Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Urges President and Congress to maintain Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve to ensure gasoline supply and distribution stability in an emergency.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging the President and Congress to maintain the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve to ensure gasoline supply and distribution stability in an emergency.
Whereas, In 2012, Superstorm Sandy made landfall in the northeastern United States and caused heavy damage to two oil refineries and left more than 40 petroleum terminals in New York Harbor closed due to water damage and power loss; and
Whereas, As a result of this storm damage and its impact on the gasoline supply and distribution chain, some gasoline stations were left without fuel for as long as 30 days; and
Whereas, In response to Superstorm Sandy's disruption of the northeast's gasoline supply and distribution chain, the United States Department of Energy created the first federal regional refined petroleum product reserve containing gasoline called the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve (NGSR); and
Whereas, The NGSR holds one million barrels of gasoline in strategic locations in the New York Harbor area, the Boston, Massachusetts area, and in South Portland, Maine; and
Whereas, The NGSR creates a gasoline supply buffer large enough to allow the region to compensate for the initial impact of an event that disrupts the gasoline supply and distribution infrastructure until that infrastructure can return to full operation; and
Whereas, The federal budget proposed by the President of the United States recommends selling off the entire NGSR in the coming federal fiscal year; and
Whereas, The sale of the NGSR would leave the northeast region of the United States at risk of another gasoline shortage in the event of an emergency that causes a disruption to gasoline supply and distribution infrastructure, affecting the mobility of people, businesses, and emergency responders in the wake of a disaster; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper, and in the public interest, for this House to urge the President of the United States and Congress to maintain the NGSR for the safety and welfare of the residents and businesses located in the northeastern region of this country in the event of an emergency that disrupts the supply and distribution of gasoline; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully
urges the President of the United States and Congress to maintain the Northeast
Gasoline Supply Reserve to ensure gasoline supply and distribution stability in
the northeast region of the United States in the event of an emergency.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and the Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of the United States Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This Assembly Resolution respectfully urges the President and Congress to maintain the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve (NGSR) to ensure gasoline supply and distribution stability in the northeast region of the United States in the event of an emergency. The NGSR holds one million barrels of gasoline in strategic locations in the New York Harbor area, the Boston, Massachusetts area, and in South Portland, Maine. The NGSR creates a gasoline supply buffer large enough to allow the region to compensate for the initial impact of an event that disrupts the gasoline supply and distribution infrastructure until that infrastructure can return to full operation.
The federal budget proposed by the President of the United States recommends selling off the entire NGSR in the coming federal fiscal year. The sale of the NGSR would leave the northeast region of the United States at risk of another gasoline shortage in the event of an emergency that causes a disruption to gasoline supply and distribution infrastructure, affecting the mobility of people, businesses, and emergency responders in the wake of a disaster.