Refinery Woes Cause Nebraska Gas Shortages

OMAHA, Neb. -- A closed 108,000-barrel refinery in Coffeyville, Kan., is causing troubles down the pipeline, as gas retailers in Nebraska are reporting empty tanks and rising gas prices, local television station KETV reported.

On Thursday, gas prices jumped 8 cents in Omaha overnight, to $3.29 a gallon, according to AAA.

Meanwhile, gas station owners told the television station they worry the situation could leave them without fuel for periods of time. At least three stations around the state have already run dry -- in Kearney, North Platte and Doniphan, Neb.

Relief is on its way, however, as Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman issued an executive order earlier this week allowing gasoline truck drivers to increase hours of service between breaks, the report stated. Normally, truckers must take at least eight hours off after a 12-hour shift.

The order stated fuel haulers are "experiencing much longer time waiting in supply lines at all available terminals, and the extra time is creating hardship for gasoline and diesel fuel supply," according to the report.

Earlier this week, truckers lined up at fuel terminals, including Magellan Petroleum, located north of downtown Omaha. Deliveries slowed to a trickle, and trucks waited in line for more than an hour, the report stated.

"Probably [waited here] about an hour, hour and a half," trucker John Neff of Wynne Transport SVC, told the television station.

"I'm lucky and I get paid by the hour, so it doesn't bother me to sit here," added David Nelson of Rawhide Chem Oil.

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