OAR 330-080-0005: Purpose

(1) In response to the Arab oil embargo of 1973, the federal government has, through the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 and other statutes, and through regulations adopted pursuant thereto, established a series of programs governing the allocation and pricing of crude oil and refined petroleum products. Among these are: (a) The “state set-aside program” (10 CFR 211.17), whereby a percentage of the total expected supply of a product is received each month to be allocated to alleviate hardships and emergencies; and (b) A program (10 CFR 211.12(f)), whereby new end-users can apply for an assignment of an allocated product or a supplier. (2) Administration of the described programs may be delegated to states. Oregon has requested the Region X Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE) for this authority as to motor gasoline and middle distillates only. (3) The purpose of these rules is to provide the substantive framework for administering these federal programs as to motor gasoline and middle distillates only. To the extent possible, definitions of terms and substantive provisions have been taken directly from existing federal regulations. Copies of federal regulations incorporated herein by reference are available from, Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE). (4) The basic philosophy of ODOE in implementing these programs is to alleviate emergency or hardships of actual end-users of motor gasoline and middle distillates and to alleviate regional shortages of gasoline available to the general public. Therefore, in making decisions under these rules, the emphasis will be to assure needed supplies to such end-users, taking into consideration the allocation priorities established by federal law.