Bill Would Regulate Oil Mergers

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) is working on a bill to strengthen antitrust enforcement over petroleum industry mergers.

Specter’s draft bill, entitled the "Petroleum Industry Antitrust Act of 2006," will be the subject of a full committee hearing on Tuesday, March 14.

Specter said on the Senate floor that consolidation among major oil and gas companies should be more closely examined in light of today’s high energy prices. "There is a special concern at the present time about the impact of acquisitions and mergers of major oil companies on the price of gasoline," Specter said.

The bill would add a new section to the Clayton Act making it unlawful for any oil and gas company engaged in producing or marketing products to refuse to sell or withhold supplies with the intent of driving up prices or creating shortages in the market.

The bill requires a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate the effect on competition of divestitures of oil and gas assets as part of consent decrees, or settlements, approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Justice Department. The bill would also require Justice and the FTC to establish a joint federal-state task force, including state attorneys general, to investigate the "information sharing practices" of companies involved in the upstream or downstream business.

The heads of six major oil companies are expected to appear before Specter’s committee March 14 to discuss mergers in the oil industry and their impact on gasoline prices. The chief executives of Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Valero Corporation are expected to testify.

 Training Returns to Kansas this Month

We Card

Effective management of age-restricted sales of tobacco requires those in the retail community to train (and retrain) employees. The We Card program is recognized nationally as one of the best sources to provide this training...and it’s free.

We Card

has scheduled a number of training sessions in Kansas throughout the month of March. Call today for reservations for your employees. Owners, managers and employees will all benefit from these interactive sessions, and the free training materals can be used as a valuable asset later on. For flyer, click here  http://http://www.pmcaofks.org/files/06-feb-ks-we-card.pdf/file_view

Hazmat Registration Fee Increased for 2006-2007 Registration Year

Each July 1, petroleum marketers register and pay the Hazardous Materials Registration Fee. The fee is currently adminstered by the the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The Hazardous Materials Registration Program has been in existence since 1992, formerly adminstered through DOT’s Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA).

In 2003 and in the following two years, the fee was reduced for small businesses from $300 to $150. The reduction was a result of over-collection of fees during previous years; however, a new registration fee of $275 is due for the 2006-2007 registration year, which begins this July 1.

DOT says that, in the event of underpayment, the registrant will be sent a letter and an e-mail to notify him/her that a registration certificate will not be isued until the full amount is received and processed. If a sizeable number of filers send in the wrong payment, the processing could be delayed.

When you receive your registration forms for this registration year (2006-2007), please make certain that you pay the correct amount. The forms will be mailed on May 1 to all current filers, and PMCA will have copies on hand. You may also register online at www.phmsa.dot.gov.

Rollovers: Training Available to Help Avoid Them

Single vehicle, transport/tanker rollovers have become all too frequent in the petroleum industry. A loss study of these accidents conducted by Federated Mutual Insurance Company of Owatonna, MN, reveals that the most frequent causes are excessive speed, driver fatigue, lack of experience and driver distraction. The loss of property is high, but can’t compare to the death of a driver.

Federated Insurance provides a driver-training program, "The Point of No Return," which includes a nine-minute video and Leader’s Guide that can assist you in training your drivers on how to avoid a single-vehicle rollover. The program uses the acronym SAFE to emphasize the important of Speed, Attention, Fatigue and Emotion when driving. Other program topics include liquid load surge, outward tracking and load management.

If your business is insured with Federated, your marketing representative will provide you with a free copy of this program. If you are not currently a Federated client and are interested in obtaining a complimentary copy, please call 1-800-0533-0472 and ask for Teri Thompson at extension 7834.

Federated produced this program with assistance from PMAA and NACS.

Need Supplies, Forms, Decals?

Phone PMCA today at 785-233-9655.