NEFI: FMCSA Issues Emergency Waiver for Colonial Pipeline Relief

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an Emergency Declaration in response to the unanticipated shutdown of the Colonial pipeline system, reported the National Energy & Fuel Institute in its May 11 newsletter, NEFI Online News.

The declaration was prompted by network issues that affect the supply of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil and other refined petroleum products throughout the eastern U.S., noted Rick Schweitzer, regulatory counsel for the Institute. He reported that Emergency Declaration exempts drivers and motor carriers from hours of service regulations when providing direct assistance in affected states and jurisdictions: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The declaration remains in effect until the end of the emergency or until 11:59 PM EDT, June 8, 2021, whichever is earlier.

The FBI announced May 10 that there was a ransomware attack on the pipeline by a crime gang known as DarkSide.