The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

July 19, 2007

Farmers not happy with propane regulations

Damien Aldacosta

New regulations from the federal Department of Homeland Security could cause problems for propane-using farmers.

The proposal would list propane as a chemical of interest when kept in quantities greater than 7,500 pounds, about 1,785 gallons, and would cost farmers an expensive risk assessment. This threshold is significantly low compared to the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 10,000 pounds.

The National Propane Gas Association originally kept propane off of the list of chemicals of interest, however, the DHS was given the authority to add any hazardous materials that it deemed necessary to the list.

The proposal would require the farmers to pay a one-time $2,300-$3,500 fee for an assessment, which includes a background check and an online survey. Once completed, the survey would be submitted to the DHS. If the facility were deemed a high-risk facility, it would be placed on a tiered risk category with tier one being the highest risk.

“It is ridiculous that we will need to get a background check,” said farmer Wayne Evans of Leggett. “I’ve lived in Edgecombe County most of my life. It would make more sense if it were someone new to an area, not someone who has lived there for so long.”

About 80 percent of the farms in the United States use propane for various projects around the farm.

The biggest use for propane is heating. About 55 percent use propane to heat equipment sheds, 62 percent use it to heat livestock confinement facilities and 39 percent use propane to heat their homes.

The gas is also used for crop drying, weed control and fuel for farm equipment such as tractors and irrigation pumps. Together, these uses of propane allow farmers to harvest healthy crops quicker, easier and more cost efficiently.

Nearly 90 percent of the propane that is used in the United States is produced here, which makes the clean-burning, environmentally safe gas more cost efficient.

Evan’s storage tank holds about 12,000 gallons. Though he only uses propane on his farm for curing tobacco, he will be affected by the regulations just as much as other farmers. He is more displeased about the assessment fee than the background check

“We’re taxed to death already,” Evan’s said, “We don’t need another charge like this on top of it. That’s a lot of money to have to worry about for something like this."

Evans is concerned with the fact that Homeland Security is turning their attention to small matters like this rather than the bigger issues out there.

“I know they are trying to keep people safe, but there are a lot of other, more important things out there that need to be looked at first," said Evans.

Though nothing has been approved so far to make the assessment and background checks a requirement, the recent, attempted terrorist attacks in Britain may have an influence on the final decision since the bombs that were found in the cars contained chemicals of interest.

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