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Florida's DEP Hosts Hurricane Seminar

Tampa, Fla. – In an effort to ensure that sufficient amounts of fuel will be available after a possible hurricane, representatives from petroleum industry giants met with Florida's Department of Environmental Protection secretary Colleen M. Castille.

In attendance were representatives from: BP, Shell, Chevron, Exxon-Mobil, Hess, Citgo and Maritrans. There were also representatives from the Florida Petroleum Council and the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association.

By having a plan, working together, and using existing resources wisely, communities will be better prepared for a potential storm, said Castille. "Establishing a thoughtful process between fuel companies and the State will also help restore reserves quickly in the event a hurricane or tropical storm disrupts supply."

Florida is working with the petroleum industry to overcome challenges they faced during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, said Mike Sole, DEP deputy secretary for Regulatory Programs and Energy. During that season, the state had eight hurricanes and four tropical storms, according to Sole.

The state of Florida consumes an estimated 24 million gallons of gasoline per day. During a storm, that number can double as residents prepare for a storm, or evacuate to other areas. The ports in Florida, including Tampa and Miami, have to contain the extra fuel that is needed at that time.
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