LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency after an oil refinery fire in Indiana.
A BP plant in Whiting suffered an electrical fire on Wednesday. The plant provides 20 to 25 percent of gas, jet fuel, and diesel to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
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The fire has forced the plant to cease production and is undergoing a damage assessment.
Whitmer’s office announced they are waiving some regulations to ensure continued access to gas.
According to a press release, Governor Whitmer’s emergency declaration takes the following two temporary actions:
- Lifts Hours of Service Rules: exempts motor carriers and drivers transporting gas and diesel from compliance with the maximum weekly driving and on-duty limits, ensuring that these limits will not hinder the delivery of gas and diesel to stations in Michigan.
- Suspends Vapor Pressure Requirements: temporarily suspends certain laws and regulations to accelerate the transition to the fall fuel supply and takes advantage of existing stocks of fuel, contingent on the Environmental Protection Agency making similar changes.
Meanwhile, the Whitmer administration is still in a court battle over shutting down Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac.
