Page 7 - july-august 2019

LP gas board | comments & reviews
T he Alabama Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board material(s) that will be regulated by some entity

The current composition of the LP Gas Board in
recently completed its current Sunset Review
that occurs every four years I will begin by
Alabama consists of four industrial members, a
explaining that the board is reviewed every
from the Public Service Commission, Department
four years by the Alabama Department of Public consumer advocate, and three ex-officio members
Examiners on behalf of the State Legislature The of Public Safety, and the Alabama Fire Marshal’s
examination is a very detailed review and evaluation Office. Such diversity allows for formulation of
of the operations of the board in an effort to regulations that provide for safety and protection of
determine if the board should remain in existence consumers tempered with the economic feasibility of
for an additional four years. If significant issues implementation and enforcement In my opinion, the
are identified during the examination, the board’s current board uniquely offers the perfect diversity to
renewal could be decreased for a period of time less balance both public safety and business sustainability
than four years in order to trigger evaluations more because neither can exist without the other
frequently. If warranted by failure of the board’s Again, I would like to thank both the board
mission, the board could be abolished or “Sunset” members and staff of the Alabama Liquefied
While very rare in occurrence, such a possibility serves Petroleum Gas Board for a fine job during the past
as motivation for the board to closely adhere to all four years As administrator, it is an honor to go before
state guidelines the Sunset Committee to represent a board and staff
The Alabama LP Gas Board had no significant whose ultimate objective is to protect all stakeholders
issues during their most recent Sunset Review The within the LP-gas industry in Alabama
Sunset Committee of the Alabama Legislature Board meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of
as possible
commended the board for their favorable review as October, January, April, and July each quarter You
well the time invested by board members for training are encouraged to attend and participate ■
and the routine handling of state business During
Sunset hearings, our board was the only one I recall
in which every member had completed training
mandated by the Sunset Committee Any agency
director or administrator will tell you that appearing
before the Sunset Committee does not rank high on
our list of favorite things, but it is much easier when
your board members and staff work so diligently to
comply with all state laws and guidelines on a daily
basis
Serving as a board member on the Alabama
LP Gas Board is a thankless task where the pay is
nonexistent, decisions are sometimes controversial,
and the responsibility is great Our industrial members
have to learn to wear two hats because they
sometimes have to make decisions for the good of the
industry that cost them personally in their individual
businesses Yet, our board as a whole understands
that they have to shape an environment within our
industry that provides the greatest safety for industry
employees and consumers of LP gas As I explained
this to the Sunset Committee, I told them how grateful
I was to serve as administrator for an organization that
truly focuses on the mission of the board
Some of you reading this article might find the
prospect of abolishing the Alabama LP Gas Board
an attractive option, but I would remind you that
the industry in which you work is one of hazardous

7 Alabama Propane Gas Association | July / August 2019