Posted: | January 16, 2015 02:53 PM |
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From: | Representative Mike Regan |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Combustible and Flammable Liquids Act |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that will require the implementation of alternate generated power sources for Pennsylvania’s gas stations. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy lives and homes were lost, 8 million people were left without electricity, and infrastructure was devastated. In the days following the storm, gas shortages due to power outages and fuel delivery interruptions challenged the local and national government’s crisis response and slowed recovery. Afflicted citizens waited for hours in lines, often far from home, for gasoline deliveries. By mandating that retail service stations have an alternate means to generate power, future crisis can perhaps be averted or at least substantially minimized. The legislation sets a deadline of January 1, 2016, at which time gas stations must be able to operate by means of an alternate generated power source for 72 hours for all dispensing devices and equipment, life-safety systems and payment-acceptance equipment. This power source must be available within 36 hours of a declared disaster emergency. The transfer switch to these sources as well as appropriate wiring must be installed by a certified electrical contractor. Additionally, any retail service station constructed or substantially renovated after January 1, 2016 must be prewired with an alternate power source. A written statement of periodic testing and ensured operational capability must be kept and made available to PEMA and county emergency coordinators. The legislation will require retail service stations within a half mile of an interstate highway and having a minimum number of pumps relative to county population must have an alternate generated power source by Jan 1, 2016. Please consider sponsoring this important public safety proposal. |
Introduced as HB270