Author: Shelby Bell

Seventy-five years ago, in 1947, the Pennsylvania Liquified Petroleum Gas Association was incorporated as a 501(c)(6) – a membership based non-profit. In 2005, we became the Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association – and as they say, ‘the rest is history’.  Please plan to celebrate our milestone by attending the annual meeting on June 22, 23, 24 at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel.

Click HERE to view or print the Annual Meeting Brochure and to register online

Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel
55 West Bay Drive, Erie, PA
814.454.2005

Rate: $189 per night + 13%tax

Complimentary Parking for Overnight Guests
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Mini-Refrigerators & Coffee Makers
In-Room Dining
Heated Indoor Pool – Towels Provided
State-of-the-Art Fitness Center – 24 Hours Access

Click HERE to book the $189 group rate

Online Meeting Registration – Click HERE

Online Sponsorship Registration – Click HERE

Online Corn Hole Tournament Registration – Click HERE

Online PAC Fundraiser|Silent Auction Donation Registration – Click HERE

Register Now – Don’t Miss This Milestone Meeting!

Dear Member,

In compliance with the Association’s election procedures, you are hereby notified of the report of the Nominating Committee, which has nominated candidates for the 2022-2023 Board of Directors Elections. The nominations received were unanimously approved at the Board of Directors meeting on March 31, 2022.

In accordance with the Bylaws, members of the Association are hereby advised of your right to name additional candidates for any office. Additional candidates may be nominated by 10 more members, in good standing, filing a written nomination with the Secretary, which will automatically add their name to the list of nominees submitted by the Nominating Committee. The deadline to submit is 5pm, Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

Nominees must be PAPGA members in good standing. The written nomination must include the nominee’s name, company, address, phone, email, and the Board position to which the nominee is being nominated. Nominations received after 5pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, cannot be considered.

Ballots will be sent via email through Election Buddy to PAPGA members having the right to vote on or about May 20, 2022. Electronic voting must be completed no later than 5pm, Monday, June 20, 2022.

2022 Board of Director Elections Slate of Nominees

Executive Board: Two-Year Position

President                   Hugh Rich, III, Richgas

President-Elect         Chris Wolfe, Ray Murray, Inc.

Vice President          Mike George, E.F. Laudenslager

Secretary                    Tim Jackson, Energy Links, LLC|Premium Power Services

Treasurer                   Mark Delehanty, Independence Propane

District Directors: Two-Year Position

District 1                      Norm Cupples, Reed Oil

District 2                      Zac Cromie, Smith Propane & Oil

District 3                      John Maruska, Algas

District 4                      Dan Messett, Home Depot Pro|Leran Gas Products

District 5                      Rick Feiler, RDF Training

District 6                      Rory Greenley, Ace-Robbins, Inc.

District 7                      Dan Balmer, Penn Valley Gas

District 8                      Randy Styer, Styer Propane

Directors at Large:  Voted on Every Year – may elect up to 5

Dale Aldrich, Bergquist, Inc.                           DeAnn Driscoll, Ditech Testing, Inc.

Pat Shay, Tarantin Industries, Inc.                 Michelle Wilson, Boston Environmental|P3

Jim Wiltshire, FW Webb

The Nominating Committee will certify the results of the election. The candidate receiving the most votes will be elected. The new Board will take office at the end of the Board of Directors meeting at the Annual Meeting on June 24, 2022.

Sincerely,

Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association

Beth Donovan
President, Board of Directors

As your elected National State Director, I want to provide you with important updates and a summary of activities that took place at the most recent National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) Board of Directors meeting held in Palm Springs, California, January 30 – February 1, 2022.

NPGA’s committees and task forces held meetings and discussed issues of importance to all propane industry members. I encourage you to take the time to read my report.

Click Here to Read My Report

Thank you for the opportunity to represent you.

Sincerely,
Kara Tucker
Koppy’s Propane

NPGA secured an extension of the current Emergency Declaration by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for 42 states. NPGA’s advocacy was built on information from propane marketers, transport operations, weather predictions, COVID-19 infection rates, and valuable outreach by state and regional trade association executives. The extension enables companies to safely continue deliveries to consumers and bulk storage through the forecasted ‘arctic plunge’ while also working through driver losses due to COVID-19 infections. The waiver is in effect through March 8, 2022.

The federal waiver covers both interstate and intrastate travel within the Commonwealth. Drivers should have a copy of the waiver in their vehicle while using the exemption.

Download the Emergency Declaration 

NPGA urged FMCSA to revise the declaration to apply nationwide based on the increasing infection rate of COVID-19 and the winter weather demand by consumers. NPGA continues to advocate for a nationwide declaration by FMCSA and will continue to educate FMCSA on impact across all states.

Guidance on emergency declarations and waivers by the National Association of State Energy Officials is available HERE. Please direct any questions to or share new information with Sarah Reboli, NPGA Senior Director, Regulatory & Industry Affairs.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an Emergency Declaration for motor carriers with operations impacted by a reduction in commercial vehicle drivers because of COVID-19 infections. The Emergency Declaration waives the hours-of-service requirements for commercial vehicle operations delivering propane and other heating fuels in response to winter storms and high demand from consumers.  

This waiver covers both interstate and intrastate travel within the state. This has been confirmed by FMCSA, PennDOT, and PA State Police. There is no additional action required by the state at this time. PA State Police, PA Public Utility Commission, and PA Local Police Motor Carrier Inspectors have received a copy of the waiver with the explanation that it also applies to intrastate travel within Pennsylvania.

The FMCSA Emergency Declaration applies to: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The waiver is in effect through February 6, 2022. Please make sure to keep a copy of the waiver in your vehicles. 

Please see Emergency Declaration for complete details.

Please note: FMCSA’s DC office checked with FMCSA offices in each state to inquire if they were experiencing driver issues due to COVID and winter demand. FMCSA is open to updating the waiver in the coming weeks to potentially include other states.

Separately, FMCSA extended the nationwide emergency declaration to support operations that continue to provide direct assistance to COVID-19 relief efforts. FMCSA defines direct assistance as “transportation and other relief services provided by a motor carrier or its driver(s) incident to the immediate restoration of essential services (such as medical care) or essential supplies related to COVID-19 during the emergency.” FMCSA cautions that the waiver is not applicable to routine commercial deliveries. Download the Extension to the COVID-19 Relief Emergency Declaration

Guidance on emergency declarations and waivers by the National Association of State Energy Officials is available HERE.