Notes from the West Wing
By
State Representative Garey Bies
The Propane Safety Act
No one can forget the tragic events of last summer in Ellison Bay and the propane gas explosion at the Pioneer Store. It vividly illustrated the shortcomings of Wisconsin law where it concerns the regulation of propane gas suppliers and safety concerning private propane gas facilities, including tanks and lines. This deficiency in Wisconsin law became a target for me this session with new legislation aimed at the problem being a major priority. Work on the legislation has taken some time, but I am pleased to announce that the legislation is now drafted has been presented to all of my colleagues here in the legislature for their review and hopefully their support.
In Wisconsin, more than 330 million gallons of liquefied petroleum gas, or propane, is sold each year. Propane, or LP gas, is used to heat approximately 11% of Wisconsin’s homes and fuels over 90% of new, outdoor grills. For residential use, propane is generally delivered by retailers to private, stationary tanks. Gas lines link these tanks to the house or business via underground pipes. When there is a breakdown in responsibility of a propane supplier or a lack of communication to the landowner, tragedies can happen, such as the Ellison Bay explosion in 2006.
This legislation, the Propane Safety Act, was developed in close cooperation with the industry to address several safety concerns and consumer protection components. First, the legislation establishes a licensing requirement for propane retailers and makes licensing contingent upon meeting a state minimum financial responsibility requirement established by the legislation. The minimum financial responsibility for suppliers will ensure that companies make a commitment to the industry. Companies will make sure that their employees receive the highest training to protect their responsibilities. Companies unwilling to make this financial commitment to the industry and with it, increased safety, will not be licensed.
Also, the legislation expands communication requirements between suppliers and their customers to reduce the potential for accidents associated with system repairs, modifications, or alterations. This component of the legislation is to allow for the gas company to better test for leaks when modifications are made to private gas lines. The gas supplier will be required to inform the customer of this requirement annually.
Finally, the legislation requires the state one-call system, or Diggers Hotline, to make certain disclosures to callers regarding private lines that are not located by Diggers Hotline, with a specific emphasis on underground propane lines. Digger’s Hotline will notify the caller that they should check with their gas supplier about the marking of private gas lines and that it is the customer’s or contractor’s responsibility to have private gas lines marked. Digger’s Hotline will also include propane in its “private facility” explanation and also include propane in its literature.
The Propane Safety Act is about enhancing the safety of Wisconsin’s residents, businesses and visitors and is designed to prevent another tragedy like that which occurred last summer. The legislation has supporters from both sides of the isle and I expect that the public hearing process will begin yet this month. This is important legislation not just for the First Assembly District, but for all of Wisconsin.
If you have any questions or comments on this subject, feel free to contact me. I can be reached by e-mail at Rep.Bies@legis.wisconsin.gov or by telephone, toll-free at 1-888-482-0001. You can also visit my website at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/asm01/news/.