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MPCA NEWS ONLINE | Petroleum Marketing & Convenience Store News MPCA NEWS ONLINE | Petroleum Marketing & Convenience Store News Missouri Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association (MPCA) 205 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 200 | Jefferson City, MO 65101 p: 573.635.7117 | f: 573.635.3575 | www.mpca.org | © 2020 April 27, 2020 1. COVID-19 Updates. ►MPCA Golf Tournament & PAC Fundraiser: Rescheduled To Monday, 9/28/2020. ►Stay At Home Orders. ►Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Additional Funding Available Now. ►Gasoline: RVP, RFG, Waivers, & Standards (Reprint). ►Most Recent MPCA Newsletters. 2. The 2020 Missouri Legislative Session. 3. RFG Update: 5 County St. Louis Metro Area. 4. 7 Pound Low RVP Update: Kansas City Metro Area. 5. Tobacco: The Latest News From NATO - The National Association of Tobacco Outlets. 6. MPCA Members Can Save Money On: A. Workers’ Comp Insurance. B. Health, Property & Liability Insurance. C. Employee Background Checks. D. Industry Publications & Information Including OPIS. E. Credit Card Fees. F. Retailer Alcohol Training. G. “We Card” Materials. 1. COVID-19 UPDATES. ►MPCA Golf Tournament & PAC Fundraiser: Rescheduled To Monday, 9/28/2020. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, MPCA has rescheduled the Monday, 6/8/2020, Golf Tournament & PAC Fundraiser to Monday, 9/28/2020. All we have done is change the date. The event will still be held at the same time at Osage National Golf Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks. Thank you for your understanding, and ongoing support! ►Stay At Home Orders. On 4/16/2020, Governor Parson extended the statewide stay at home order through Sunday, 5/3/2020. On 4/24/2020, Governor Parson extended the state of emergency declaration through 6/15/2020 and said: “I want to be clear that this is not an extension of the ‘Stay Home Missouri’ Order. Our order reopening Missouri will still take effect on Monday, May 4. Extending the emergency declaration simply allows us to continue utilizing our resources and deploying them around the state, even as we move into the recovery process. This also enables us to keep all of the waivers or suspensions of state statutes and regulations in place while we adjust to the reopening.” This week the Governor will provide a plan for the phased-in reopening of Missouri which starts on Monday, 5/4/2020. Stay tuned for details. Local governments such as St. Louis County and Kansas City have extended their stay at home orders past 5/3/2020, so please make sure you review those very carefully. ►Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Additional Funding Available Now. MPCA received the following on 4/27/2020 from the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA). “The Small Business Administration (SBA) has resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications from participating lenders as of 10:30am EDT today. Last Friday, the President signed into law the latest COVID-19 response bill that replenished the PPP with an additional $310 billion as well as an additional $10 billion for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). The bill did not make any substantive changes to the PPP or EIDL program. Congressional leadership is characterizing the latest COVID-19 response bill as an interim funding effort, with the expectation that they will continue to negotiate a larger “phase 4” package in the coming weeks. Click here for more information on the PPP. Click here for more information on the EIDL.” ►Gasoline: RVP, RFG, Waivers, & Standards (Reprint). ●On 4/6/2020, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Division of Weights, Measures, and Consumer Protection, issued a memo regarding “Summer Gasoline Volatility Waiver”. Click here to see the 4/6/20920 waiver. If you have any questions or concerns, email Director Ron Hayes - [email protected] – and copy Ron Leone at [email protected]. ●Below are several important items on this topic from recent Newsletters. ●Click here to see the 3/27/2020 email regarding the EPA’s temporary waiver for summertime RVP gasoline from the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA). ●3/30/2020 mail from Ron Hayes, Division Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Weights, Measures & Consumer Protection Division: “On May 1, EPA’s summertime volatility season for gasoline begins at terminals and on June 1 at retail. The main focus is of the waiver is for terminals and pipeline companies, but applies to all points except at the refinery. Basically, there are four parts to the waiver. Federal RVP Standards – This is referred to the summertime 9-psi vapor pressure requirement for all conventional gasoline areas. This includes all counties in Missouri except the St. Louis and KC area which will be explained below. So, the waiver means the 9 psi at terminals required for May 1 will be delayed until May 21. Winter-grade fuel may continue to be sold through May 20. Reformulated gasoline – This part applies to the St. Louis area. “Low volatility” RFG is required be sold at terminal beginning on May 1. RFG is required year around but the low volatility fuel begins May 1. The federal requirement prohibits mixing conventional gasoline into RFG and sold as RFG. However, the waiver allows winter RFG through May 20. It also allows comingling conventional gasoline with RFG through May 20. Federally-Enforceable SIP Covered Areas – As part of DNR SIP plan for KC area, a special 7 psi vapor pressure requirement is required during the summer months beginning on June 1 through September 15. Because lack of storage and pipeline movement, a waiver is granted until May 20 to allow the continued use of winter-grade gasoline at the terminal. Waiver Conditions – The waiver is designed to facilitate the turnover of storage tanks from winter to summer gasoline. Refineries must comply on May 1. Retailers and wholesale purchaser-consumers may continue selling or dispensing gasoline that meets the conditions of this waiver after May 20, until their supplies are depleted. EPA can only grant a waiver for 20 days and will likely extend it for a few additional days, if needed. MDA will also develop a similar waiver that coincides with EPA’s. Stay Safe!” ●Click here to see the 3/31/2020 letter from the Missouri Petroleum Council to Ron Hayes, Division Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Weights, Measures & Consumer Protection Division. ●4/1/2020 email received from Ron Hayes, Division Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Weights, Measures & Consumer Protection Division. “Ron L.: I followed up this morning on a phone call with EPA and they confirmed the waiver is effective on May 1 and is not in effect at this moment. So, the answer is no. You cannot sell convention gasoline in the St. Louis area at this time. Ron H.” ►Most Recent MPCA Newsletters. Click here to see the 4/24/2020 Newsletter. Click here to see the 4/17/2020 Newsletter. Click here to see the 4/13/2020 Newsletter. Click here to see the 4/8/2020 Newsletter. Click here to see the 4/4/2020 Newsletter. Click here to see the 4/3/2020 Second Newsletter of the Day. Click here to see the 4/3/2020 Newsletter. 2, THE 2020 MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE SESSION. A. Legislative Session. The Missouri Legislature is back in Session as of Monday, 4/27/2020, 1 week before the statewide stay at home order expires at 12:01 AM on Monday, 5/4/2020. It is unclear exactly what the Legislature intends to accomplish. They may try to pass the following pieces of legislation that have received a great deal of press: “CLEANER” Missouri. A Republican backed Constitutional amendment that is a response to the more Democratic leaning CLEAN Missouri that was passed by a vote of the people in 2018. The measure addresses the topic of re-districting of Congressional and state legislative districts every 10 years. PDMP. The prescription drug monitoring program to help combat opioid addiction and abuse, which Missouri is the only state in the union which has not passed a statewide PDMP. Tort Reform. A proposal already passed by the Senate that restricts the possibilities of plaintiffs receiving punitive damages in civil lawsuits and limits the use of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA) awaits a House hearing and a final House vote. They may try to put together an omnibus piece or pieces of legislation to help address the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, they may try to pass any piece of legislation that is still on the calendar – biodiesel mandate, VLTs, etc. Rest assured MPCA will continue to remain alert, vigilant, and fully engaged. B. State Budget: $500 - $700 Million Deficit. COVID-19 funds currently flowing to Missouri are restricted and can’t be used to fill shortfalls in Missouri’s general revenue (GR) receipts. Without federal funding to help fill the GR hole, Missouri is looking at an estimated $500 to $700 million deficit for fiscal year (FY) 2021 which runs from 7/1/2020 to 6/30/2021. If no federal funding is forthcoming, this large of a deficit will require very painful cuts, especially to higher education, social services, and K-12 education. Many believe the Legislature will not make the 5/8/2020 Constitutional deadline to pass the FY 2021 budget, which means Governor Parson may have to call a Special Session to pass the budget before the FY 2021 begins on 7/1/2020. Stay tuned, because this situation is rapidly changing as more information is received from the Feds, and regarding Missouri GR receipts. C. Schedule & Dates. ►12/1/19: Pre-filing of House and Senate bills begins. ►1/8/20: 2020 Missouri Legislative Session begins at 12:00 noon. ►3/20/20 – 3/29/20: Legislative Spring Break. ►5/8/20: FY 2021 budget must be balanced and passed.
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