In Memorium: It is with great sadness to report Daryl Ingalsbe, president and CEO of Independent Technologies Inc. (Blair, Neb.) died in a plane crash near his home in Spruce Creek, Fla. on Dec. 27, 2016. He was 67. Ingalsbe founded the company in 1991. People Ingalsbe 1
Washington, DC (February 6, 2017) — President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders and presidential memoranda aimed at expediting priority energy and infrastructure projects, among them construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and the remaining portions of the Dakota Access Pipeline, both of which were rejected by the Obama administration. Trump said the actions were in keeping with his campaign promise to reduce regulatory burdens and streamline projects that will create jobs and increase national security.
Crocker, MO (February 6, 2017) — It is with great sadness that BPN announces the passing of long-time propane industry member, Geneva Goodrich. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported Saturday that Geneva, 86, died of injuries sustained when the vehicle she and husband, Bob Goodrich, crashed while traveling on State Highway U, seven miles west of Crocker, Mo. Mr. Goodrich sustained moderate injuries.
(January 31, 2017) — The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has announced the appointment of Paula Wilson as its new Director of Industry Engagement. For nearly 25 years, Ms. Wilson served as director of marketing at AmeriGas Propane (Valley Forge, Penn.), one of the largest propane companies in the United States. Wilson lead marketing strategy and consumer engagement for AmeriGas for its business-to-consumer and business-to-business sectors.
(January 31, 2017) — The Missouri Propane Education and Research Council (MOPERC) announced recently the election of several local propane professionals to serve as 2017 Directors and Officers.

The Council recently installed its new leadership at the group’s winter meeting in Ridgedale, Mo. The slate was approved following elections at the MOPERC fall meeting in Jefferson City, Mo., and includes representatives from across the state who serve in various capacities and includes:
• Chair –Eric Kolkmeyer, Energy Transport Solutions, Bates City, Mo.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted a Federal Register notice Jan. 6, 2017, proposing to add natural gas processing facilities to industrial sectors covered by reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), commonly known as the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA).
DES MOINES, Iowa (January 25, 2017) — The State of Iowa has adopted [661—201.2(1)] the 2015 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC), which within Section 2307 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Motor Fuel-Dispensing Facilities) provides requirements for public fueling of motor vehicles (2307.7).
(January 20, 2017) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more than $7.7 million to replace or retrofit 401 older diesel school buses. The funds are going to 88 school bus fleets in 27 states, each of which will receive rebates through EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding. The new and retrofitted buses will reduce pollutants that are linked to health problems such as asthma and lung damage.
Sean B. Murray has joined Proulx Oil & Propane (Newmarket, N.H.) as sales/account manager. He will handle sales of oil and propane to all new construction projects, builders and developers, and residential and commercial consumer accounts throughout New Hampshire, Southern Maine, and North Shore Massachusetts.
(January 13, 2017) — The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and National Propane Gas Association reported that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has finalized a new rule affecting timeframes pertaining to the requalification of DOT cylinders; this NEW RULE TAKES EFFECT JANUARY 23, 2017.

The rule impacts the following areas of cylinder requalification:
(January 13, 2017) — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has published a final rule detailing minimum training requirements for commercial drivers’ license (CDL) applicants and CDL holders who seek endorsements, including the hazardous materials endorsement, reports the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA). The compliance deadline is Feb. 7, 2020. Therefore, those seeking a CDL or an endorsement after that date must complete the recently published minimum training requirements before taking the CDL exam or endorsement exam.
TULSA, Okla. (January 2, 2017) — NGL Energy Partners LP (Tulsa) has been approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court as the high bidder for certain assets of Murphy Energy Corp. (Tulsa). The assets include a Port Hudson, La. natural gas liquids terminal that supports refined products blending, and a Kingfisher, Okla. natural gas liquids and condensate facility. The combined purchase price is about $51 million.
Oklahoma has beaten out Texas as the most attractive jurisdiction around the world for oil and gas investment, according to an annual global survey of petroleum sector executives by the Fraser Institute, a Canadian public policy think tank. The survey ranks 96 jurisdictions worldwide based on their barriers to investment—taxation, costly regulatory obligations, and uncertainty over environmental regulations—and on the volume of oil and gas reserves.
EAST STROUDSBURG, Penn. (Dec. 22, 2016) — The East Stroudsburg Area School District in Pennsylvania will steer its transportation program in a new direction. School board officials on Monday approved the purchase of 52 propane-powered school buses and vans.

"We're moving to convert our bus fleet from diesel to propane," said district Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Bader on Tuesday. "It's a more environment-friendly fuel option that will save money down the road in service costs."
EAST STROUDSBURG, Penn. (Dec. 22, 2016) — The East Stroudsburg Area School District in Pennsylvania will steer its transportation program in a new direction. School board officials on Monday approved the purchase of 52 propane-powered school buses and vans.

"We're moving to convert our bus fleet from diesel to propane," said district Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Bader on Tuesday. "It's a more environment-friendly fuel option that will save money down the road in service costs."
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released a new report by Catalyst Environmental Solutions showing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finding of no widespread effects to drinking water quality due to hydraulic fracturing operations is supported by state and federal regulatory reviews—and dozens of recent peer-reviewed case studies. API commissioned the report. It is available for review on the institute’s website, api.org.
ExxonMobil (Irving, Texas) will add a new production unit at its Beaumont, Texas polyethylene plant that will increase capacity by 65%, or by about 650,000 tonnes a year, to meet growing demand for high-performance plastics. Construction has begun at the plant, where current polyethylene production capacity is one million tonnes a year. Startup is expected in 2019.
People EasonC. Michael Eason has joined the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC; Washington, D.C.) staff as director of budget and finance. He will replace Jim Harris, PERC’s CFO and vice president of administration for the past 11 years, who will retire at the end of 2016. Most recently, Eason was CFO at Intelligent Transportation Society of America.
(November 17, 2016) Chicago, Illinois-based Energy Distribution Partners (“EDP”) is pleased to announce that Jordan Landrum has joined the company as General Manager for Quality Propane in Burnsville and Kellogg, Minnesota. Having started his energy industry career with Ferrellgas in 2006, Landrum comes to EDP with more than 10 years of increasingly responsible operations and management experience in the propane and compressed gas businesses. Landrum graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision.
(Nov. 8, 2016) Lori Murawski has joined Energy Distribution Partners (EDP; Chicago) as a general manager for CMP Energy in Phillipsburg, Pa., and Robert Mitchell has joined as operations manager of CMP Energy, which was recently acquired by EDP. Murawski, a CPA, has been with CMP Energy since 2012, most recently as its CFO, where she led an experienced team of industry professionals, including Mitchell.