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The federal EPA still hasn’t defined when it would
consider ORVR in widespread use. What criterion (percent of fleet
with ORVR, vehicle miles traveled with ORVR, gasoline sold to ORVR vehicles,
etc.) EPA will use has yet to be determined. Similarly, the percent
penetration of ORVR into the vehicle fleet required (somewhere between 80
and 95 percent) to transition from Stage II to ORVR also has not been
decided by EPA. Despite these uncertainties, we can make these predictions
about Stage II and ORVR systems with some confidence:
- EPA will supply the criterion for what is widespread use.
- Widespread use determinations will likely be made state by state or
region by region.
- States will determine when the criterion for widespread use applies in
their state. Once that is determined, states will then submit a state
implementation plan (SIP) revision removing Stage II.
- Stage II will begin to disappear from the states between 2011 and
2013.
- California expects to keep Stage II systems until 2020 or longer to
maintain emissions reductions. California air officials are considering
developing certification standards for a “Stage III” vapor recovery system
that could include requirements for “dripless” nozzles, underground
storage tank pressure limits and in-station diagnostics.
- When the Stage II requirement is removed, the states or EPA will
develop some guidance regarding appropriate procedures for removing Stage
II equipment. PEI is likely to become involved in that process, perhaps by
adding a removal section to PEI/RP300, Recommended Practices for
Installation and Testing of Vapor Recovery Systems at Vehicle-Fueling
Sites.
PEI BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
The PEI Board of Directors met last month in Austin, Texas, and made a
number of policy decisions related to membership services and association
operations. Here is a summary.
Changes to the PEI Constitution and Bylaws.
PEI’s Constitution and Bylaws have not been thoroughly reviewed since 1966.
The board will recommend numerous changes to the membership at PEI’s annual
membership meeting and lunch (see below) November 8 in Atlanta. Most of the
changes are of a general housekeeping or editorial nature, although a few
are strategic. Members will be mailed all recommended changes in September
for review prior to the meeting.
New Service and Construction Division. A new membership division
specifically for service and construction firms will be proposed to the
general membership at the November 8 meeting. We expect 350 current
affiliate division members will transfer to the new service and construction
division, allowing us to serve both groups better. For PEI Directory
purposes, distributor division members that provide installation and/or
service to their customers can elect to have their company listed under the
Service and Construction Division as well as the Distributor Division.
Membership Meeting AND Lunch. The board approved a slight change in
timing for the Annual PEI Membership Meeting that is held at convention each
year. The membership meeting, where the changes to the Constitution and
Bylaws will be considered, will be combined with lunch and held on Thursday,
November 8. The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. and finish at 12:30 p.m.,
permitting membership meeting attendees to conduct PEI business, hear some
brief remarks and enjoy a good lunch before arriving on the trade show
floor.
Should we be the Petroleum Equipment Institute or PEI? Directors
discussed whether it made sense at this time to be officially known as PEI
instead of the Petroleum Equipment Institute. The negative connotation given
to the word “petroleum” was a big factor in the discussion but in the end,
directors felt that “petroleum” was the one word that tied PEI members
together. The issue will be revisited next year.
Committee Recommendations Approved. Reports from
PEI’s Education, Strategic Long Range Planning, Safety, Exhibitor &
Convention Advisory, Investment, and Young Executives Committees were
reviewed and approved. Some of the committee’s recommendations of general
interest to PEI members that were approved by the directors include:
- A $2,217,050 budget for the fiscal year that began
April 1. No dues increase for 2007-2008.
- The incorporation of the Manage Safe
publication into the new PEI Journal.
- The Safety Committee’s Dos and Don’ts provided free
of charge on the PEI website.
- An Inventory and Purchasing Managers Conference in
2008.
- A new survey on business software used by
distributor members.
- Strengthen 10-Groups.
- Investigate additional topics that could serve as
subjects for future recommended practices. Members’ comments are
solicited.
PEI President Calvin Bishop, El Paso, Texas, presided
at the midyear meeting. Other officers and directors attending the meeting
included:
Bruce Larson, Clarkston, MI (vice president)
Blair Shwedo, Charlotte, NC (treasurer)
Steve Hieber, New Oxford, PA (immediate past president)
Bob Renkes, Tulsa, OK (executive vice president)
Mark Babcock, Falmouth, ME (District 1)
Scott Hafer, Reading, PA (District 2)
Joey Cheek, Tampa, FL (District 3)
Andy Mercer, Jackson, MI (District 4)
Kevin McKinney, Mobile, AL (District 5)
Terry Cooper, Marion, IA (District 6)
Richard Dixon, Wichita, KS (District 8)
Dennis Rethmeier, San Diego, CA (District 9)
Randy Dixon, Billings, MT (District 10)
Ian Burton, Shakopee, MN (District 11)
Martin Pettesch, Elizabeth, NJ (District 12)
John Radu, Vienna, OH (District 13)
Gene Pope, Tampa, FL (Affiliate Division)
Bob Dendy, Houston, TX (Affiliate Division)
Connie Dooley, Tulsa, OK (director of administration)
PEI OFFICERS TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS
Bob Renkes, PEI’s executive vice president, will speak at the Building
Biofuels Infrastructure Conference in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the
U.S. Department of Commerce on June 19. His presentation will be on fueling
station and dispensing equipment compatibility. The
conference flyer lists all of the presentations at the conference. There
are a limited number of seats available for PEI members at this conference.
If you wish to attend, call or email Shannon Fraser at (202) 482-3609 or
Shannon.Fraser@mail.doc.gov.
Calvin Bishop, 2007 PEI president, will address delegates to the
China Petroleum Wholesale and Retail Summit in Beijing, China, June 28-29.
The title of his speech is “More Profit for Petroleum Marketing Companies.”
ACQUISITIONS
Jones & Frank Corp., headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, has acquired
JCV, Inc., with offices in Salisbury and Hughesville, Maryland. The
company says that the acquisition of JCV will add to the existing remote
service capabilities established by Jones & Frank in Baltimore, and will
broaden its reach into all areas of Maryland, Washington, D.C., and portions
of Delaware.
Murphy Oil Corp., El Dorado, Arkansas, announced
that it has entered into an agreement with Wal-Mart Stores and subsidiaries
to purchase parcels of property which the company currently leases from
Wal-Mart for its retail gasoline stations. Under the terms of the agreement,
Murphy will take control of the stations in several phases over the course
of the year. Expansion of the program will continue with additional
opportunities to purchase new site locations in the future. In conjunction
with the agreement, the company said it plans to close as many as 47
locations. Murphy’s retail presence currently covers 21 states, primarily in
the Southeast and upper Midwest. Murphy operates more than 1,000 stations in
Wal-Mart parking lots.
ConocoPhillips has sold its 147 gasoline stations in Thailand
to PTT, Thailand’s largest energy company. PTT’s market share in
Thailand will increase by 4 percent from the current 30 percent after the
acquisition, expected to be completed in June. ConocoPhillips also agreed to
sell 44 gasoline stations in Malaysia to Royal Dutch Shell.
BRIEFLY NOTED
Gasoline combined with ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) is now being
sold at 55 gasoline stations in Japan on a trial basis. The fuel,
marketed as “biogasoline,” contains 3 percent ETBE, although the government
is considering raising that to 10 percent. The plans are to increase the
number of biogasoline outlets to 100 within fiscal 2008, and 1,000 in fiscal
2009. In fiscal 2010, biogasoline is projected to constitute 20 percent of
all gasoline sold.—Daily Yomiuri Online, April 23, 2007.
Sheet steel prices have moved upward from $508/ton in February and
probably will be around $600 in June, according to Reed Business
Information.
In order to provide convenient and reliable refueling, hydrogen-powered
fuel-cell drivers want station operators to drop liability agreements,
integrate hydrogen with other products at the pump, adopt common standards,
remove or standardize the need for protective equipment, and introduce more
information on the status and capacity of stations, according to Adam Gromis,
program manager at the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Around 100
hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles operate in California, supported by 24
operational filling stations concentrated in the San Francisco-Sacramento
and Los Angeles-San Diego corridors. Another 16 filling stations are
planned.
DEATHS
Laura Stewart, director of regulatory policy for the Petroleum Marketers
Association of America since 2001, died April 30. Survivors include her
husband, Brian, and twin one-year-old daughters, Lindsey and Olivia. A trust
fund has been established for the daughters: The Olivia and Lindsey Stewart
Trust Fund, c/o Marion Center Bank, Willow Springs Office, 162 Route 119
Highway N, Indiana, PA 15701.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Mexico software company. Alvic Mexico, Calle Rio Nito, 90 Piso 7 Oficina
701, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, Delegación Cuauhtemoc, Mexico, D.F., Mexico 06500,
has applied for manufacturer division membership. Cesar Juarez Fernandez is
director general adjunto for the firm, which was established in 2005. Alvic
Mexico provides software for service stations which is sold through
distributors. Nominated for PEI membership by Wilhelm Schmidt Richter,
Meridian, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
Mexico tank manufacturer. Torco de la Laguna S.A., Calle Carmen
Salinas #256 Sur Int. 4, Col. Centro, Torreon, Coah., Mexico 03100, has
applied for manufacturer division membership. Luis Fernando Ramirez is the
official representative for the firm, which was established in 2002. The
company manufactures underground storage tanks. Nominated for PEI membership
by Wilhelm Schmidt Richter, Meridian, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
Florida installation and service company. J.E.B. Petroleum
Contractors Inc., P. O. Box 173786, Hialeah, Florida 33017, has applied for
affiliate division membership. Jose Archila is president of the firm, which
was established in 2004. The company provides complete planning and
construction services for service stations. Nominated for PEI membership by
Pete Delderfield, DeltaPtrFL, West Palm Beach, FL.
Maryland environmental consulting firm. Advantage Environmental
Consultants, LLC, 8610 Washington Boulevard, Suite 217, Jessup, Maryland
20794, has applied for affiliate division membership. Jeff Stein is a
principal with the firm, which was established in 2002. Nominated for PEI
membership by Dwayne Stambaugh, StaMtnceMD, New Windsor, MD.
Virginia installation and service firm. Diversified Industries, 307
Byrnes Street, Goodview, Virginia 24095, has applied for affiliate division
membership. Robby Weaver is the owner of the firm, which was established in
2005. The company installs, upgrades, removes and services aboveground and
underground petroleum storage tanks and equipment. Nominated for PEI
membership by David Bass, ShannonAsc, Southern Pines, NC.
MEMBERSHIP TRANSFER REQUEST
Arkansas Testing Services Inc., P. O. Box 191, Austin, Arkansas 72007,
has requested its membership in PEI be transferred from the affiliate
division to the distributor division. The company represents AmFab, Bagby,
Flex-Ing, Franklin, HallTank, Morrison, PetroClear, Richards, Smithpipe,
Tuthill and Universal. The transfer is sponsored by Richard D. Dixon,
Hoidale, Wichita, Kansas, and Lyndell Thomas, HootenEqp, Springdale,
Arkansas. |
