Sebelius Acts to Prevent Wheat Harvest Disruptions

Press Release

Sebelius Acts to Prevent Wheat Harvest Disruptions

Governor signs order to ensure harvest has reliable source of fuel

Recent natural disasters have put two Kansas oil facilities out of service, causing problems with fuel deliveries - problems which could hamper the state's wheat harvest.

In an effort to avoid fuel supply disruptions, Governor Kathleen Sebelius has lifted certain restrictions on motor carriers making fuel deliveries.

"The harvest would grind to a halt without reliable fuel supplies. Lifting these restrictions will help prevent disruptions so we can make sure the trucks and combines keep running," said Sebelius.

Storms on May 5 caused serious damage at the Magellan oil terminal in Great Bend, while recent flooding in Southeast Kansas forced the shutdown of the Coffeyville Resources refinery. The effect of these incidents has been amplified by refinery problems in neighboring states.

These disruptions have come at a time when fuel demand has increased due to the summer travel season and the wheat harvest. As a result, tanker trucks have encountered longer wait times at loading terminals, making it difficult for many to make deliveries while staying within limits on operator hours.

To combat this, Executive Order 07-19 suspends the requirements contained in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations CFR 49, Parts 390-399 under the authority of CFR 49, Part 390.23.

This order applies only to those motor carriers providing direct assistance to the emergency fuel relief effort and no motor carrier operating under the terms ofthis order shall require or permit a fatigued or ill driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle.

The order is effective for 30 days and covers the following counties: Barton, Cheyenne, Clark, Cloud, Comanche, Decatur, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Lincoln, Logan, Meade, Mitchell, Morton, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita.

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