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- N.Y. DEC: Risk-assessment study results should be made public
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has ruled that the results of Inergy Midstream's quantitative risk-assessment study of its proposed $40 million propane-storage facility should be released to the public. Inergy filed a request with the DEC last month to keep the study's results confidential. The company was given seven business days to make an appeal. Star-Gazette (Elmira, N.Y.)
(3/21)     
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- Consumers benefit from mild winter, experts say
U.S. consumers were able to offset the high costs of gasoline thanks to an unusually warm winter, which helped them save on heating bills, experts say. "While consumers are definitely paying more at the pump, many consumers are benefiting from the lowest winter-heating bills in years," said Michael Thompson, managing director of global market intelligence at Standard & Poor's. Despite soaring gas prices, "job prospects are looking brighter, food-price increases have slowed, the stock market is feeling good, and heating bills are lower due to unseasonably warmer weather," added economist Chris Christopher of IHS Global Insight. The Washington Times
(3/21)
- Housing starts declined 1.1% in February
Construction of new homes in February declined 1.1% from the month before, to a seasonally adjusted rate of 698,000 units, the Department of Commerce reported. But building permits rose 5.1%, to 717,000, of which 66% were for the construction of single-family housing. The Hill/On The Money blog
(3/20)
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- Marcellus Midstream Conference discusses NGL development plans
Development of the country's natural gas liquids-rich shale plays was a discussion topic at the third annual Marcellus Midstream Conference & Exhibition in Pittsburgh. "Over a five-year, six-year period, we're looking at volumes [of all liquids] increasing from about 50,000 barrels [per day] to 300,000 barrels [per day]" and that would create a huge need for building infrastructure to transport the products, said Rick Moncrief, Caiman Energy's executive vice president for business development. Aside from ethane, other liquids such as propane also need attention in terms of market boost and infrastructure, attendees said. The State Journal (Charleston, W.Va.)
(3/21)
- Marcellus has more than 500 Tcf of gas, consultants estimate
The Marcellus Shale formation holds approximately 500 trillion cubic feet of commercially recoverable natural gas, according to two new studies from IHS and ICF International. IHS in 2009 said the formation contains 399 trillion cubic feet of gas, but now, consultants estimate the play to hold as much as 534 trillion cubic feet. ICF, meanwhile, gave a range of 460 trillion to 698 trillion cubic feet of gas. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
(3/20)
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- Conn. firm presents revised propane-tank proposal
Guilford, Conn.-based J.J. Sullivan Fuel Oil will install one -- instead of two -- 30,000-gallon underground propane tank in the town under a revised proposal, and it will add additional fire-safety measures to the proposed facility, the company announced at a public hearing Wednesday. The new plan also calls for the removal of existing oil and gasoline tanks. "We went through an extraordinary [process] that completely eliminates any safety concerns in regard to any kind of substantial explosion at the facility," said Robert Sonnichsen, an engineer at Waldo & Associates. New Haven Register (Conn.)
(3/21)
- Prepare lawn mowers for spring with maintenance check
Lawn mowers and other gasoline-powered lawn equipment should be serviced to prepare them for spring, according to Paul Durst from Dave Francis Lawn Equipment in Quincy, Ill. Blades should be sharpened and oil and air filters replaced, while gasoline should be drained from the machine, Durst added. KHQA-TV (Quincy, Ill.)
(3/20)
- Industry group disputes Colorado gas-drilling report
An industry group disputed a study that found people living near natural gas operations are more vulnerable to nonchronic and chronic illnesses, including cancer. The study was released by Colorado researchers. "While these numbers are small, the lack of context suggests they could be significant," according to Energy in Depth. "But according to [the Environmental Protection Agency's] National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment, these risks are in line with or even well below the risk for the entire U.S. population." The State Journal (Charleston, W.Va.)
(3/20)
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- It's OK for bosses to need their beauty sleep, experts say
Some top business people -- Martha Stewart, say, or PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi -- claim not to need more than four hours of sleep a night. There probably are a handful of people who can cope with next-to-no sleep, experts say, but most bosses are more effective and efficient after six to eight hours of uninterrupted pillow-time. "With the billions of people in the world, there are, I'm sure, people that only need four hours of sleep," says sleep specialist David Volpi. "But that would be the exception to the rule." CNNMoney/Fortune
(3/20)
- Why entrepreneurs should wake up early
Maha Al-Farhan, founder of clinical-research company ClinArt International, was recently named the United Arab Emirates' top female entrepreneur. She has simple advice for women hoping to follow in her footsteps while raising children. "Wake up early," she says. "I'm serious. If you don't wake up early, you can't get anything done." Knowledge@Wharton
(3/19)
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Are You Prepared for Workplace Safety Audits?
The updated Initial OSHA & DOT First 90-Day Employee Hazmat Training textbook is available for purchase through the Propane MaRC. Federal regulations require any workers who handle or transport hazardous materials to get hazmat training in the first 90 days of their employment and refresher training every three years. The updated textbook includes changes from the 2011 edition of the National Fire Protection Association for codes 54 and 58, covering driver and vehicle requirements, an emergency action plan and an overview of how to read a Material Safety Data Sheet. To order the textbook visit the Propane MaRC or call 866-905-1075.
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Online Product Directory Showcases 270 Propane-Fueled Products
The Propane Education & Research Council has expanded its online Product Directory to include the categories of dryers, vehicles and propane tanks. In addition, users can search certain products by energy-efficiency range. The directory is an easy-to-use resource for construction professionals and propane marketers that showcases 270 products from more than 85 manufacturers. The directory also provides links to product-appropriate continuing-education courses, fact sheets and training videos.
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The news summaries in PERC SmartBrief are based on original information from news organizations and are produced by SmartBrief Inc., an independent email newsletter publisher.
The Propane Education & Research Council is not responsible for the content of sites it does not own. Linking to a website does not constitute an endorsement by PERC of the
site or the information found there. Send questions and comments to SmartBrief at perc@smartbrief.com.
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| About PERC |
The Propane Education & Research Council promotes the safe, efficient use of odorized propane gas as a preferred energy resource. The Council was authorized by Congress
with the passage of the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA), October 11, 1996.
For a weekly roundup of PERC news by email,
subscribe to The PERC Update.
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| | Recent PERC SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, March 21, 2012
- Tuesday, March 20, 2012
- Monday, March 19, 2012
- Friday, March 16, 2012
- Thursday, March 15, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Bryan McBournie
Contributing Editor: Ben Whitford
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