LANSING (WWJ) – A fire at BP’s oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana, last week has led Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to lift some restrictions on gas in hopes of lessening the impact felt from the incident.
Whitmer announced Saturday she is “working to ensure continued access to an adequate supply of motor fuels” in the wake of the electrical fire that left the BP refinery temporarily offline. The governor says she is waiving regulations on motor vehicle hours-of-service rules.
Whitmer’s executive order declaring an energy emergency takes two temporary actions:
• Lifts Hours of Service Rules: exempts motor carriers and drivers transporting gas and diesel from compliance with the maximum weekly driving and on-duty limits, ensuring that these limits will not hinder the delivery of gas and diesel to stations in Michigan.
• Suspends Vapor Pressure Requirements: temporarily suspends certain laws and regulations to accelerate the transition to the fall fuel supply and takes advantage of existing stocks of fuel, contingent on the Environmental Protection Agency making similar changes.
Whitmer says the impacts of the outage at the Whiting facility – along the southern shores of Lake Michigan – will be widespread.
“I am taking proactive steps to help Michiganders get the fuel they need to drive their cars and help businesses keep their products moving,” Whitmer said, per a press release.
She says the action will help free up more gas supply, remove any impediments to gas delivery and cut down wait times at stations.
The Whiting refinery, which produces 435,000 barrels a day, suffered an electrical fire on Wednesday, resulting in ceased production. It is the sixth biggest refinery in the U.S. and provides about 20-25% of the refined gas, jet fuel and diesel for Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
The executive order Whitmer signed Saturday will remain in effect “through the duration of the emergency” or until Sept. 15, whichever comes first.
The Michigan Public Service Commission says it will continue to monitor the situation and “work with and provide information and assistance to the Governor’s Office, state agencies, and the public.”
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