Here’s What Is Behind A Critical Gas Shortage May 10, 2021

Gas stations in the Escambia County area are experiencing a critical gas shortage due to a variety of factors, but the biggest single reason in the shutdown of the distribution terminal that serves much of the area.

The recently reported cyber attack on the Colonial Pipeline is creating instability in the market. There’s is also a shortage of fuel truck drivers.

But the Escambia County area is experiencing major problems after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stepped in at the fuel terminal that serves the area, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). FDACS became involved after EPA shut down the terminal.

“FDACS was recently alerted to a potential disruption in the fuel supply impacting the Pensacola region,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said. “This specific disruption is due to a company servicing that area that is unable to meet EPA standards on federal gasoline requirements under the Clean Air Act, which must be met annually by May 1. Given the federal regulation of this issue, FDACS immediately contacted the EPA to ensure situational awareness and facilitate direct communication with industry operators. We continue to encourage the company to quickly resolve this issue and mitigate any impact on the community and residents.”

In addition, local operators tell NorthEscambia.com that panic buying is a problem, much like before an impending hurricane. And they say false social media rumors have made the situation worse.

Pictured: Drivers line up for gas Monday at the Speed Mart on Highway 29 at Tate School Road (above), the Circle K at Highway and East Kingsfield Road (below), and Murphy Oil at the Ensley Walmart (bottom). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

http://www.northescambia.com/2021/05/this-is-why-it-is-hard-to-find-gas

*************

The real Americans in Florida need to draft her so she can kick monkey, racist, fascist boy Ron DeSantis in his smelly ass.

Emergency declaration issued in 17 states and D.C. over fuel pipeline cyberattack

The Biden administration said it's "working with" fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline to try and restart operations after a ransomware attack took it offline.

Why it matters: Friday night's cyberattack is "the most significant, successful attack on energy infrastructure" known to have occurred in the U.S., notes energy researcher Amy Myers Jaffe, per Politico.

The Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a regional emergency declaration for 17 states and Washington, D.C., to keep fuel supply lines open.
The big picture: Colonial Pipeline carries 45% of fuel supplies in the eastern U.S. Some 5,500 miles of pipeline has been shut down in response to the attack.

While gasoline and diesel prices aren't expected to be impacted if pipeline operations resume in the next few days, fuel suppliers are becoming "increasingly nervous" about possible shortages, Bloomberg notes.
What's happening: The emergency declaration covers: Alabama, Arkansas, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

The DoT agency said in a statement the declaration "addresses the emergency conditions creating a need for immediate transportation of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other refined petroleum products and provides necessary relief."
Colonial said in a statement Sunday while its main fuel lines remained offline, some smaller lines between terminals and delivery points were now operational.

"[We] will bring our full system back online only when we believe it is safe to do so, and in full compliance with the approval of all federal regulations."
— Excerpt from Colonial statement

What they're saying: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told CBS' "Face the Nation" there's an "all hands on deck" effort to resume operations.

"We are working closely with the company, state and local officials, to make sure that they get back up to normal operations as quickly as possible and there aren’t disruptions in supply," she told CBS' John Dickerson.
Of note: The shutdown follows other significant cyberattacks on U.S. companies and the federal government in recent months.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

https://www.axios.com/fuel-pipeline-cyberattack-us-state-of-emergency-dda2e776-f0f0-45cc-ae38-4fea47e014ec.html

*************