FRANKFORT, Ky. (February 12, 2007) – Governor Ernie Fletcher’s administration is working to meet the urgent demand of home heating fuel deliveries. Today, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert signed an official order declaring an emergency that exempts heating oil and propane truck drivers from hours of service regulations. The emergency order will remain in effect until 12:01 AM ET, Tuesday, February 20, 2007. This declaration will minimize delays that are being reported for distribution and delivery of propane and heating oil.

This is in response to the recent severely cold weather that has resulted in an increased demand for supplies of propane and other heating fuels. Weather forecasts are calling for continued below freezing temperatures as well as potential rain, freezing rain and snow in parts of the state.

All other safety requirements remain in full force and effect. All commercial motor vehicle operators, and their employers, are urged to carefully monitor alertness and to use sound judgment in operating pursuant to the declaration of State of Emergency so as to promote safe operation of their vehicles.

At the initial request of the Kentucky Propane Gas Association, and after review by the Transportation Cabinet, in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Energy Policy, the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Transportation Cabinet executed an Emergency Order declaring a State of Emergency pertaining to deliveries of propane gas for residential heating, as well as heating oil.

Other states, including Ohio, West Virginia and Illinois, have issued similar proclamations in the past week, as a combination of severely cold weather, snow, and freezing rain have slowed down fuel deliveries to the point that public safety concerns are paramount.