Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2014-01A
WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma has and is continuing to experience an unusually cold winter and has experienced multiple winter storms that brought significant amounts of snow, ice, and freezing rain across our state. These weather conditions have resulted in an increased demand for liquefied petroleum gas (hereinafter referred to "Propane") and thereby depleted the amount of propane available in Oklahoma;
WHEREAS, many Oklahoma residents depend on the use of propane for survival during the winter months and the effects of the shortage are being felt throughout the state;
WHEREAS, the limited suspension of certain hours of service regulations for drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting propane in our state will increase the amount of propane throughout the state, thereby reducing the potentially damaging effects of this shortage.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mary Fallin, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, pursuant to the power vested in me by Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution and 63 O.S. § 683.1 et seq., and pursuant to Title 49 C.F.R. Part 390.23, hereby declare that because there is a state of emergency existing in the State of Oklahoma due to a liquefied petroleum gas shortage, it is necessary to assist and expedite all efforts of transportation of liquefied petroleum gas into and throughout Oklahoma. Further, pursuant to 52 O.S. § 421.1, I declare a Liquefied Petroleum Gas Emergency. In order to accommodate this need and to provide assistance to the citizens of Oklahoma in this extraordinary situation, I hereby order the following as they apply to vehicles used in the support efforts:
Declaration of this emergency provides relief for 30 days from Sections 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations for those interstate and intrastate carriers who are providing direct assistance to this emergency. Direct assistance terminates when a driver or commercial motor vehicle is used in interstate or intrastate commerce to transport cargo not destined for the emergency relief effort, or when a motor carrier dispatches such driver or vehicle to a location outside the relief area.
Nothing contained in this declaration shall be construed as an exemption from the Controlled Substance and Alcohol Use and Testing requirements ( 49 C.F.R. Part 382), the Commercial Driver License requirements ( 49 C.F.R. Part 383), the Financial Responsibility requirements ( 49 C.F.R. Part 387), or any other portion of the regulations not specifically identified herein. Motor carriers that have an Out-Of-Service Order in effect cannot take advantage of the relief from regulation that this declaration provides.
This Order applies only to the transportation of liquefied petroleum gas to provide direct assistance to this emergency. No other products, including other petroleum products, are covered by the exemption and suspension under this Order. Further, I hereby direct Director Ed Lake, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, to expedite and provide preference to all Heating Assistance applications for qualifying individuals and families who use propane as their primary or only source of heat.
Further, the Energy Crisis Assistance application period shall open immediately for qualifying individuals and families who use propane as their primary or only source of heat.
By issuance of this Order, the Oklahoma Emergency Price Stabilization Act is in effect. I hereby request the Office of the Attorney General to continue to take any and all steps necessary to ensure that no one doing business in this State are violating the Act and that those who choose to violate the Act are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
This emergency notice will remain in effect through March 2, 2014.
Copies of this Executive Order shall be distributed to the Secretary of Energy and Environment, the Secretary of Safety and Security, the Secretary of Transportation, the Director of Emergency Management, the Director of the Department of Human Services, and the Attorney General who shall cause the provisions of this order to be implemented by all appropriate agencies of state government.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma to be affixed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this 31st day of January, 2014.
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
Mary Fallin
ATTEST:
Chris Benge
Secretary of State
Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2014-01A
Added as amendment to EO 14-1 (codified at 1:2014-1) at 31 Ok Reg 421, eff 1-31-14