2019 // september ncpga
TRANSCRIPT
2019 // September
NEWSNCPGA
O f f i c i a l P u b l i c a t i O n O f t h e n O r t h c a r O l i n a P r O P a n e g a s a s s O c i a t i O n
09 // It's the Time of the Season
07 // 28 New Propane Buses in NC
11 // Changes Coming in the 2020 Edition of the LP-Gas Code
5www.ncpga.org
Published for North CarolinaPropane Gas Association 5109 Hollyridge Drive Raleigh, NC 27612 p. 919.787.8485 f. 919.781.7481
DIRECTOR of PUBLISHING Krystie Dovenmuehler
DESIGN MANAGER Jeremy Davis
LAYOUT & DESIGN Hayley Monsma
SALES MANAGER Mike Lindsay
To submit editorial or request information — email [email protected] p. 919.787.8485
For information regarding advertising please contact Marc at 800.572.0011 or [email protected]
Published by E&M Consulting, Inc. 1107 Hazeltine Boulevard, Suite #350 Chaska, MN 55318 p. 800.572.0011 f. 952.448.9928 www.emconsultinginc.com
Please note: Editorial and contents of this magazine reflect the records of the North Carolina Propane Gas Association (NCPGA). NCPGA has done their best to provide useful and accurate information, but please take into account that some information does change. E&M Consulting, Inc., publishers and NCPGA take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information printed, inadvertent omissions, printing errors, nor do they endorse products and services. We take no responsibility regarding representations or warranties concerning the content of advertisements of products/services for a particular use, including all information, graphics, copyrighted materials, and assertions included in the advertisements. The reader is advised to independently check all information before basing decisions on such information.
NCPGANEWS
2019 // September
FEATURES
07 // 28 New Propane Buses in NC
09 // It's the Time of the Season
11 // Changes Coming in the 2020 Edition of the LP-Gas Code
DEpARTmEnTS06 // Chairman’s Letter
10 // What's Wrong with this Picture?
15 // Event Recap
16 // Income Investing? Think Dividends
18 // Propane Buses Lower Harmful NOx Emissions
19 // Fuel Piping Prep Class
21 // 28 New Propane Buses in NC Recap
6 NCPGA News | September
CH
AIR
MA
N’S
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As I conclude my tenure as your Chairman, I want to say that it has
been an honor and a pleasure to serve this awesome Association. In
addition to being Chairman, I have served on the Executive Committee,
as a District Director, and on the Convention Committee. Through the
years, I have seen this Association change and grow to better serve
its members. I’ve had the pleasure meeting and working with some
of the finest people on earth. Our Association is one the best in the
country. It takes a lot of great members along with Beverly, Dave,
and John working every day to make the Propane Industry in North
Carolina a stronger industry.
We have had a busy year and want to highlight some of our achievements:
• ReceivedstateapprovalasaProprietarySchool
• SignedcontractstopurchasethebuildingforNCTEC
• WenttoPropaneDaystofightforAutoGasTaxCredits
• IntroducedRenewablePropaneatLegislativeDayinRaleigh
• PlannedaCarnivalCruiseBoardMeetingforJune2021
I want to personally thank the Board of Directors and everyone that
served on committees. If you have given your time and energy to help
in any way, thank you!
It’s been a true honor to serve as your Chairman of this great
Association. It has been one of the highlights of my life!
BestRegards,
Billy H. Foust
NCPGA CHAirmAN
John R. Jessup, President/CEO
Dave Donahue, Director of Code Compliance
and Education
Beverly Dodd, Office Manager
Jon Carr, Lobbyist, Legal Counsel
5109 Hollyridge Drive • Raleigh, NC 27612Ph. 919-787-8485 • Fax 919-781-7481
Billy Foust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ChairmanJoe Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chairman-ElectScott Prewitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice-ChairmanAngi Harris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SecretaryBrian Yow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TreasurerJeff Ruffner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Past Chairman
DISTRICT DIRECToRS
District 2: Barry McNeil . . . . . . . . . . . . . Murphy, NC
District 3: Brian Yow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asheboro, NC
District 4: Jerry Griffin . . . . . . . . . . Rutherfordton, NC
District 5: Lenny Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greensboro , NC
District 6: Jay Little . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clinton, NC
District 7: Alex Jernigan . . . . . . . . . . . Smithfield, NC
District 8: Dennis (Buddy) Swain . . . . Columbia, NC
District 9: Travis Hardison. . . . . . . . . . . . Bayboro, NC
CoMMITTEE CHAIRS
Convention/Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyndi Kibler
Education/Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donald Godfrey
Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donnie Bullock
Governmental Affairs. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ray Kazakewich
Membership Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill Fowler
Promotions & Publications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Rice
Technologies/Innovations. . . . . . . .Armistead Mauck
Suppliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam Riggs
NoTICE
As the official publication of the NC propane Gas Association, NCPGA News carries authentic notice pertaining to the activities of the Association. In other respects, statements of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the authors and contributing writers alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the board of Directors, the Officers, or the membership.
NCPGANEWS
Greetings NCPGA Members!
7www.ncpga.org
PR
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/CE
o
F inally!28newpropane
powered Bluebird buses have
beendeliveredtoMecklenburg
CountySchools.OnAug14ththere
was a huge back to school media
event held at the main bus depot for
MecklenburgCountySchools.PERC
President and CEO Tucker Perkins
presentedthenewSuperintendent
Mr.EarnestWinstonwithaClean
Energy Innovation Award. The
largest school district in NC and the
eighth largest in the country now
has30propaneschoolbusesinits
fleet. Transportation Director Andy
Johnson said they have plans to add
more to the fleet next year.
“By choosing propane buses, the
CharlotteMecklenburgSchool
District continues to lead the way
with its commitment to clean air and
a better and healthier environment
forstudents.Morethan950school
districts nationwide are realizing
tremendous value with propane
Autogas school buses,” said Tucker
Perkins, president and CEO of the
PropaneEducation&Research
Council.“StudentsinCharlotte
will now join over a million other
students who will ride to school this
year on a propane bus providing
students with a cleaner, healthier
start to their day.”
“We commend the Charlotte
MecklenburgSchoolsystemfor
the decision to provide students
with a bus ride that is healthier
for students, quieter and cleaner
for the environment.” Propane is
an important part of the emerging
clean energy economy and it is an
important part of America’s clean
energy mix,” said Tucker Perkins
CEO for the Propane Education &
ResearchCouncil.
Using propane powered buses is a
viable step toward cleaner air and
abetterenvironmentforourState.
We are confident that more school
districts in North Carolina will choose
propane as they learn about the
lower total cost of ownership and the
clean, quiet and reliable operation of
these propane buses.
Sincerely,
John JessupExECutivE DirECtor, NCPErF
28 New ProPaNe Buses iN NC
9www.ncpga.org
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By David Donahue, NCPGA Director of Code Compliance and Education
The season is upon us. I am not talking about the holiday season or the football season but the hurricane season.
LivinginNorthCarolinaIdon’thavetoremindyouofthe
importance of preplanning. We plan for the worse and hope for
the best. We do all we can to make sure our companies are
ready.ThePropaneEducationandResearchCouncil(PERC)can
alsomakesureyourcustomersarereadyaswell.PERChas
brochures available for purchase as well as to download. They
evenhave30secondPSAradioadsthatyoucanuseandtag
your own company message.
Visit Propane.com and at the top click on the Resource Catalog
and then search using Hurricane as your key word.
It's the Time of the Season
Thenew2020versionofNFPA58willbeavailableviaelectroniccopyfrom
NFPAbytheendofAugust2019andshouldbeavailableforpurchasethrough
PERCbyNovember2019.NCPGAwillbesendingoutanE-blastoncethey
becomeavailablefromPERC.Youwillthenhavetheoptionofpurchasing
themfromthePropaneEducationandResearchCouncildirectlyorfrom
ushereandNCPGA.Intheweekstocome,wewillbesendingoutmore
information once it becomes available.
NFPA582020willautomaticallybecomeineffectonJanuary1,2020so
don’t be caught off guard. Be sure to order your books in advance. AVAILAbLe SOON!
10 NCPGA News | September
What's Wrong With This Picture?
Here is a photo with a wealth of information about the inappropriateness of these anchor plate bollards. Clearly, nails don’t do the job of holding the bollards in place. There is no supporting information that this design will resist the required loads for equivalent protection, even if used with the proper bolts in a proper concrete foundation, which this is not. This wide-angle picture is misleading about the distance of the cabinet and tank from the curb. It’s about 6 feet. This excellent photo was provided by Wade Stanley.
11www.ncpga.org
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As happens every three years, an updated lP-Gas Code
is forthcoming. Committee work began on this edition in
September2017afterreceivingpublicinput.Thenextedition
ofthecodewillbeavailableonSept.27asadownloadable
pdfdocument.Youmaybuyasoftcoverversionbeginningon
Oct.25.IfyouareontheNationalFireCodesSubscription
Service,youmayseeitinAugust.Thehandbookshouldbe
availableonDec.13.
This article will describe changes in the first six chapters, but
not all of chapter 6. One or two more articles will be needed
to finish highlighting the changes.
We’llbeginwiththeGeneralRequirements.Section1.6has
a new specification that officially declares the measurements
willbeU.S.customaryunits(i.e.feet,inches,pounds,psi,
etc.)followedbymetricequivalentsinparentheses.The
metric equivalents will be rounded and may be less stringent
thanthestatedunit.However,thestatedU.S.unitmustbe
met. The metric equivalent may not be used to “lessen any
provision.”Yes,section1.6.2saysthat.
Chapter2isfullofchangestovariousreferencesused
throughoutthecode.Manyofthosereferenceshavebeen
updated. I will not bore you with those changes.
Chapter 3 contains the important definitions used throughout.
Manyofthechangeddefinitionswere“word-smithed,”but
the overall meaning didn’t change much.
One significant definition added was “important building.”
This moves the concept from the explanatory annex to the
mandatory code language. This is a definition that has long
been requested. It was surprisingly hard for the committee
to reach an agreement. The new definition is “A building that
is considered not expendable in an exposure fire.” There is an
unchangedexplanationintheannexinA.6.4.1.1onhowthis
definition applies to buildings we see every day. Basically, if
the building has human occupancy, high replacement value,
high-valuecontents,avitalroleinabusiness,oraneffecton
product release or emergency responder control, then it is
important. I do not expect our statement of intent on our web
page to change significantly.
Chapter4,GeneralRequirements,hasacoupleofwidely
applicable new requirements. One is that fire extinguishers
shall have an A:B:C rating, meaning they will extinguish
ordinaryfires(paper,wood,tires,etc),liquidfires(gasoline,
propane,naturalgas,etc.),andelectricalfires(anything
inacircuit-breakerbox,oronamotor,etc.).Thereisalso
a statement to not put out a propane fire unless the
By richard Fredenburg, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer services
Changes Comingin the 2020 edition of the LP-Gas Code
12 NCPGA News | September
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source of the propane can be stopped quickly. This is not
new information, but it is newly stated. The other new
item is recognizing that some materials are inherently
noncombustible. However, rather than listing the materials or
examples,somestandardsarereferenced.Somecommon
sense is also allowed.
Chapter5isgenerallyaimedatthosewhomanufacture
equipment, but it also gets into material specifications.
Installers need to know about these things. Austenitic
stainlesssteelisanewlyallowedmaterial.Somepictures
from coastal locations in other states show this as a desirable
material.Also,section5.14.2.4pairswithA.5.9.8.1(H)to
explainusinganexcess-flowvalvetoprotectacontainer
opening from discharging should piping break.
Chapter 6 is where the requirements for installations are
detailed. This chapter typically sees heavy revisions each
edition,andthisoneisnoexception.Somerequirements
interrelate with other parts of the chapter, so it can get
confusing. We won’t get through all of chapter 6 before we
run out of room for this month.
Section6.4.1.2allowsforthereductionofseparation
between large tanks and buildings when certain extra
protection against product release is provided for tank
connectionsandlow-emissiontransfer.Section6.7.3.4allows
reduced separation requirements between certain liquid
transferpointsandexposureswhenlow-emissiontransfer
isused.TheseprovisionsappliedonlytoASMEtankssince
theiradditiontothecodein1998.Theywillalsoapplytofilling
cylinders in the new code. The details for this change are
many and complicated. They will probably be the focus of a
separatearticle.Fornow,knowthatthechangeiscoming.
Don’t implement it until you know the rules. I include two
quickpoints.Useofadapterstoconnecttocontainersatlow-
emission transfer sites is not allowed. Any adapter causes
more release on disconnect than specified. Also, no filling of
hot air balloon containers. They all use the bleed valve when
filling in the basket.
Groupsoffourtanksoflessthan125gallonseachmaybe
installedbesidebuildingswith10feetbetweenthegroups.The
separationusedtobe25feet.See6.4.3forcompletedetails.
Thechangesinsections6.5.4.1and6.9.2.2arerelatedsince
they refer to obstructions over and around containers. A solid
enclosure may extend around three sides of the container if
one long side is open. The wording requires that entire side
to be open. An emergency responder must be able to wet
the length of the container. Pressure relief valves must be
installed“topreventdeflection[ofthecontents]towardthe
container.” If there is something in the path of the discharge,
wewillrequiresomeconclusiveevidencethatthenear-
supersonic discharge will not be directed back toward the
tank. The requirement for a fire protection analysis is gone.
(NOTtobeconfusedwithafireSAFETYanalysis.)
An oversight in the code technically allowed above ground
and underground tanks to have liquid interconnections with
maximum fill levels at different elevations. That has been
corrected in the new edition after someone asked us for
permission to do it.
Wording was changed for underground containers to specify
the top of the tank shell is to be buried to the required
distance below the ground surface. This removes confusion
about the requirements.
Schedule10pipingisallowedforcertainabovegroundvapor
piping if installed as specified. It shall not be threaded.
No paint or other coatings may be applied to temperature
sensitive elements of internal valves or emergency shutoff
valves.PleasenotethatNFPA13, installation of sprinkler
systems, requires replacement of an element if inadvertently
painted. The modified response to heat is unknown when
“contaminants” are applied to the elements.
That’s all the room we have for this month. Come back next
month for more.
"Groups of four tanks of
less than 125 gallons
each may be installed
beside buildings with 10
feet between the groups."
Barry McNeil, District 2 Director
July 30-August 31 Hickory, NC
John Jessup
August 2 Raleigh, NC
August 6 & 7 Raleigh, NC
August 13-15 Raleigh, NC
15www.ncpga.org
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CETP BASIC CLASS
CETP BOBTAIL CLASS
CETP BASIC CLASS
FuEL PIPINg PREP CLASS
DISTRICT 2 MEETINg, JuLy 25, ASHEvILLE
16 NCPGA News | September
DE
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It used to be, investors seeking steady income turned exclusively to bonds, whose regular interest payments provided a dependable income source, especially for retirees.
But times have changed. With many retirements today lasting
30yearsormore,incomeinvestorsneedtomakesuretheir
savingskeeppacewithinflationandlastalongtime.This
means investing in assets that provide current income, yet
have the potential to grow in value and yield over time.
Onewidelyusedstrategyistoincludedividend-payingstocks
in your portfolio. History provides compelling evidence of the
long-termbenefitsofdividendsandtheirreinvestment:
• Dividends are a sign of corporate financial health.
Dividend payouts are often seen as a sign of a company's
financial health and management's confidence in future
cashflow.Dividendsalsocommunicateapositive
messagetoinvestorswhoperceivealong-termdividend
as a sign of corporate maturity and strength.
• Dividends are a key driver of total return. There are several
factors that may contribute to the superior total return of
dividend-payingstocksoverthelongterm.Oneofthemis
dividend reinvestment. The longer the period during which
dividends are reinvested, the greater the spread between
price return and dividend reinvested total return.
• Dividend payers offer potentially stronger returns, lower
volatility. Dividends may help to mitigate portfolio losses
when stock prices decline, and over long time horizons,
stocks with a history of increasing their dividend each
year have also produced higher returns with less risk than
non-dividend-payingstocks.Forinstance,forthe10years
endedJune30,2019,theS&P500DividendAristocrats
--thosestockswithintheS&P500thathaveincreasedtheir
dividendseachyearforthepast25years--producedaverage
annualizedreturnsof16.3%vs.14.7%fortheS&P500
overall,withlessvolatility(11.7%vs.12.7%,respectively).1
• Dividends benefit from potentially favorable tax
treatment. Mosttaxpayersaresubjecttoatopfederal
taxrateofonly15%onqualifieddividends,although
certainhigh-incometaxpayersmaypayupto23.8%.
However,thatisstilllowerthanthecurrent37%toprate
on ordinary income.
• Dividend-paying stocks may help diversify an
income-generating portfolio.Income-oriented
investors may want to diversify potential sources of
income within their portfolios.
Provided by Derek Carawan, AAms
inCome investing? think dividends
17www.ncpga.org
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Stockswithabove-averagedividendyieldsmaycompare
favorably with bonds and may act as a buffer should
conditions turn negative within the bond market.
Dividends Can Boost Total Return2
Ifyouareconsideringaddingdividend-payingstockstoyour
investment mix, keep in mind that they generally carry higher
riskthanbonds.Stockinvestinginvolvesthepotentialforloss
of principal. Also, dividends can be increased, decreased, and/
or eliminated at any time without prior notice. That’s why it’s
importanttochooseyourdividend-payingstockscarefully,since
some companies may increase dividends to attract investors if
their finances aren't watertight or their outlook is cloudy.
Yourfinancialprofessionalcanhelpyoudetermineifdividend-
paying stocks are a good fit for your portfolio.
Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). insurance products are offered through lPl or its licensed affiliates. to the extent you are receiving investment advice from a separately registered independent investment advisor, please note that lPl is not an affiliate of and makes no representation with respect to such entity. if your advisor is located at a bank or credit union, please note that the bank/credit union is not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. registered representatives of lPl may also be employees of the bank/credit union. these products and services are being offered through lPl or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, the bank/credit union. securities and insurance offered through lPl or its affiliates are:
*Footnotes/Disclaimers Not insured by FDiC/NCuA or Any other Government Agency i Not Bank/Credit union Guaranteed i Not Bank/Credit union Deposits or obligations i may
1 source: Dst systems, inc., based on data from standard & Poor’s. volatility is measured by standard deviation. standard deviation is a historical measure of
the variability of returns relative to the average annual return. if a portfolio has a high standard deviation, its returns have been volatile. A low standard deviation indicates returns have been less volatile. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
2source: Chartsource®, Dst systems, inc. For the period from January 1, 1989, through December 31, 2018. stocks are represented by the s&P 500 index. stock prices are represented by the change in price of the s&P 500 index. it is not possible to invest directly in an index. index performance does not reflect the effects of investing costs and taxes. Actual results would vary from benchmarks and would likely have been lower. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. © 2019, Dst systems, inc. reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions. (Cs000080)
Derek Carawan is an lPl Financial Advisor and lPl registered Principal / securities offered through lPl Financial/ member FiNrA/siPC and may be reached at, www.carawanfp.com, 919-870-8181 or [email protected].
Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by Dst systems, inc. or its sources, neither Dst systems, inc. nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. in no event shall Dst systems, inc. be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscriber's or others' use of the content.
© 2019 Dst systems, inc. reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions. the opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. this article was prepared by Dst systems inc. this information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Please consult me if you have any questions. lPl Financial representatives offer access to trust services through the Private trust Company N.A., an affiliate of lPl Financial. For Public use: tracking #1-878033 .....Exp: 8/2020)
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18 NCPGA News | September
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todd mouw, President
Propane Buses Lower Harmful NOx Emissions
With back to school time happening across the country,
it was exciting to read the recent headline, “West Virginia
UniversityStudyFindsPropaneSchoolBusesDramatically
Decrease Harmful Emissions.”
A study by university researchers concluded emissions
measured from propane school buses are significantly
lowerthanthosefromdieselbuses.Findingwaysto
significantly reduce harmful emissions has been driving alt
fuel engine technology manufacturers for over a decade.
Thestudyconcentratedonnitrogenoxides(NOx)—
highly damaging emissions that are federally regulated
due to their negative impact on human health and the
environment. According to the West Virginia University
studycommissionedbythePropaneEducation&Research
Council, NOx emissions are:
• 34timeshigherinadieselschoolbusthaninapropane
bus,overastop-and-goroute.
• 15to19timeshigherinthedieselschoolbusovera
hot-andcold-startcityroute.
Bottom line: Propane autogas school buses reduce NOx by at least 95 percent.
AsPERC’sTuckerPerkinssays,thisstudyis“monumental
from an emissions and health perspective for students,
schools, and communities across the country.”
Because exposure to NOx exhaust can trigger asthma,
bronchitis and other respiratory issues, propane autogas
school buses are better for human health and the
environment, and a better choice for schools. That’s great
newsforthemorethan1millionstudentsinover900
school districts across the nation who ride to school in
propane school buses each day.
TolearnmoreaboutROUSHCleanTech’salternative-fuel
vehicletechnologythatpowersschoolbusesandFord
commercial vehicles, please visit www.roushcleantech.com.
todd mouw is president of rousH Cleantech, an industry leader
of alternative fuel vehicle technology. mouw has more than two
decades of experience in the automotive and high-tech industries.
As former president of the NtEA Green truck Association, mouw
helped set standards in the green trucking industry. to learn more,
visit rousHcleantech.com.
Study ProveS
kevin Harrison - Department of Public Instruction
20 NCPGA News | September
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Brad Couch with Eco vehicle systems and Agility Fuel solutions have developed a propane re-power option for diesel school buses.
on Aug 23rd they were able to demo the propane bus to Kevin Harrison and his team with the NC Department of Public instruction. vW funds will fund 80% for re-powers of these buses with blown diesel engines
gregory Poole, Roush, NCPgA, PERC, Charlotte – Mecklenburg Schools, Blue Bird
10 Media OutletsErnest Winston, Superintendent of Charlotte – Mecklenburg Schools and Tucker Perkins with PERC
Adam Johnson & Tucker Perkins kirk Burns, gregory Poole
21www.ncpga.org
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28 NEW PROPANE BuSES IN NC RECAP