FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Chambliss, Isakson Urge Distributors Supplying Gasoline to Georgia to Provide Relief as Soon as Possible

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss, R-GA, and Johnny Isakson, R-GA, today wrote to distributors supplying gasoline to Georgia, particularly the metro-Atlanta area, and urged them to do everything they can to get a steady supply back to Georgia as soon as possible.

The text of the letter is below:

Since Hurricanes Gustav and Ike our State of Georgia, including the metro-Atlanta area, has experienced a significant disruption in gasoline supply. As we are sure you are aware, gas stations in Georgia are experiencing severe gas shortages, with some having no gas at all. Georgians are struggling to find fuel to fill their cars so they can go to work, take their children to school, and go about their daily routines. When gasoline is available, there are long lines – over 100 cars deep in most places – until the station runs dry.

We know that the state is sharing in a burden experienced by many other southeastern states. We also know that the main cause of the shortage in Georgia is due to refining operations being drastically cut in the Houston area and the Colonial Pipeline running at less than full capacity.

Recently, Governor Sonny Perdue asked for a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow the 45 counties required to use a boutique blend of low sulfur fuel to be exempt from the federally enforceable Georgia SIP sulfur gasoline requirements, as shortages of that particular blend of gasoline are being reported in the fuel control area and are expected to continue through September 30. We were pleased to see Administrator Johnson’s swift approval of this waiver, and hope it will assist you in bringing gasoline supplies to Georgia in the next 24 to 48 hours.

As you continue to work through the many difficult supply issues following the recent hurricanes, we ask that you do everything possible to return a dependable supply of gasoline to Georgia as quickly as possible. If we can help you in this regard, please do not hesitate to let us know.

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