Rubio, Scott Call for Waivers to Ease Fuel Shortage in South FL

Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) have sent a formal request for waivers of red tape and requirements (such as the usage of non-summertime fuel) to meet the fuel scarcity in South Florida.

The Senators’ letter comes a day after two lawmakers both stated that more resources need to be expended in order to address this problem.

Sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, the Florida legislators urge for the “immediate approval of the State of Florida’s request for temporary waivers to certain requirements for fuel to prevent additional disruptions to gasoline and fuel supplies.”

The Senators wrote, “approving these temporary waivers will allow delayed deliveries of non-summertime fuels to reach consumers, and prevent additional cascading impacts on gasoline and fuel supplies in South Florida.”

They would add that without the approval of this request, the state of Florida could see longtime consequences, such as logistical problems relating to distribution and rising prices, as a result.

Should this happen, it would be “an unacceptable outcome.”

“Not allowing the postponement of these requirements for all requested areas would cause additional long-term disruptions to the distribution of gasoline and other fuels from Port Everglades, as volumes of this on-hand non-summertime fuel would not be usable. This would burden Floridians with cascading price spikes at the pump and shortages of gasoline and other fuels, imposing additional inflationary pressures on Florida families and businesses, and harm Florida’s economy. This would be an unacceptable outcome.”

Yesterday, Sen. Rubio stated that “What’s happening right now in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale with gasoline is crazy. You can’t find gasoline anywhere. This has been going on since Sunday, and they’re blaming it on the floods that impacted the port, and I know that was a factor, but it’s been four days. This should have been figured out by now.”

State Senator Shevrin Jones (D-FL) blamed Governor Ron DeSantis for his lack of presence on the flooding and gas shortage.

“The Governor is traveling the country, campaigning and Broward County is damn near underwater. That’s not a Democrat Republican issue. That’s just the right thing that any person who’s leading the state of 22 million people should be doing at this moment, but that’s just not happening,” stated Sen. Jones.

According to Patrick De Haan, an oil and refined products analyst, more stations in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are starting to see improvements, as 53% of stations now have fuel, compared to yesterday morning’s number of 48%.