The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/450863
posal would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to justify in a report to Congress how the changes enhance public safety. Originally, the HOS regulations allowed drivers to use the 34-hour restart without restrictions. However, the FMCSA adopted regula- tory changes limiting use of the 34-hour restart to just once per week and requir- ing the restart to include two over- night rest periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. As a result of the FMCSA changes, depending on the time of day their final shift ends, drivers are now required to take more than 34 hours off duty before they can return to work. The change greatly reduces the flexibility petroleum marketers need to schedule drivers effi- ciently and PMAA fully supported the policy rider's inclusion. Another policy rider included in the omnibus package was limited language preventing EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from expanding its jurisdiction over "Waters of the United States." Many petroleum marketers with bulk storage will be adversely affected by the revised definition. At the most fun- damental level, the proposal as written represents an unjustified expansion of Clean Water Act jurisdiction far beyond the limits of federal regulation explicitly established by Congress and affirmed by the courts. The proposal would, for the first time, give federal agencies direct authority over land use decisions that Congress has intentionally preserved to the States. It would intrude so far into traditional State and local land use authority that it is difficult to imagine that Congress intended this outcome. PMAA supported the language in the omnibus spending package. Finally, one policy rider was included that would gut a critical Dodd-Frank reform provision to prevent the big Wall Street banks from being allowed to use insured deposits to gamble in the commodity futures markets. Under the Dodd-Frank reform law, the big banks must segregate their swaps desks so that taxpayers won't be left on the hook if their bets go south. PMAA opposed its inclusion; however, House and Senate negotiators cut a deal to increase fund- ing for the CFTC in return for the policy rider's inclusion. In related news, the Senate approved a one-year tax extenders package (applies to calendar year 2014 only) that would revive over 50 expired tax incentives by a vote of 76–16. The House passed an iden- tical bill earlier this month by an over- whelming vote of 378–46. The extender's package includes the one-dollar-per gal- lon biodiesel blender's tax credit, a 30% investment tax credit for alternative fuel pumps, bonus depreciation, and Section 179 expensing. President Obama signed the legislation on Dec. 22. NORA INItIAl PROject OPPORtuNIty NOtIce DeemeD A SucceSS The National Oilheat Research issued its first Project Opportunity Notice since its reauthorization on Oct. 31, 2014, with a deadline for submissions of Dec. 12, 2014. NORA's President, John Huber, categorized the PON a success as the number and quality of proposals met or exceeded expectations. The PON (No. 2014-001) sought proposals to support the development, demonstration and commercialization of Oilheat technologies and made avail- able two million dollars in funding. At the deadline close, twelve propos- als had been received totaling more than $4.5 million for research on a cost shared basis with NORA. Under the proposals, NORA would contribute sig- nificant funding for the projects. "It is exciting that this many compa- nies, including manufacturers, consul- tants and laboratories, are so interested in adding to the already high-quality products and services offered to the American consumer by the oilheating industry," said Huber. "The quality of the concerns making the proposals is quite high and the topics are right on target with NORA's long term plans." Although none of the proposals have gone through the entire process and been formally accepted, some of the topics proposed include: improving condensing appliances, low firing and modulating burners, delivery efficiency improvements and biodiesel/Bioheat® improvements. All of the proposals are now under review by NORA's technical experts. The next step is for NORA's techni- cal experts to make recommendations to the NORA technical committee for final approval. NORA will continue to release PONs in the months and years ahead. They will be distributed to the industry through press releases and posted on the NORAweb.org site. Calendar of Events FEB., 2015 WPMA Convention Feb. 17 - 19 The Mirage Hotel Las Vegas, NV 801-263-9762 MarCh, 2015 The Work Truck Show 2015 March 4–6 Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, IN 800-441-6832 aPrIL, 2015 2015 NPGA Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo April 11- 13 Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, GA Contact: Kristin White 202-466-7200 kwhite@npga.org MaY, 2015 PMAA Washington Conference and Day on the Hill May 6-8 Washington Marriott at Metro Center Washington, D.C. AREE Tradeshow May 12-14 Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City, NJ 973-467-1400 info@areetradeshow.com DatELInE BreAKING NeWs 4 FeBRuARy 2015 | Fuel OIl NeWS | www.fueloilnews.com