 and R652E regulators.

Fisher notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission of the problem, arranged for product shipments to be reworked and is providing replacements for customers who purchased regulators with fractured screws.

Fisher has not had any reports of screw fractures on installed regulators, product failure incidents or injuries.

NPGA distributing survey to oppose DHS regulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Propane Gas Association is mailing members a survey, which will help the industry oppose the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new chemical facility anti-terrorism standards regulation.

DHS proposed to regulate all United States retail and customer locations that store propane in excess of 7,500 pounds. NPGA hopes to obtain an exemption from these regulations.

The survey, which also can be accessed online at www.npga.org, seeks information about 30,000-gallon tanks. NPGA hopes to use this data on larger installations to refute arguments that propane facilities are terrorist targets.

Petrogas renews rights to underground storage plant

NORTH COLLINS, NEW YORK – Niagara Energy LLC has renewed its Facility Management Agreement with Petrogas Inc. of Houston.

The three-year agreement grants Petrogas the exclusive use of Niagara Energy’s 367,500-gallon underground propane storage facility, rail and truck terminal for wholesale operations.

Legislation to track hazardous materials is set in motion

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Transportation must plan for the continuous tracking of hazardous materials shipments, following legislation signed by President Bush, Transport Topics reported. TSA is required to define the type of materials regarded as “security-sensitive shipments” and begin a plan to track them.

If transporting gasoline and diesel fuel is included in that definition, a large segment of the tank truck industry will be affected, an American Trucking Associations official told the magazine.

Study shows driver error main cause of truck rollovers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Driver error is responsible for most tank truck rollovers, according to a study prepared for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Transport Topics reported.

Research group Battelle found that the driver causes about 75 percent of rollovers. The study says these incidents can be reduced through increased training, the installation of safety technology and improved vehicle design.

Liberty Propane expands with Colorado company

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS – Liberty Propane has announced the acquisition of Navajo Butane in Cortez, Colo., located in the Four Corners area of southwestern Colorado. Navajo is about 70 miles from Liberty’s existing operation, Thriftway/Rocky Mountain Propane in Farmington, N.M. Navajo represents 1,850 more customers to Liberty’s existing presence in the Four Corners region.

NGL Supply Inc. forms retail company

TULSA, OKLAHOMA – After serving the retail marketplace as a propane supplier for more than 40 years, NGL Supply Inc. has formed subsidiary NGL Supply Retail LLC to acquire and operate retail propane companies.

Propane Central, based in Salina, Kan., was NGL’s first acquisition. NGL also has acquired Brantley Gas & Appliance and Rural Gas in southeast Georgia.

The three acquisitions will deliver approximately 9 million gallons annually to more than 13,500 customers.