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November 21, 2018

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

• New Jersey Tax Amnesty Program; Potential FDA Flavored Vape Ban; Failing Spill Bucket Tests; Rutgers Online A/B Operator Training Now Available; Happy Thanksgiving!

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
- Monmouth County: Gas Station and Repair Shop Business Since 2001
- Bergen County: Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale

NEWS AROUND THE STATE

• Pump Prices Dip Ahead of Thanksgiving
• Sinclair Gas Station, With Its Iconic Dinosaur, Is Back In Ringwood
• State Directs Money From Tobacco Tax To Fight Teen Vaping ‘Epidemic’
• F.D.A. Seeks Restrictions on Teens' Access to Flavored E-Cigarettes and a Ban on Menthol Cigarettes

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!

??????• Emissions Inspector Training Class, THURSDAY December 6th
??????• Entire Emission Repair Technician Program: October 8, 10, 15, 24, 29, 31, November 5, 7, 19, 26, December 3
??????• Emission Repair Technician Program RECERTIFICATION: November 7, 19, 26, December 3

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD
• The Amato Agency: Garage Insurance and Workers Compensation!
• ATS Environmental: Confidence in your Tank & Compliance Testing
• Bellomo Fuel: Exceptional Service, Aggressive Petroleum Marketing
• CBIZ Insurance: Our Business is Growing Yours!
• Gill Energy: Getting you There!
• Lending Capital: "Commercial Loans Made Easy" Program
• Salomone Brothers: Tank Testing and Environmental Compliance
• TMP Energy Solutions: Another Way to Save On Your Energy Bills

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
• Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE
TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER-- CLICK HERE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:

NEW JERSEY TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM
POTENTIAL FDA FLAVORED VAPE BAN
FAILING SPILL BUCKET TESTS
RUTGERS ONLINE A/B OPERATOR TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We wrote about this in the October OTR newsletter, but right now I would like to remind you in very strong terms that this tax amnesty exists, it’s a very small window, and if it's not accepted and paid for by January 15th, than any and all taxes, penalties, and loan shark interest will be due. If you are eligible for the program but do not take advantage, you can expect an additional 5% un-waivable penalty on any eligible amount not resolved during the amnesty period. When I say loan shark, I’m not kidding! The state is not pleasant to deal with if you owe them money. Why am I speaking in such strong terms? Because I know that many of you get into trouble for not paying your taxes completely when they are due because you simply do not have the money and borrow from Peter to pay Paul. I have firsthand experience dealing with this 22 years ago and I can tell you, that if you don’t play ball with the tax man, you will always lose. I am going to try to send another reminder about this amnesty, if any of you are in this situation and would like to discuss it, feel free to call me and we can speak privately. DO NOT IGNORE THIS OPPORTUNITY. Find more information HERE.

The FDA is considering several restrictions on e-cigarettes. Most importantly, they are seeking to ban any flavors other than tobacco and menthol because they have become very popular and attractive to young adults. In a move to demonstrate cooperation with the FDA, the nation’s largest manufacturer of these products has announced they will no longer offer for sale to you, the owners of convenience stores, flavored e-cigarette products. They will only sell them online. Expect other manufacturers to do the same, as this will be better for them than an outright ban on the flavors.

As you all know, as of October 13th, you had to have the new hydro testing done on your sumps, spill buckets, and under dispenser containment devices. If there are any failed tests, you must have a contract in writing within 30 days to repair, and that repair must occur within six months of the failed test. If you have a failed spill bucket, this means your spill bucket will not contain any overfill that risks leaking into the soil. Once you have a “known” failed spill bucket, you cannot take fuel delivery into that spill bucket. If you do accept fuel into that known failed spill bucket, the penalty from NJDEP starts at $35,000 per occurrence. When the spill bucket fails, the spill bucket must be taken out of the ground and the contractor doing the work must use a PID Counter to check for gasoline vapors in the area. If the PID Counter does NOT find gasoline fuel vapors, the contractor can mark it as clean and put in a new spill bucket. If the PID counter picks up any count of gasoline/fuel vapors, NJDEP must be contacted immediately and open a site remediation case. Some folks have asked “what size spill bucket can be installed?” Recently, we spoke with a member who had a 15 gallon spill bucket, and it was replaced with a five gallon spill bucket. Debbie checked with NJDEP and the size change is acceptable and meets NJDEP regulation. If you lease your gas station to another individual or company and they are responsible for all NJDEP compliance, NJGCA would highly suggest you hire your own licensed site remediation professional (LSRP) to be on site if spill buckets need to be replaced. That way, you make sure you are covering your interest as the owner of the property. If you have any questions, contact Debbie debbie@njgca.org

NJDEP UST online training for Class A/B Operators is now available. The self-paced online course takes approximately eight hours to complete. They will send you a manual once you sign up and the ICC A/B Operator exam will still be required to become an A/B Operator. The online course can be found HERE.

Finally, I want to wish all of our members a happy Thanksgiving. In a world filled with stress, violence, and hardship, we should all count the blessings that we do have, such as our families. I hope you all have a relaxing holiday and take the opportunity to remember what you are most thankful for this holiday season.

That's all for this week-

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

TRAINING CLASSES!!
All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753

Emissions Inspector Training Class - One Day Only!
THURSDAY, December 6th, 2048 -- 7 AM to 3 PM

Want one of your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help! Our one-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector, and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices! We are offering the class Thursday, December 6th from 7:00am to 3:00pm.
Cost is $275 for members.
Click HERE for registration form

Want to become an emission repair technician/facility?
Entire Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP) Training Classes
Sections 1-7
October 8, 10, 15, 24, 29, 31 [TBD],
November 5
Sections 8, 9, 10 (RECERTIFICATION)
November 7, 19, 26
December 3
1 PM to 9 PM

Stop turning away work!!
The New Jersey Inspection Program requires vehicles that fail emissions inspection to go to a Licensed Certified Emission Repair Facility and have a Licensed Emission Repair Technician perform the repairs! When the new Emissions Inspection program begins, a list of Certified Emission Repair Facilities will be given to the vehicle owners who fail the New Jersey Emission Inspection. If you want your business name on the list – make sure you have a Certified Licensed Emission Repair Technician and you are licensed as a Emission Repair Facility! Those signing up for the FULL training course will attend sections 1-10. Recertification classes start November 7.
Full ETEP class fees for members are $2,195 and non-members are &2,395
Recertification fees for members are $729 and non-members are $879.
Click HERE for registration form.

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

FOR SALE:

Business For Sale: Monmouth County gas station and repair shop in business since 2001 is for sale. Owner is relocating out of state and is interested in selling business and equipment. Owner is open to limited financing. Business has a strong 10 year lease. The building has two repair bays and the gas pumps are leased to a large independent tenant. Repair shop business currently employs a Manager and two full-time Technicians. For inquiries and more info, please call Mark at 908-670-7798.

FOR SALE:

Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale in Bergen County!

Business established in 1980. Fully equipped repair shop with 5 lifts including an alignment rack with a 2-year-old Hunter Hawkeye alignment machine. New Hunter tire machine & wheel balancer. AAA approved and very busy.

Towing business also available which includes 3 Freightliner/JerrDan flatbeds (2015, 2016 & 2017), a 2012 Dodge crew cab wrecker with a Jerrdan Quick Pick & dual cable winch & 2 service trucks (a 2012 GMC 2500 utility truck with a plow & a 2014 Ford transit battery/service vehicle).

Pumping over 1,000,000 gallons per year. 100x300 lot with plenty of parking. Excellent location!!! Call Jim @ 201-851-3084.

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

11/19/18
Pump Prices Dip Ahead of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving travelers can be thankful for a last minute dip in gas prices bringing them more in line with gas prices from 2017. On Monday, Nov. 19, the national gas price average hit $2.62, which is seven-cents less than a week ago and the largest one-week decline in pump price this year, according to AAA. In fact, the large drop brings the year-over-year differential in gas prices to only seven cents – that is the lowest yearly change seen July 2017.

11/16/18
Sinclair Gas Station, With Its Iconic Dinosaur, Is Back In Ringwood
Old timers might remember Sinclair gas stations, with their eye-catching dinosaur logo and green color scheme. The stations became all but extinct on the East Coast, but now the 100-year-old Sinclair Oil Corp. is planning to make a comeback. And it's counting on "Dino," their iconic apatosaurus, to get the kiddies to persuade Mom and Dad to stop and fill up, company officials said.

11/15/18
State Directs Money From Tobacco Tax To Fight Teen Vaping ‘Epidemic’
New Jersey has joined a growing national movement seeking to curb what experts consider the epidemic increase in “vaping” among young people, investing about $7 million to reduce the use of these electronic tobacco-delivery devices in the Garden State. The state Department of Health announced Wednesday it will use money from taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products to fund a youth education campaign, with peer-outreach teams in each county, a network of 11 regional “quit centers” to support smoking cessation, and efforts to reduce tobacco use on college campuses and in workplaces that employ a large number of young people.

11/15/18
F.D.A. Seeks Restrictions on Teens' Access to Flavored E-Cigarettes and a Ban on Menthol Cigarettes
When asked whether a fair interpretation of the new rules might be that convenience stores could sell flavored e-cigarettes as long as the products are under the counter, out of sight and inaccessible to minors, Lyle Beckwith, a spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores, a trade group, said that he had no comment on that possibility. The F.D.A. said it would provide more detail on how to restrict access at a later date. But Dr. Gottlieb said putting the vaping products under counters would not be sufficient. “What we are envisioning is a separate room or a walled-off area,” he said. “It needs to be a complete separate structure. A curtain won’t cut it.” Industry lawyers challenged the commissioner’s authority to impose such requirements. “The Tobacco Control Act is clear that the F.D.A. can’t discriminate against one type of retail outlet and that’s what they’re trying to do here,” said Doug Kantor, counsel to the National Association of Convenience Stores. “There is a very good chance this will end up in litigation and lawyers are looking at that right now.”

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

TMP Energy Solutions

Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available.

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum kW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group. Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require 12 months of your most recent utility bills. There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs. Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund.

Contact GREG CANNON at 732-256-9646 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: THE NJGCA PAC

DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!

Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.

To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:

We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!

In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies.

PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC

I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.

We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call.

Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior. Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.