Gov Lepage signs Liquefied Petroleum Gas bill into law

On March 30, 2012, Governor Paul Lepage signed into law LD 1792  Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 421: Safety and Operation Standards for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Distribution Systems

Under the bill  liquefied petroleum gas system operators are not required to keep records for more than one year unless required by federal law.  Gives  LPG operators a 30 day grace period,

 "before the commission issues a formal written notice of probable violation when an evaluation of an operator's records and facilities indicates that the operator is violating the rule or applicable state or federal law"

The Resolve does the following: (actual wording)

 

1. Removes the definition of "customer";

2. Amends the rule to clarify that a liquefied petroleum gas system operator is any person who owns and engages in the transportation of liquefied petroleum gas through a jurisdictional liquefied petroleum gas system or a person who is contracted to serve as the operator by a person who owns and engages in the transportation of liquefied petroleum gas through a jurisdictional liquefied petroleum gas system;

3. Adds a provision that requires by July 1, 2012 liquefied petroleum gas suppliers to implement modified operation and maintenance procedures that include a "Red Tag" or hazardous equipment procedure for suspending service to a customer and marking the customer's system when a hazardous condition is noted that makes the continued delivery of liquefied petroleum gas unsafe;

4. Amends the rule so that liquefied petroleum gas system operators are not required to keep records for more than one year unless required by federal law;

5. Amends the rule so that liquefied petroleum gas system operators are not required to promote to excavators the "811" and "OK to Dig" notification process;

6. Amends the rule to allow the commission to grant a liquefied petroleum gas system operator 30 days in which to take corrective action before the commission issues a formal written notice of probable violation when an evaluation of an operator's records and facilities indicates that the operator is violating the rule or applicable state or federal law; and

7. Amends the rule by striking provisions related to requirements that apply when snow can be expected to cover any liquefied petroleum gas tank.