PRINTER'S NO. 3522
No. 369 Session of 1996
INTRODUCED BY KIRKLAND, YOUNGBLOOD, McGEEHAN, LEDERER, THOMAS,
MICOZZIE, BISHOP, HORSEY, BUTKOVITZ, DONATUCCI, OLIVER, CARN,
ROEBUCK, WILLIAMS, JAMES, MYERS, RAMOS AND WASHINGTON,
MAY 13, 1996
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MAY 13, 1996
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Governor and his administration to implement any and
2 all State economic development programs under his
3 jurisdiction to prevent the economic disaster that will occur
4 from a permanent shutdown of the British Petroleum Oil
5 Refinery in Delaware County.
6 WHEREAS, The interests of the citizens of this Commonwealth
7 would be served in the creation and retention of jobs that
8 provide a livable wage; and
9 WHEREAS, During his gubernatorial campaign and
10 administration, Governor Ridge has emphasized the importance of
11 jobs to Pennsylvania's economy; and
12 WHEREAS, Ownership of the British Petroleum Oil Refinery in
13 Delaware County was officially transferred to TOSCO Corporation
14 of Stamford, Connecticut; and
15 WHEREAS, TOSCO Corporation has ceased operation of the former
16 British Petroleum facility in Delaware County, thereby
17 jeopardizing the employment of more than 500 Pennsylvania
18 residents; and
1 WHEREAS, The British Petroleum Oil Refinery is currently in a
2 "shutdown mode" and is maintaining basic operations with a
3 skeleton crew; and
4 WHEREAS, The full operation of the British Petroleum Oil
5 Refinery could help stabilize domestic oil production and reduce
6 rising gas prices; and
7 WHEREAS, This facility is in relatively good condition as a
8 result of capital improvements by British Petroleum over the
9 last decade, including millions of dollars spent to upgrade the
10 plant to settle a lawsuit filed by the Environmental Protection
11 Agency; and
12 WHEREAS, The health and economic security of the communities
13 in Delaware County affected by the British Petroleum Oil
14 Refinery shutdown must be secured by preventing the closure of
15 the refinery's operations; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the Governor
17 and his administration to:
18 (1) Intercede and act in the best interests of this
19 Commonwealth and offer all necessary services at his disposal
20 through the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of
21 Commerce and the Department of Community Affairs in order to
22 preserve the jobs that are provided by the full operation of the
23 British Petroleum Oil Refinery in Delaware County.
24 (2) In the event of TOSCO Corporation not resuming full
25 operations at the facility, undertake a comprehensive review of
26 all State government programs designed to assist individuals and
27 communities affected by the closure of the refinery.
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