In recent testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, and Nuclear Safety, the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association recommended the government repeal the current 2 percent oxygenation requirement in reformulated gasoline; reject calls for a national ethanol mandate in all U.S. gasoline; oppose a federal ban or mandatory phase-out of MTBE; extend product liability protection to MTBE and ethanol; and avoid unnecessary changes in fuel specifications.

“We need to reinstitute a supply ethic in federal policy to provide both national energy security and maintain U.S. economic growth,” said NPRA President Bob Slaughter.

Warren Oil Company, Inc.’s President and CEO, Irvin Warren, announced the purchase of two blending and packaging plants from Shell Oil Company. The plants are located in Marion, Illinois and Mundy’s Corner (Johnstown), Pennsylvania. Both plants were formerly part of the Pennzoil-Quaker State Company.

“I intend to retain and rehire key operations personnel and expand the manufacturing activities to include quart, gallon and specialty bottle packaging, and on-site blow molding of containers,” Warren stated. “We plan to be in production of bulk, drum and pail products by late March. In the interim, we will supply new customers with product from our other three plants.”