The concern is about the disruption of delivery due to the cold weather.
Gov. Tom Corbett has issued a disaster declaration easing transportation regulations in Pennsylvania to avoid interruption of delivery of propane gas and heating oil.
Corbett said today that the prolonged cold weather in the commonwealth has resulted in “serious logistical problems” in distribution and delivery of the heating fuels.
He said a disaster declaration is needed for the state transportation department to waive federal and state motor carrier regulations covering hours of service for drivers.
The exemption, which runs through Jan. 25, applies statewide to transportation of propane gas and oil for heating purposes.
It extends the maximum driving time from 11 hours to 14 hours, with 10 hours off in between, and waives a ban on driving after 60 or 70 hours over seven or eight days.
"We want to thank Gov. Corbett for taking this action to help petroleum product distributors meet our customers' demand for heating oil and propane as a result of the recent frigid temperatures and the snow and ice storms over the last few weeks," said John Kulik, executive vice president of Pennsylvania Petroleum Association. "Even though the waivers are in effect, safety will continue to be a paramount importance to our drivers."
The person who answered the phone this afternoon at Union Fuel Co. in Easton said there was no shortage of heating oil at the local company.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick said trade associations involved in the oil and propane industries requested the waiver out of concern over suppliers not being able to get fuel to customers. He said he didn't know of any examples of actual fuel shortages.
Temperatures are expected to reach the high 50s by Saturday afternoon after bottoming out last Saturday at minus 4.