Page 3 - Oil and Energy-February 2013
Basic HTML Version
February 2013 • 3
The Front Burner
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) requires
strict compliance with Federal drug
and alcohol testing regulations for
motor carriers and drivers. Employers
in violation are subject to civil and
criminal penalties.
The NEFI Alliance Consortium is
a simple, quick, and pensive
inex
solution to this federal requirement. As
a non-profit group, the NEFI Alliance
is able to offer this comprehensive
program at a most reasonable cost.
Avoid severe fines…
Join today!
Mandatory Drug & Alcohol Testing
Regulations for Motor Carriers…
It’s The Law!
Obama Targets Climate Change, But Apparently Without Carbon Tax
In his second inaugural address, President Obama trumpeted climate change as a
top administration priority. No details of his policy intentions have emerged, but early
indications are that he is not planning to press for a carbon tax. “Obama tried and failed
in his first term to get a climate change bill through Congress,” the Associated Press
reported. “Some Democratic lawmakers and environmentalists have pushed for a tax
on carbon pollution, but White House officials say they have no plan to propose one.”
There is early speculation, however, that the Keystone XL pipeline could be a casualty of
Obama’s new climate change initiative.
EPA Finalizes Boiler Rule Reconsideration
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized its reconsid-
eration of the boiler rule, adopting some additional changes suggested by the National
Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), according to NORA President John Huber. “The final
rule makes some modest improvements to the rule and does lessen its impact on our
industry.” Huber wrote an industry alert. “However, even prior to reconsideration, this
rule only had a minimal impact on oilheating consumers.”
The rule applies to oil boilers used in commercial and industrial uses, such as hospi-
tals, apartment buildings and manufacturing facilities, but many are exempted because
they are classified as hot water heaters. “Any boiler with a total capacity of less than 120
gallons and a heat input capacity of less than 1.6 million btus per hour is considered to
be a water heater and not a boiler, and is thus exempt from the rule,” Huber wrote. That
exception does not apply to steam boilers. The new rule also excludes residential boilers
servicing no more than four families, such as a small apartment building, or a single
residence that has been subdivided into multiple residences. This exception includes
steam boilers.
“Assuming the boilers you service or supply with oil are included, they will be subject
to notification requirements, and work practices,” Huber wrote. “Very large boilers with
an input over 72 gallons per hour will also have to meet performance standards and have
an energy audit.”
First, notification will be made at an EPA website
This site is not
yet available for reporting and the first notification is due January 20, 2014. The boiler
must have a tune-up by March 21, 2014, and EPA must be notified that the tune-up
occurred by July 19, 2014. For boilers with a heat capacity greater than 5 million Btus
(36 GPH), the tune-up must occur every two years, for boilers smaller than 5 million
Btus that are covered, the tune-ups must occur every five years, according to Huber.
NEFI Alliance Consortium
238 Bedford Street, Suite 2
Lexington, MA 02420
For program information
and application information,
call 617-924-1000,
fax 617-924-1022, or
email
m
*Figures taken from Energy Information Administration’s “This Week In Petroleum.”
THE BAROMETER
Comparing Heating Oil to Other Financial Products
January 15, 2013
One Year Ago
No. 2 Fuel Oil/New York (dollars/gallon)
3.032
3.048
WTI Crude (dollars/barrel)
$93.26
$98.69
Brent Crude (dollars/barrel)
$111.72
$109.88
10-year Treasury Bill
1.86%
1.89%
30-year Mortgage
3.38%
3.88%
Dow Jones Average
13,535
12,422
THE DIFF.
Spot Prices (Cents/Gallon) as of January 15, 2013*
New York Harbor
New York Harbor
U.S. Midcontinent
No. 2 Fuel Oil / Heating Oil
No. 2 ULSD
No. 2 ULSD
3.032
3.065
3.002
