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From the Desk of the EVP

Setting the PEI Mission
PEI’s Strategic Long-Range Planning Committee met in early March to discuss the strategy for PEI for the next 3 to 5 years. The main takeaway is that PEI will focus on being a member-centric association, emphasizing the value membership provides. In the next few months, we will be reconstructing a mission statement to incorporate this new focus. Everyone on the PEI team is excited for this next step, and we will continue to share with you PEI’s progress. 

Member Feedback
I just finished reviewing the results from our annual PEI membership survey. More than 300 members completed the survey. We are proud to report that over 87% of our members are satisfied or very satisfied with the association. We continue to thank you for your membership in PEI and will work hard to keep you engaged in your association. 

Getting Back Together
I recently returned from our Managers Conference in San Antonio. We had over 150 attendees who spent two and a half days learning, networking and collaborating with each other. This conference will be a yearly event around the March timeframe, and we hope to increase attendance next year. Any PEI member in a managerial role is encouraged to attend.

Jason K. Blake
PEI Executive Vice President
jblake@pei.org

NFPA EV Amendment

RP100 Comments Due March 31

Scholarship Deadline is March 31

New PEI Priority Club Benefits

National Ladder Safety Month

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FINAL COMMITTEE VOTE ON NFPA 30A EV AMENDMENT FALLS SHORT
PEI submitted a "yes" vote on a tentative interim amendment (TIA) to NFPA 30A that addresses electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment at liquid fueling facilities (see February 15 TulsaLetter). The final committee vote fell short of the 3/4 majority needed to pass the amendment.

Several PEI members submitted comments in support of the TIA.

"Though the amendment failed to pass, PEI remains committed to providing reasonable protective measures for regulatory authorities, facility owners and equipment installers to follow when installing EV equipment at motor fuel dispensing facilities," said PEI Executive Vice President Jason Blake.

RP100 COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES MARCH 31
The 45-day public comment period on PEI/RP100, Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems closes March 31. The PEI Tank Installation committee is seeking comments on the document, which provides the most current information on sound engineering and construction practices with regard to the proper installation of underground liquid storage systems. To submit comments, visit www.pei.org/rp100 and click “Comment Now.”

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR PEI FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP IS MARCH 31
Each year, the PEI Foundation awards $1,000 scholarships to students enrolling as a full-time freshman at an accredited four-year college or university. The students must be dependents of full-time PEI member company employees or an employee of a PEI member company. The deadline to apply is March 31. Find more information here.

NEW 2022 PEI PRIORITY CLUB BENEFITS
PEI is adding new benefits to our popular Priority Club program. These new benefits add to the recognition that gold, silver and bronze members receive throughout the year. New benefits include:

• Executive interview in PEI Journal
• Mention in PEI NewsWatch (Gold level)
• Executive suite invitations during PEI Convention
• Recognition on PEI social channels

Find the full list of benefits here. To join Priority Club, contact Tom Leibrandt at tleibrandt@pei.org or 918-236-3962.

NATIONAL LADDER SAFETY MONTH
Every year, over 100 people die in ladder-related accidents and thousands suffer disabling injuries. PEI’s monthly SafetyLetter often highlights incidents involving falls from ladders. PEI’s first safety Recommended Practice will address, among other things, ladder and lift safety. We encourage all PEI members to participate in National Ladder Safety Month this month to raise awareness of ladder safety and to decrease the number of ladder-related injuries and fatalities. While safe ladder climbing practices should always be observed, National Ladder Safety Month helps bring awareness to the importance of the safe use of ladders through resources, training and a national dialogue.

PEI WEBINAR: MINIMIZING AND REDUCING YOUR TAX LIABILITY
Confusing information abounds about new tax laws—and how these laws are impacting the valuation of businesses, the buying and selling of companies, and the succession/strategic planning that should now be used to minimize and possibly eliminate current and future tax liability. Join PEI at 2 p.m. CST today, March 16 for our free webinar to learn more about the new tax laws and how recently updated tax deductions can be utilized. Register here.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 PEI MANAGERS CONFERENCE SPONSORS

NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER ON CRYPTOCURRENCY
On March 9, President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to implement a strategy for policies and regulations on digital assets. The order calls on the government to examine the risk and benefits of cryptocurrencies. The measures focus on six key areas: consumer protection, financial stability, illicit activity, U.S. competitiveness, financial inclusion and responsible innovation.

FEDERAL REGULATORY UPDATES
DOL Plans to Issue New Overtime Rule. The Department of Labor announced its intention to review and update Fair Labor Standards Act regulations regarding the overtime threshold. The agency indicated it will issue new rules by April 2022. One of the rulemaking’s primary goals is to increase the salary level requirement for the white-collar exemptions, according to DOL. The current overtime threshold is $35,568 per year or $684 per week for salaried-exempt administrative, executive and professional employees.

OSHA, EPA Increase Penalty Amounts for Violations. In January, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an increase in the civil penalty amounts assessed for violations of its regulations. The new penalty amounts are applicable to OSHA citations issued after January 15, 2022, for violations occurring after July 15, 2021. The OSHA rule is available here. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also increased its maximum civil penalties for violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, where the penalty was assessed on or after January 12, 2022. The EPA rule is available here.

MEMBER NEWS
D&H United Fueling Solutions, a provider of petroleum fueling and EV charging system equipment, installation and service in the Southwest, has acquired Denver-based Kubat Equipment and Service Co., a petroleum industry supplier covering the state of Colorado and parts of Wyoming, Utah and Nebraska. The combined companies will have approximately 500 team members, including 350 field technicians with 15 branches operating across the Sun Belt and Mountain West. Craig Hoyer, president of Kubat will become VP, Colorado and Mountain West Operations for D&H United.

Leighton O’Brien has appointed Chris Cooper as its new CEO. Cooper takes over from co-founder and current CEO Reed Leighton who will move to an executive chair position on the board and continue directing business development in the U.S. and providing strategic guidance on global market growth opportunities. Prior to his three years at Leighton O’Brien, Cooper held senior management roles at Dover Fueling Solutions, OPW and Gilbarco Veeder-Root across a diverse set of geographic territories.

OMNTEC Mfg. Inc., a tank gauging and leak detection equipment manufacturer based in Ronkonkoma, New York, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Prescott Valley, Arizona-based Vaporless Mfg. Inc. Vaporless manufactures mechanical line leak detectors (MLLD), advanced nitrogen blanketing, electronic line leak detection (ELLD) systems and MLLD/ELLD testing equipment. The two companies, owned by OMNTEC, will continue to operate under their respective brands for the foreseeable future.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Georgia Construction Firm. Blackwater Construction, 2180 Satellite Blvd., Suite 400, Duluth, GA 30097, has applied for service and construction division membership. Imran Niazi is president of the company, which was established in 2009. Blackwater Construction is a general contracting and construction management firm. Sponsored for PEI membership by Tonia Ballard, SPATCO Energy Solutions, Charlotte, North Carolina. www.blackwaterga.com

California Environmental Compliance Company. Eco-Chek Compliance Inc., PO Box 1394, Lafayette, CA 94549, has applied for service and construction division membership. Nik Zagorov is CEO for the firm, which was established in 2009. Eco-Chek Compliance Inc. is an environmental engineering compliance firm that performs environmental compliance, maintenance and testing for fuel storage tanks. Sponsored for PEI membership by Paola Bravo, S. Bravo Systems Inc., South Pasadena, California. www.eco-chek.com

Virginia Engineering Company. The Plan Source, 9506 B Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031, has applied for affiliate division membership. Bhoopendra Prakash is lead engineer for the firm, which was established in 1991. The Plan Source designs service stations in the Washington, D.C., area. Sponsored for PEI membership by Mark Devey, UST Services Corporation, Owings, Maryland. www.plan-source.com

TRANSFER APPROVED

• Evora Petroleum Solutions, West Des Moines, Iowa has been transferred from PEI’s service and construction division to the distributor division.

ADMISSIONS

• Piedmont Pump and Tank LLC, Wendell, North Carolina (service & construction)
• Andrew Cullen, Penske Truck Leasing, Reading, Pennsylvania (operations & engineering)
• David Freshour, Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (operations & engineering)
  William Sharp, W and M Sharp LLC, Amissville, Virginia (operations & engineering)

The TulsaLetter is published each month by the Petroleum Equipment Institute. Opinions expressed are the opinions of PEI.