News Releases for August 2007
August 27, 2007
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Hoeven Requests EPA Waiver To Allow Canadian Fuel Imports To Address Tight Supplies
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today wrote to EPA Administrator Steven Johnson to request a 20-day waiver for Canadian gasoline imports to North Dakota in order to address a tight supply in the availability of fuel in the state. Fuel supplies in North Dakota have been stretched for much of the summer owing to fires, flooding and increased demand; scheduled refinery shutdowns threaten to exacerbate the shortages over the next few weeks.
“Importing Canadian fuel is another measure we can take to help increase the supply of fuel, especially in the northern tier of the state,” Hoeven said. “At the same time, we are working with shippers and distributors to press for more supplies statewide in order to prevent or minimize shortages over the holiday weekend.”
Hoeven has also waived hours of service restrictions until Sept. 7 for fuel delivery drivers in the state to help with long waits at distribution points. He has in addition contacted pipeline officials, and asked them to do all they can to increase supplies to the region.
A fire at a Laurel, Mont. refinery, and a flood at a Coffeyville, Kans. facility have combined with regional
refinery shutdowns due to maintenance to create a tight supply of gasoline for an extended period of time. The
pipelines that serve the Fargo, Minot and Jamestown region have been strained for a majority of the harvest season due
to heavier than usual yields and refinery shutdowns.
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