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Investigators: cracked pipe led to fire at Valero refinery
A massive fire that injured four workers and caused the total shutdown and evacuation of the Valero McKee Refinery in Sunray, Texas, in February, 2007, likely occurred after water leaked through a valve, froze, and cracked an out-of-service section of piping, causing a release of high-pressure liquid propane, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said in a final investigation report.
The CSB's final report concluded the root causes of the accident were that the refinery did not have an effective program to identify and freeze-protect piping and equipment that was out of service or infrequently used; that the refinery did not apply the company's policies on emergency isolation valves to control fires; and that current industry and company standards do not recommend sufficient fireproofing of structural steel against jet fires. (Full Story)
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EIA: Average for regular to stay above $4 through much of 2009
There might not be many 'green' convenience stores around, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) hope to see more, so they are busily promoting energy-saving design and building principles.
Back in February, Zarco 66 Earth Friendly Fuels Station opened as a work in progress in Lawrence, Kan. Since then it has been adding "green" features, and, on June 30, EPA recognized the operator, entrepreneur Scott Zaremba, in an event at the station. (Full Story)
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Survey Help Needed It's quick, easy and important
We are looking for help with out first annual Marketfacts Readership Survey. Some of you may have already received an E-mail asking for assistance. If so, then please try to get it filled out by the end of next week (July 25). If you did not receive an E-mail and work for a petroleum retailer or marketer then please follow this link and complete the quick, confidential survey or forward this on to your appropriate management contact.
The survey involves less about 40 questions (or less) and will likely require no more than 15 minutes of your time. Again, your help is greatly appreciated and all of the results are strictly confidential. We can all benefit from the findings and you can better benchmark your business structure and operational experiences with those of your peers.
Keith Reid
Editor, NPN Magazine
Click here to complete the survey.
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Expert Corner
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Get Smart - A Case for Business Intelligence
Brian Reynolds, director of fuel solutions, The Pinnacle Corporation
Have you ever misdiagnosed a problem in your business or life in general?
Tried to figure out what was wrong, and how to fix it, only to realize that you didn't know what the real problem was to begin with? Everyone has! Here is an example: (Full Story)
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Special Announcement
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Get The Data That Drives The Petroleum & Convenience Industry Today!
Order your copy of the 2007 NPN MarketFacts today for the introductory price of only $195 (plus shipping and handling).
To order your print copy and/or CD version of the 2007 NPN MarketFacts edition, please click here
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News Items
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Fresh & Easy part of $40 million project in South L.A.
A development on Central Avenue in South Los Angeles featuring 19,000 square feet of retail space, including a Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, as well as 80 affordable housing units, is expected to be completed by early 2010, according to an article by Olu Alemoru in The Los Angeles Wave. (Full Story)
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Two charged with gas theft and pump damage in Chicago suburb
Two men were arrested in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, Ill., last week, accused of breaking into gas pumps, manipulating the price meters, and stealing a still unknown -- but likely large amount -- of gasoline, according to a July 17 article by Jennifer Johnson in The Park Ridge Herald-Advocate. (Full Story)
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Law against drive-offs proposed for a county in Illinois
Drivers could be forced to pay cash in advance or use their credit card at the pump under a law being explored by Winnebago County, Ill., with the backing of two of the region's biggest convenience-store chains, according to a July 16 article by Sean F. Driscoll in the Rockford Register Star. (Full Story)
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EIA: average gasoline price unchanged; diesel hits another record high
For the first time since June 23, the U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline did not increase; at 411.3 cents per gallon, the price dipped just a tenth of a cent, according to the July 16 edition of "This Week in Petroleum," published by the Energy Information Administration. (Full Story)
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Jewel tests urban fresh concept
Jewel-Osco, a division of Supervalu, is the latest chain to test a small store concept that it hopes will speak to the needs of urban consumers in tony neighborhoods, according to a July 16 article in RetailWire. (Full Story)
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PEI announces educational lineup at annual convention
The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) has announced the educational offerings that will be available to attendees at this year's convention, which will be held in conjunction with the NACS Show, Oct. 5-7, at Chicago's McCormick Place. (Full Story)
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OPW Fueling Components offers automatic, portable P/V vent valve tester
To enable easy testing of P/V vent valves, OPW Fueling Components is offering the X23-2000 Automatic P/V Vent Valve Tester. (Full Story)
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Oil prices down amid rising economic worries
Oil prices on July 15 fell harder than they have in 17 years, as fears that record fuel prices are spreading broad economic pain powered the third big sell-off in just over a week, Adam Schreck of The Associated Press reported. (Full Story)
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Couche-Tard blames earnings plunge on 'weak' fuel margins in U.S.
Owing to recent acquisitions and especially to the sharp increase in the retail price at the pump, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. said on July 15, it posted solid growth in revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, but net earnings were $15.5 million ($0.08 per share on a diluted basis) compared with $33.4 million ($0.16 per share on a diluted basis) last year. (Full Story)
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Fresh & Easy breaks ground in South Los Angeles
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market CEO Tim Mason joined L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry and other local dignitaries in breaking ground July 14 on a new Fresh & Easy store that is part of a mixed-use development project at 1011 East Adams Boulevard in South L.A. (Full Story)
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Gilbarco: encrypting PIN pads are factory-installed, saving costs
Gilbarco Encore S and Encore 300 dispensers are now available with FlexPay Encrypting PIN Pads (EPP) factory-installed, Gilbarco announced July 11. (Full Story)
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7-Eleven aims to have 300 stores in north Texas by end of 2009
7-Eleven Inc.'s growth plan aims for 300 stores in Dallas/Fort Worth by the end of 2009, according to an article by Connie Gore on GlobeSt.com. (Full Story)
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Dispatch from the coffee wars: Subway operator trying out café format
A Subway franchisee in Washington, D.C., is testing a Subway café concept in office buildings where it is thought they could thrive by serving workers as they come and go, according to a July 14 article by Emily Bryson York on AdAge.com. (Full Story)
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In a Texas city, operators and customers adjust to pre-pay ordinance
Gas station owners in Mount Pleasant, Texas, say most customers have been understanding when it comes to the city ordinance requiring customers pay upfront when purchasing fuel, according to a July 14 article by Ashley Tompkins, city editor of The Daily Tribune. (Full Story)
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Gas and food prices drive inflation higher
Soaring costs for gasoline and food have pushed inflation at the wholesale level up by a larger-than-expected amount in June, leaving inflation rising over the past year at the fastest pace in more than a quarter-century, according to an Associated Press report published in The New York Times. (Full Story)
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InBev and Anheuser-Busch to become one; price is $52 billion
InBev and Anheuser-Busch announced an agreement to combine the two companies, forming the world's leading global brewer. (Full Story)
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Effort to expand children's health insurance may come to a vote again
U.S. House Democratic leaders may attempt to bring up for a third vote a bill which would significantly expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), according to an "E-News Bulletin" issued by the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO). The association cited a report in Congressional Quarterly Today. (Full Story)
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Product of the Week
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OPW Introduces Its New COMMANDO Flexible Connector
OPW Fueling Components, a global leader in commercial and retail fueling equipment, has announced the global availability of its new COMMANDO Stainless-Steel Flexible Connector. Designed to deliver durability and reliability in demanding fueling environments and allows for flexibility in the installation and operation of fuel-piping systems around the world. The OPW COMMANDO features a 25-percent thicker wall (versus competitive models) on the ribbed hose and all stainless-steel constructionincluding at the end-coupling connections and swivelsfor the best corrosion-resistance of any flex connector in the industry.
OPW Fueling Components
www.opw-fc.com
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Calendar of Events
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PPMCSA Summer Conference
July 20-22
Grand Hotel
Ocean City, MD
Contact: Don Welcomer
(717) 902-0210
www.ppmcsa.org
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Pacific Oil Conference
September 15-18
Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
Reno, NV
(916) 646-5980
www.petroshow.com
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PPMCSA 2008 Convention, Annual Meeting and Trade Show
Oct. 1-3
Hershey Lodge & Convention Ctr.
Hershey, PA
(717) 902-0210
www.ppmcsa.org
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The PEI/NACS Show 2008
Oct. 4-7
Chicago, IL
McCormick Place
(800) 966-6227
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SIGMA 2008 Annual Meeting: 50th Anniversary
Nov. 13-16
The Fairmont Hotel
950 Mason St.
San Francisco, CA
(703) 709-7000
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For a complete list of industry events, go to NPN's calendar web page.
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Published By NPN Group | © 2008 NPN Group | All Rights Reserved
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For more information on NPN MarketPulse, contact:
Keith Reid, editor-in-chief
M2MEDIA360
NPN Group
Ph: 847-720-5615
Fax: 847-720-5601 |
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This newsletter is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual
property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast,
directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of M2MEDIA360.
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