Congressman Burlison Reintroduces Bill to Cut Burdensome Propane Regulations

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) reintroduced the Propane Accessibility and Regulatory Relief Act to exempt propane tanks with a capacity of up to 126,000 pounds from burdensome federal regulations.

In 2006, Congress authorized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) to identify and regulate high-risk chemical facilities. However, when setting the threshold for regulation, DHS arbitrarily chose a limit of 60,000 pounds for propane-creating an unnecessary and costly burden for propane retailers and users across the country.

Congressman Burlison stated:
"This is a classic case of Washington overreach. Small propane businesses in Southwest Missouri and across the country are forced to pass those costs on to American families. These regulations are wasteful, time consuming, and costly. My bill puts policy back in line with reality."

Industry support for the legislation:

National Propane Gas Association:
"The National Propane Gas Association commends Congressman Eric Burlison for introducing The Propane Accessibility and Regulatory Relief Act. A GAO study conducted in 2021 has highlighted the duplicative nature of the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. Compliance with these regulations escalates operational expenses for the propane industry, thereby leading to higher costs for end users, particularly those residing in rural communities. Moreover, this program discourages the expansion of on-site propane storage, which could mitigate the risk of potential supply disruptions during peak demand months. The Propane Accessibility and Regulatory Relief Act offers a pathway to alleviate CFATS compliance obligations, ease supply chain limitations, and bolster energy security in rural America."

Missouri Propane Gas Association:
"The Missouri Propane Gas Association is grateful for Congressman Eric Burlison's Propane Accessibility and Regulatory Relief Act. Our industry's safety record for more than a century underscores a commitment to ensuring product security and compliance with national standards. However, the former CFATS guidelines have arbitrarily designated threshold amounts of reportable propane that do not reflect an accurate risk environment yet require onerous and expensive investments to comply. H.R. 6022 adjusts that threshold to maintain an appropriate level of oversight without adding unnecessary compliance costs that are ultimately passed on the customers."