www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | AprIL 2014 19
that go into these facilities and the quality of training possessed
by the people that operate them. They want to know that you
have things in place, such as evacuation plans, should the highly
unlikely ever occur."
Of special note among the PERC materials are a brochure and
an editable PowerPoint presentation, for use educating govern-
ment and community groups. They outline the facts that counter-
act the primary fears and myths that might be present.
Here are some highlights from the material:
• Over 60 million Americans safely use and rely on propane,
90% of U.S. propane supplies are produced at facilities in our
country and propane is a secure and reliable energy source.
• There are over 13,500 propane storage facilities in the U.S.
They are built to industry and government standards, installed on
a firm foundation and protected to prevent tampering.
• Storage facilities have an excellent safety record. According
to a recent study by Texas A&M University, there were very
few incidents and no fatalities at propane storage facilities
during the nine-year study period. Similarly, a U.S. DOE study
concluded that a public fatality caused by a storage facility inci-
dent is less than 1 in 37 million. The reasons for this are many,
and they include rigorous employee training programs; the
implementation of industry-based practices and procedures;
and state and federal regulations and standards.
• Local and volunteer fire departments are typically trained
to assist in a propane fire or emergency. Through the Propane
Emergencies program, more than 200,000 firefighters have been
trained to handle propane-related emergencies. The program is
used by 35 state firefighter training academies.
• Propane facilities are no more disruptive to the community
than any other facility in that zoned location. Excessive noise is not
an issue, nor, typically, is odor. The facilities are neat and clean. In
fact (subjectively) they might be considered visually superior to
many other industrial installations.
• New propane facilities placed in areas that are zoned for
commercial or industrial installations will not have an effect on
property values comparable to any other industrial facility located
in the same area.
• Propane facilities are environmentally friendly. The fuel is
clean burning, dissipates quickly and is not toxic to groundwater
or the environment in general.
The PowerPoint presentation can be found at: Www.propane-
safety.com/bulk-plant-support
Copies of the brochure are available for purchase from the
Propane Marketing and Resource Catalog at www.propanemarc.
com or 866-905-1075 (item PRC 006500).
By Keith Reid
Fuels
l F O N
