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TRICK OR TREAT
In the United States, annual Halloween candy sales average around 2 BILLION dollars, representing nearly 23% of annual candy sales! | |
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C-stores are the third largest channel for candy sales, following supermarkets and drug stores.
Play it safe! Kindly ask customers to remove their Halloween masks before entering your store. |
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YOUR OPINION MATTERS!
Is there something we can do to be of better service to you?
LET US KNOW | | (click) |
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UST VIOLATIONS
can break the bank. Based on the severity of the issue, EPA fines can range from thousands to millions of dollars! More than ever, retailers like you are under more scrutiny by the public, media and government regulators. If you aren't taking the time to ensure that your lines are maintained, monitored and periodically upgraded, you may be at risk.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Are my tanks registered with the state or county?
2. Do my employees know how to properly respond to an ATG alarm?
3. Do I know when & how to file the permitting documents to renew my tanks?
4. Am I prepared for a unexpected inspection from a federal or local regulator?
5. Do I have at least one year's worth of monthly compliance reports & alarm history data?
6. Am I aware of the water levels in my tank?
If you are unsure about any of these questions, you might want to consider working with a firm that specializes in tank compliance and line management. If you need help finding a company to assist you with UST related issues, contact Customer Support | | |
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FIRST OIL PIPELINE |  | |
OCTOBER 16, 1865
Pennsylvania, Samuel Van Syckel's Oil Transportation Association puts into service a two-inch iron line linking a well to a Railroad Station about five miles away. With 15-ft welded joints and three 10-horsepower steam pumps, the pipeline transports 80 barrels of oil per hour - the equivalent 300 teamster wagons working for ten hours.
"The day that the Van Syckel pipe-line began to run oil a revolution began in the business. After the Drake well it is the most important event in the history of the Oil Regions"
- Ida Tarbell, Author of The History of Standard Oil Co.
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We appreciate your business and thank you for your loyalty! |
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The War on the Swipe Fee Reform | |
It's no surprise that there would be backlash to the recent Durbin Amendment which took effect October 1, and placed a cap on per-transaction swipe fees that banks charge retailers when purchases are made via debit cards. The former fee averaged 44 cents per transaction, but with the new amendment, the fee is limited to about 21 cents per transaction. Two Representatives, Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Bill Owens (D-N.Y.C.) are introducing legislation in the US. House to REPEAL the Durbin Amendment in order to "restore balance to the electronic payment system". Chaffetz and Owens believe the amendment is harmful for credit unions, community banks, and the people they serve because the legislatively enacted price controls have compelled banks to charge consumers higher and/or new fees to make up for lost revenue.
Merchants groups and retailers across the country are outraged by this counter attack, and have no plans to surrender.
View the MPC (merchants payment coalition) letter to the members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in response to the repeal by clicking Unfair Credit Card Fees.
 | | Watch Video of Senator Durbin Defend the Act and Chastise the Banks. |
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Exclusive BRANDED Program News | |
VALERO
The Holiday Gift Card Promotion is now in effect!
Holiday-themed POP signage encourages your customers to "Fill Up on Gifts" by purchasing Valero Gift Cards for family and friends. The variety of sign types give you the tools to market the Valero Gift Card which can be used at your stores for fuel purchase, drinks, snack and more.
EXXONMOBIL
ExxonMobil has added a bonus holiday promotion for its retailers to end the year with a bang! Spreading the joy to you with a retailer discount, you will only be charged 98% (2% discount) for the face value of all POS-activated ExxonMobil Gift  Cards sold to your customers from November 2011 through February 2012. All materials are available to you at no cost and no software changes are needed to participate. Your free signage kits are on their way. Drive sales, build business, and create a buzz at your store this holiday season!
If you need additional supplies, contact Customer Support! |
| UST Measures Signed Into Law (CIOMA) |
Governor Brown signed AB 358 (Smyth) and AB 291 (Wieckowski) into law Saturday October 8th. This signals good news for underground storage tank owners and operators, as well as providing a satisfying result to CIOMA's year-long efforts on UST program and case closure reform. In aggregate the two measures provide the following:
- Require all local agencies to adhere to Water Board decisions regarding UST closure decisions, undoing a historical remnant of the law allowing some agencies (known as "LOP's") to disregard Water Board closure decisions. (AB 358)
- Require all local agencies to report into a centralized electronic reporting system (e.g. Geo-Tracker) - requested by the Water Board and Cal/EPA. (AB 358)
- Provide a reporting provision which harmonizes state law with federal reporting requirements - requested by the Water Board and Cal/EPA. (AB 358)
- Put a one-year time frame on achieving closure of sites, once closure has been granted, by responsible parties and their consultants (with the ability of the Water Board to provide longer periods if needed). (AB 358)
- Establish a $10,000 benchmark for closure costs, unless the Water Board determines additional funding/reimbursement is needed. (AB 358)
- Extends the current 2�/gallon UST per-gallon fee until December 31, 2013 (2-year extension) (AB 291).
The limitations on case closure (one-year time frame and limiting closure reimbursement to $10,000 may appear to be unfavorable to UST owner/operators. However, CIOMA was deeply involved in their development and has strong assurances from the Water Board that: 1) additional time will be allowed especially when additional time is necessary due to conditions beyond the control of the responsible party; and 2) reimbursements over $10,000 will be allowed if local agencies are requiring closure activities that exceed the $10,000 threshold. |
| October was a Treat! |  OCTOBER 17, 1917
The J. H. McCleskey No. 1 well strikes oil at 3,432 feet, about a mile south of Ranger, Texas. Texas and Pacific Coal Company bring in the well, which produces 1,700 barrels a day of high gravity oil. The discovery launches the Ranger oilfield boom. Within 20 months the company's stock value goes from $30 a share to $1,250 a share and is drilling 22 wells in the area.
Ranger's population alone grows to more than 25,000 and formerly quiet Eastland County farming communities fill with oilmen and entrepreneurs as oil sells for $2.60 a barrel, eight refineries were open or under construction, and the city's four banks had $5 million in deposits.
Ranger oilfield production is essential to America's victory in World War I, although the high production drops reservoir pressure and depletes the field. When the armistice is signed in November 1918, a member of the British War Cabinet declares, "the Allied cause floated to victory upon a wave of oil."
Meanwhile Conrad Hilton visited Cisco, Texas, intending to buy a bank. When the deal fell through, he went to the train station across the street to a two-story red brick building called the Mobley Hotel. He noticed roughnecks from the booming Ranger oilfield waiting in line for a room. Hilton Hotel Chain was born.
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