October 16, 2023

In Brief

Welcome to the latest edition of the Monday Morning Messenger! A special session is underway in Texas, and one Houston area state representative has introduced legislation to prevent state enforcement of federal regulations that inhibit gas-powered appliances, vehicles, and equipment. You can read more about this special session legislation in our first story of the morning.

Last December, TPGA reported how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wanted to make changes to emergency declarations that our industry uses for relief from hours of service during the winter months and extreme weather conditions. FMCSA has published its final rule. Read more about the compromise below.

Next week, the Texas Propane Gas Association will be heading to New Braunfels, TX, for our Fall 2023 Board & Committee Meetings on October 24-25, 2023. We invite members to join us.

In our last story of the morning, see which fire departments in Texas have signed up for the Propane Emergency Response Training on November 6-7, 2023. You, too, can sign up with an extended hotel reservation deadline until October 17, 2023.

Also, check out our Quick Links section of the Messenger to access the latest Winter Weekly newsletter and get fast access to PSC.

In this issue

In Brief
Texas Gas Protection Legislation
Hours of Service
Fall TPGA Meetings
TX Fire Departments
Quick Links

Calendar

October 16-18, 2023

NPGA Fall Board of Directors, Committee, & Section Meetings

October 17, 2023

Propane Emergencies Hotel Extended Deadline

October 17, 2023

LPG Charity Fund Fall Class Golf Tournament

October 18, 2023

October 24-25, 2023

November 6-7, 2023

Affinity Partners

Lone Star Energy Group Workers Comp Insurance

Basys Credit Card Processing

NoCell Technologies

Texas Special Session Introduces

Gas Protection Bill

Texas HB 116, introduced by Rep. Toth of Spring, TX last week, aims to protect gas appliance, vehicle, and tool usage and is a significant step forward in preserving the state's autonomy and protecting the interests of Texans. This legislation is designed to ensure that federal agencies do not overreach their authority by imposing regulations that are inconsistent with Texas state laws.

The bill states: An agency of this state or a person employed by an agency of this state may not contract with or, in any other manner, provide assistance to a federal agency or official with respect to the enforcement of a federal statute, order, rule, or regulation purporting to regulate gas appliance, vehicle, or tool usage if the statute, order, rule, or regulation imposes a prohibition, restriction, or other regulation that does not exist under the laws of this state.

The attorney general shall defend any agency of this state that the federal government attempts to sue for an action or omission consistent with the requirements of this section.

While not on the Governor's agenda, TPGA will continue to monitor and support any measure that protects gas appliances, vehicles, and other gas-powered equipment."

VIEW HB 116

FMCSA Hours of Service

Compromise

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently issued its Final Rule, titled "Clarification to the Application of Emergency Exemptions." This rule came in response to concerns raised from its initial rule proposal last December, where FMCSA had suggested shortening the standard duration of a regional hours of service waiver from 30 days to just 5 days.

However, FMCSA received feedback from various entities, including the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), which argued that more than 5 days might be needed to address specific emergencies. In response to these concerns, FMCSA revised the automatic regulatory relief duration triggered by a regional emergency declaration to 14 days.

Moreover, the Final Rule mentions that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) acknowledges that there are situations where emergency declarations are made before a foreseeable event, like a hurricane, blizzard, or flooding. The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) plans to leverage this statement to support the idea of getting advance declarations for temporary changes in hours during the upcoming winter season, particularly if these changes are necessary to help communities prepare better for severe weather conditions.

Join Us for the Fall 2023 TPGA Board & Committee Meetings

Join us for the Texas Propane Gas Association's Board & Committee Meetings on October 24-25, 2023, at Courtyard by Marriott in New Braunfels, TX.

SCHEDULE

October 24, 2023

10:30a - 11:30a: Convention Planning

1:00p - 2:30p: CETP Informative Session by PERC

2:30p - 3:30p: Executive Committee

3:30p - 5:00p: Finance Committee

5:00p: Oktoberfest Social

6:30p: Oktoberfest Dinner Sponsored by YOUR NAME COULD APPEAR HERE

October 25, 2023

9:00a - 11:30a: Board of Directors

BOARD AGENDA: 2023 financials, 2024 budgets, 2024 Convention, and Railroad Commission Update.

ABOUT THE CETP SESSION: Learn about CETP with Eric Kuster, VP of Safety, Education, & Compliance at PERC. CETP equips propane industry professionals with essential skills.

HOTEL. The hotel reservation deadline has been extended to October 18, 2023. We have added more rooms. To make reservations, please call (830) 626-4700 and mention the 3-letter reservation code TPG or click here to make reservations online.

If you have any issues making reservations, please call TPGA at (800) 325-7427 and press 2 for Jackie.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Oktoberfest Beer Steins sponsored by 4J Energy

October 24, 2023 Coffee Break sponsored by METSA Tanks

October 25, 2023 Coffee Break sponsored by Warm Thoughts

ONLY 1 SPONSORSHIP LEFT: Support our meeting with sponsorships. Sponsor our Octoberfest dinner ($1,500).

Contact accountant@txpropane.com.

RSVP REQUIRED: Please RSVP to ensure seating and space. Meetings are open to all TPGA members.

RSVP

Is Your Fire Department

Participating?

So far, we have over 60 firefighters from 25 different Texas fire departments participating in our Propane Emergency Response Training on November 6-7, 2023.

Is your fire department one of them? If so, you can still sign up to come and participate. All certified propane industry professionals who attend will receive RRC Continuing Education Training.

Brazos County VFD 4

Burkburnett Fire Dept.

City of Taylor Fire Department

Corpus Christi Fire Department

Gainesville Fire Department

Holliday Vol Fire and Rescue

Holly Lake Volunteer Fire Department

Ivanhoe Volunteer Fire Department

Johnson City Vol Fire Dept

Marble Falls Fire Rescue

Nursery Volunteer Fire Department

Palmview Fire Department