Petroleum Marketers Take on Capitol Hill for PMAA’s Day on the Hill

Over 300 petroleum marketers attended last week’s highly successful PMAA Annual DC Conference and “Day on the Hill.” This year’s event occurred at a vital time in Washington with important industry changes sought by the Trump Administration and the GOP-controlled Congress.

PMAA marketers obtained many new signatures for the letter that is authored by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) that urges EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to delay the 2015 UST final rule compliance deadline for containment sumps, spill buckets and overfill prevention equipment operability testing until October 13, 2024.

Marketers also focused their meetings on ensuring passage of a technical fix to the tax reform Act. The new tax law contains a provision in Section 168 that provides retailers with the benefit of 100 percent bonus depreciation for qualified improvement property acquired and placed into service after September 27, 2017. However, an error occurred when the final text was drafted that makes retailers ineligible for this benefit. A technical fix is planned, but we must ensure that there is enough support, particularly by moderate Democrats, for passage of the correction language. Definite progress was made in this effort during the meetings that marketers had with their Senators.

Other critical and active issues that were brought up in Hill meetings were reducing the corn ethanol mandate, reinstating the biodiesel blender’s tax credit, menu labeling flexibility relief, ADA reform, maintaining funding for the Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and thanking past supporters of the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA).

PMAA’s opening speaker was David Whikehart, Vice President, Environment, Safety and Corporate Affairs for Marathon Petroleum Company LP, who discussed RFS reform and the 95 RON proposal to meet future high compression engine fuel requirements. On Thursday, we heard from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY), prior to proceeding to Capitol Hill. Senator Barrasso’s Committee is particularly important for petroleum marketers as it is the lead in making any changes to the RFS.

On Friday, attendees heard from Rep. Walberg (R-MI), who authored the House letter to EPA Administrator Pruitt seeking a delay to the compliance deadline in the 2015 underground storage tank amendments for containment sumps, spill buckets and overfill prevention equipment operability testing until October 13, 2024. Overall, the DC Conference was a success. PMCI encourages all members with interest in attending future PMAA Days on the Hill to reach out to staff.