Full text of Gasoline Distribution : Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Consumer Economics of the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States, Ninety-Third Congress, Second Session, March 12 and 14, 1974

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GASOLINE DISTRIBUTION

HEARINGS
BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONSUMER ECONOMICS
OF THE

JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
NINETY-THIRD CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION

MARCH 12 AND 14, 1974

Printed fo r the use o f the Joint Econom ic Committee

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
34-498

WASHINGTON : 1974

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402 •Price $1.90




JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE
(Created pursuant to sec. 5(a) of Public Law 304, 79th Cong.)
WRIGHT PATMAN, Texas, Chairman
W ILLIAM PROXMIRE, Wisconsin, Vice Chairman
SENATE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RICHARD BOLLING, Missouri
HENRY S. REUSS, Wisconsin
MARTHA W. GRIFFITHS, Michigan
W ILLIAM S. MOORHEAD, Pennsylvania
HUGH L. CAREY, New York
W ILLIAM B. W IDNALL, New Jersey
BARBER B. CONABLE, Jr., New York
CLARENCE J. BROWN, Ohio
BEN B. BLACKBURN, Georgia

JOHN SPARKMAN, Alabama
J. W. FULBRIGHT, Arkansas
ABRAHAM RIBICOFF, Connecticut
HUBERT H. HUMPHREY, Minnesota
LLOYD M. BENTSEN, Jr., Texas
JACOB K. JAVITS, New York
CHARLES H. PERCY, Illinois
JAMES B. PEARSON, Kansas
RICHARD S. SCHWEIKER, Pennsylvania

J o h n R . S t a r k , Executive Director
L o u g h l i n F. M c H u g h , Senior Economist
R i c h a r d F. K a u f m a n , General Counsel

E c o n o m ists
W i l l i a m A. Cox
J e r r y J. J a s i n o w s k i
Courtenay M . Slater

L u c y A. F a l c o n e
J o h n R . K a r l ik

Sa r a h
L.

Jac k so n

D ouglas

L ee

La r r y Y u s p e h
M in o r it y

L e s l i e J. B a n d e r

G eor ge D. K r u m b h a a r , Jr. (Counsel)

W a l t e r B . L a e s s i g (Counsel)

S u b c o m m itte e o n C o n su m e r E c o n o m ic s

HUBERT H. HUMPHREY, Minnesota, Chairman
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SENATE
W ILLIAM PROXMIRE, Wisconsin
ABRAHAM RIBICOFF, Connecticut
JACOB K. JAVITS, New York
CHARLES H. PERCY, Illinois




W ILLIAM S. MOORHEAD, Pennsylvania
MARTHA W. GRIFFITHS, Michigan
HENRY S. REUSS, Wisconsin
HUGH L. CAREY, New York
W ILLIAM B. W IDNALL, New Jersey
CLARENCE J. BROWN, Ohio
(I I )

CONTENTS
WITNESSES AND STATEMENTS
T uesday, M arch

12, 1974

Humphrey, Hon. Hubert H., chairman of the Subcommittee 011 Consumer
Economics: Opening statement--------------------------------------------------------de Lorenzi, John, managing director, public policy division, American Auto­
mobile Association, accompanied by Charles Campbell, director, legal
department; and William Berman, environmental affairs department—
Binsted, Charles, executive director, National Congress of Petroleum Re­
tailers -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Brooks, William J., president, Greater Washington-Maryland Service Sta­
tion Association___________________________________________________
Brier, Bill, director of energy resources, National Council of Farmer Co­
operatives, accompanied by Donald K. Hanes, vice president, public
relations -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------T

h ursday,

M arch

Page
1
3
34
42
54

14, 1974

Humphrey, Hon. Hubert H., chairman of the Subcommittee on Consumer
Economics: Opening statement-------------------------------------------------------Sawhill, Hon. John C., Deputy Administrator, Federal Energy Office, ac­
companied by William von Raab, Special Assistant; and Darrell Smith,
Director, Data Systems Analysis----------------------------------------------------Elish, Hon. Herbert, director, New York City Energy Office_____________
Allvine, Fred C., associate professor of marketing, College of Industrial
Management, Georgia Institute of Technology-----------------------------------

63
67
127
133

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE RECORD
T u e s d a y , M^a r c h 12, 1974
de Lorenzi, John, et a l.:
Prepared statement______________________________________________
Letter to Chairman Humphrey, dated March 28, 1974, responding to
his request for information on how the American Automobile As­
sociation arrived at a figure of 25 percent in urging all motorists to
reduce their driving and whether the public is capable of attaining
this goal______________________________________________________
Humphrey, Hon. Hubert H .:
Letter from Avery C. Upchurch, executive director, North Carolina
Service Station Association, Inc., dated March 27, 1974, enclosing
summary report on abuses of bulk gasoline storage throughout North
Carolina --------------------------------------------------------------------------------T h u r s d a y , M a r c h 14, 1974
Allvine, Fred C .:
Prepared statement----------------------------------------------------------------------Elish, Hon. Herbert:
Prepared statement----------------------------------------------------------------------




(in )

9

23

52

135
130

IV
Sawhill, Hon. John C., et al. :
Prepared statement----------------------------------------------------------------------Information supplied for the record in the context of the interrogation
by Senator Proxmire regarding the refinery audit program-----------Response to Senator Javits’ query regarding the possibility of man­
dating the production of residual oil in the United States--------------Response to Chairman Humphrey's request to supply for the record
the projected refinery developments and construction, and also what
stage the construction is in-----------------------------------------------------Response to additional written questions posed by Chairman Hum­
phrey ________________________________________________________
Response to additional written questions posed by Representative
F raser_______________________________________________________




76
106
110
119
123
124

GASOLINE DISTRIBUTION

TUESDAY, M ARCH 12, 1974
C on gress of t h e U n it e d S t a t e s ,
S u b c o m m it t e e o n C o n s u m e r E c o n o m ic s
o f t h e J o in t E c o n o m ic C o m m it t e e ,

,

Washington D.C.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:40 a.m., in room
1202, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Hubert H. Humphrey
(chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
Present: Senator Humphrey.
Also present: Loughlin F. McHugh, senior economist; William
A. Cox and Lucy A. Falcone, professional staff members; and
Michael J. Runde, administrative assistant.
O p e n in g

S tatem ent

of

C h a ir m a n

H

um phrey

Chairman H u m p h r e y . We will proceed with the meeting of the
Subcommittee on Consumer Economics of the Joint Economic Com­
mittee. We have a number of witnesses today with prepared state­
ments that have been filed with us. I have a very brief opening
statement. I want to say that we have provided all of the environ­
mental conditioning that is necessary for a hearing on matters of
fuel shorage. This building has been like an icebox for about 2 or 3
days. I think you can really overdo a good thing.
Yesterday I was in the Committee on Foreign Eelations. I think
the temperature in the building was 54 degrees. I didn’t mind it a
bit except I hadn’t worn my winter underwear. I thought that the
building engineer might have heard by now that we froze to death
yesterday but it takes a long time to get a message through to the
Government, as some people know.
Now, having made my complaints, let me make a short statement
on the subject of this hearing.
Despite the fact that retail gasoline prices have risen by over
30 percent in the last year, the supply situation was worse in Feb­
ruary 1974 than in any previous month. In other words, while
an American family operating one or more motor vehicles roughly
18,000 miles per year, now pays about $200 a year more to do so,
that family still has no assurance of getting enough gas to go to
work much less to take a hard-earned family vacation this coming
summer.
We are here this morning to reassess the gasoline allocation sys­
tem in light of recent experience. How did it work under the stress
of the February crisis ? What changes, if any, should be made ? Can




(l)

2

the Federal Energy Office and the oil industry react more swiftly
in the future to relieve disruption than they did in February? Is
the system of user priorities working as intended?
We are going to ask our witnesses to comment upon those ques­
tions. So much of the information we get in Washington is what I
call “in-house information.” We have a capacity to talk to each
other down here and we start telling each other our misinforma­
tion. So I thought it w’ould be good to get people who are not
necessarily Government officials and Washington experts to come
in here and tell it like it is out where people are living, because
what I hear here in Washington and what I hear from folks back
home that write me makes it seem like it is two separate worlds. The
space program undoubtedly has worked because we are getting com­
munications from people that have no—that the Government doesn’t
seem to know exist. And I say that quite responsibly. I am rather
surprised that there seems to be such a lack of communication de­
spite the efforts of Mr. Simon to communicate effectively by tele­
vision.
I have to ask other questions. Will recent changes in service
station operations help to avert waiting and panic buying in the
future ? What other changes, if any, should be considered ? What can
be done to relieve the hardship faced today by the West Virginia
coal miners, migratory farmworkers, and other who must drive long
distances to their jobs?
The big question is whether the apparent return to relatively
normal conditions in early March will prove temporary or lasting.
If the present system cannot avert the return of serious shortages
every month or so, then some form of coupon rationing may become
necessary. But the system for rationing proposed by the FEO has
been subjected to little public or congressional scrutiny up to now.
The FEO proposes a system of niore or less equal coupon allot­
ments for everyone, corrected only for the availability of mass
transit. These coupons could be bought and sold. How could their
price behave? Would the coupon system aid in proper allocation of
physical supplies of gasoline or not ? Would it alleviate the problems
of long lines and short service station hours that have so incon­
venienced American motorists ? For this system, too, recent experience
foreshadows some serious problems. I am talking about the proposed
coupon rationing system for which the regulations have been pub­
lished in the Federal Register for comments but on which there
have been no pubic hearings.
Again, the situation of the coal miners and migratory workers
provide good illustrations. Is it fair for people like these to have
to pay the high prices that probably would prevail for extra gas
coupons just in order to pursue their livelihoods? Who can assure
that they could buy enough gas coupons in rural areas at any price
to get themselves to work ? What would happen to the value of
coupons if the supply of gas runs out? Those are just a few of
the questions we will want to ask the proper officials at the right
time about the proposed rationing plan.
Today we hear from representatives of some of the people most
critically affected by the gasoline situation, including motorists,




3
service station operators, and farmers. On Thursday we shall meet
with John Sawhill, Deputy Director of the Federal Energy Office,
among other witnesses. We shall pose to him some of the questions
I have raised today, and some of the observations that will be
brought to our attention by the witnesses today.
Our first witness is Mr. John de Lorenzi, managing director, Pub­
lic Policy Division, American Automobile Association.
STATEMENT OF JOHN de LORENZI, MANAGING DIRECTOR, PUBLIC
POLICY DIVISION, AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION, ACCOMPANIED BY CHARLES CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR, LEGAL DEPART­
MENT; AND WILLIAM BERMAN, ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DEPARTMENT

Mr. d e L o r e n z i . Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am accompanied
by Charles Campbell, director of our legal department, and Mr.
William Berman of our environmental affairs department. I would
like to submit our prepared statement for the record.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . It will be printed as if read and if you can
pick some highlights out of it and summarize it for us now, that
would be fine.
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . Yes, sir.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, we are pleased to participate in this
hearing on the consumer reaction to the energy crisis, and want to
comment on some things that are being done now in an attempt to
alleviate the crisis. As an organization the AAA has long been
concerned with the energy crisis and has adopted a policy which
you wTill find in the text of our prepared statement, so I will not
read it.
Last May the AAA started what we call the fuel gage report,
which monitors gasoline supply conditions in all States but Alaska
by contacting large numbers of gasoline stations each week, to learn
how they and motorists were being affected by the fuel pinch.
We launched this project because there were no reliable figures
available on fuel supplies from either the government or the oil
industry, and motorists were bewildered. We also wanted to end
rumors about fuel shortages, which were causing considerable eco­
nomic damage to tourism. The best way of finding out what really
was happening at the gas pump was by interviewing the gasoline
station operators themselves. That is the basis of the fuel gage report—
what motorists and gasoline dealers are experiencing, not speculation.
At present, we survey more than 5,500 stations every week and
the results are made available not only to our 16 million members
but to the general motoring public through the cooperation of the
news media. And in this week’s fuel gage report, now being com­
piled, we have contacted 6,000 stations.
Because of this ongoing program and our continuing contacts with
people in government and the oil industry, we are fully aware of
the problems of the energy crisis.
Even if the Arab boycott ends, we are convinced that a gasoline
“ pinclr ’ will continue though it will not be of the magnitude of the




4
present crisis. People will still have to conserve. The reason is sim­
ple : Consumption has been rising every year but refinery capacity has
not. Some time ago we called upon members and the American
public to reduce use of their automobiles voluntarily by at least
25 percent in ways least inconvenient to them individually.
Now, from various indices including gasoline tax receipts, toll road
receipts, et cetera, we know Americans are traveling less right now
and we believe a good deal of the decline is due to their own vol­
untary efforts besides the shortage itself.
Let’s look at the Government’s efforts. First there’s the petroleum
allocation regulations designed to distribute fairly across the coun­
try whatever gasoline supplies are available. They are not workingvery well.
Let’s look at the month just finished, February. If the allocation
system really worked, every State in the Union would have received
84.3 percent of its February 1972 gasoline supply. Instead, if you
can believe the figures, they range from a low of 77.3 percent in
Maryland to a high of 97.4 percent in your State of Minnesota.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Might I correct that? The fact is that,
when you really got the arithmetic straightened out, it was only 86
percent in Minnesota.
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . I was going to say I heard they were being
challenged.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I wouldn’t mind for my own purposes say­
ing we got 97 percent.
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . I am going to make some further comments on
these figures as we go along.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yes, sir.
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . While we realize that no allocation plan is going
to be altogether right and efficient, the variables built into this one
through administrative decree, congressional action and political arm
twisting have considerably dampened the prospects of its working
properly.
The Federal Energy Office has protested publicly that comments
about allocation not working are unfair since the program has just
gotten underway. It promises better results in the future. FEO has
just released its allocation figures for the month of March and says
the Nation will be getting more gas. On the surface, when you look
at those figures, things do look better. But this is only on the surface.
March’s national allocation will be 89.6 percent of March 1972
levels, up 5.3 percent from the final national average for February,
which was bolstered in several states by addition emergency sup­
plies.
Since the figures have just been released—we just received them
Friday—we have been able to make only a cursory check, but we
have some findings we would like to share with you.
Delaware, which received 79 percent of its February 1972 sales last
month, will get 98 percent of its March 1972 quota. In gallons, this
is an 0.8 million gallon increase. Because March has 31 days as
against 28 for February, it means 6.3 percent less gasoline available
on a daily basis for the month.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Than in February?




5
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . Yes. Florida—which depends on the tourist trade—
will receive 85 percent of its March 1972 quota as against 86 per­
cent of February 1972 last month. However, this translates into
an increase of 26.3 million gallons of gasoline over February. But
when calculated on an average daily basis, it means 2.3 percent less
gas available each day.
Even more startling is the situation in New York State. It will
receive 90 percent of its March 1972 allotment as against 81 percent in
February, yet will find this means 6.8 percent less gas each day,
even though it is receiving 14.9 millions gallons more during the
month.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . N o w , just to clarify that, the reason is
that February had only 28 days and we are talking about 31 days
in March.
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . That’s correct. The FEO showed the increase in
gallonage and also gave a percentage figure based on 1972 consump­
tion for the month without saying whether it was an increase or
decrease in the allotment per day. The monthly gallonage has in­
creased. But actual amount per day has not. Out of the 51 States and
the District of Columbia, by our figuring, 23 would receive a de­
crease and 28 would get an increase. Your State, by the way, Senator,
according to our figures, will get a decrease over its previous----Chairman H u m p h r e y . I protest that immediately.
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . We have found out something else of interest.
As I said, we received these figures on Friday. We got them from
the FEO, as well as some of the news media. It was called to the
attention of FEO that there seems to be this discrepancy about addi­
tional gallonage which translates into a decrease in actual amounts
of fuel per day. We learned as of 4 :30 p.m. yesterday that they are
revising these figures and will have new figures on Wednesday. What
they will be we do not know.
There is still one more important point to make. These quota
figures are set after a great deal of gasoline has already been with­
held. Under FEO regulations petroleum companies must hold back
3 percent of supplies for an emergency reserve, which includes the
set-asides, while a very large amount—it may run higher than 20
percent—must be given first ot certain priority groups. These include
agriculture, police, firemen, and emergency services but not bulk
commercial purchasers, who will be allowed 100 percent of their
needs. The latter must take their chances with their own suppliers.
Now, a major inequity in the allocation system is the use of 1972
base period. It. is unrealistic. A case in point is Gaithersburg, Md.
In February, it received 80 percent of its 1972 sales. However,
Gaithersburg has had a population increase of 50 percent since then,
so in effect, in simple arithmetic, it received only a 40-percent allo­
cation when measured against its increased growth. The 1972 period
was mandated in the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act, but in
going through the House Commerce Committee report on the bill
we noté it states that another base period could be substituted. We
hope the FEO will pay attention to that. Recent dispatches quote
Energy Chief William Simon as saying that FEO will be taking
into account population growth or increased car registrations in
future allocations. This is a step forward.




6

We also hope the FEO will look into its priority allotments to
see if they are being used properly or not. We want to know if the
States are actually drawing on their full allotments. We have some
reports, though we have been unable to verify them as yet, that they
are not. So some of that gas is not being used. Besides reexamining
the base period, we would hope that FEO also would seek answers
for the following questions: Are the States drawing on their full
allocations ? What controls have been instituted to see that emergency
users really are using their supply for emergencies? And have they
properly justified their need? We cannot find any particular mech­
anism that checks back oil this.
Now, FEO originally planned on setting up guidelines to distrib­
ute refined petroleum products only but this was changed by passage
of the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act which mandates a
crude oil allocation program as well. The intent of this, as we under­
stand it, was to insure that independent refiners would not be
forced to close down because of lack of supply.
To carry this out, a formula was developed that determines which
companies have to sell their so-called “excess” crude oil to others.
This “excess” is sold at a weighted overall average price plus a
handling fee. This has caused a drop in imports, we have been
advised, because many companies claim they have either been selling
at a loss or see no reason to import oil which FEO will force them to
pass oir to someone else. This, of course, has decreased the available
supply.
The crude oil allocation program also seems not to have in­
creased the domestic supply of crude. Experts from both the
oil companies and the Government have candidly termed the pro­
gram a “disincentive.” We hope that Mr. Simon and Congress
will modify the program so that the fuel supply will be increased.
We know Mr. Simon has proposed some changes and modifications
to the Congress.
In various States, long lines of cars waiting their turn at the gas
pump have caused traffic jams and frayed tempers and have forced
some States to take rationing actions on their own. To cope with
the lack of fuel supply, 15 States and several counties and municipal­
ities have instituted some form of odd-even rationing plan; pop­
ularly known as the Oregon Plan. Basically, it matches the last digit
of the license plate to the date so that even numbers can get gas
on even dates and so on. The aim of all of these plans is to reduce the
long lines of motorists at filling stations. This too does not always
work. We think the rationale for the plans is that they cut in half
the amount of time available for a motorist to search for gas
without increasing the hours of operation of gas stations.
Based on our own experience with the fuel gage reports last
summer, delegates to last year’s AAA annual meeting recognized
the need to make certain that fuel is available at regular times even
during a crisis period. They adopted a resolution dealing with gaso­
line station operating hours which you will find in the text of my
prepared statement.
We believe that panic buying and long lines can be diminished
considerably if gas station operators and local governments see to




7
it that gas is available somewhere throughout the day. Special open­
ings to take care of morning and evening rush hours should be part
of any such voluntary plan and the schedules should be well
publicized.
The idea that motorists should not be eligible for gas unless their
fuel gage registers half full or less has merit as it prevents people
from pulling into a station to “top off” the tank. But if there is to
be a minimum, there should be no maximum wherever possible.
If the motorist coming in with less than half a tank is allowed to
fill up he will not be back in line several days later as occurs when
he is restricted to a maximum purchase of $2 or $3. The $2 purchase
with gasoline costing 60 cents is only about 3 1/3 gallons.
Every station also should be urged to employ channelization
whereby all traffic entering a station must do so at one entrance
point only, with traffic lines forming on the least congested street
area. That would eliminate the confusion caused by motorists jockey­
ing for position as they enter the station from different directions.
Further, to aid the motorist, the hours a station is open should
be prominently displayed. If there are to be limitations on the
amount of purchase this too should be noted in a highly visible
manner.
Those who should be exempted from the odd-even regulations,
as we see it, are emergency services such as police and firemen as
w'ell as garages and organizations, such as our own and others, that
render emergency road service to motorists stranded with disabled
vehicles. We also think it should not be considered a violation of the
law to deliver gasoline to a stranded motorist with even numbered
tags if he is stranded on an odd numbered day and the reverse.
Finally, we believe that cars witli out-of-State license plates, pass­
ing through the area, should be exempt from the odd-even regulation
so that tourism, a $61 billion industry with more than 4 million
employees, will not be unduly penalized.
The country could be well served by FEO’s drawing up a set of
suggested guidelines to help States standardize their systems. We
are not urging Federal legislation, however.
Many stations have ignored the Government’s request to stay
closed on Sunday. We agree with them and find such closings not in
the best interest of the motoring public. Many must travel on Sunday
and, if their vehicles break down on the highway, emergency road
service often is not available because stations are closed and there
are no other facilities.
Sunday closings also work a particular hardship on lower income
groups, which often cannot afford a long vacation but have in the
past used the 2-day weekend for outings in the family car. The
effect on recreation destinations which depend heavily on Sunday
traffic has been really and truly disastrous. It has done little to solve
the fuel crisis, mostly forcing motorists to tank up on Saturday
or Monday and making these days particularly heavy traffic days for
filling stations.
Let’s look now at gas rationing, which you mentioned in your
opening statement, because the premature implementation of such
a program would have a distastrous effect on the economy. Further,




8

the proposed plan is basically unfair since it is not based on in­
dividual need.
AAA firmly believes that the go-to-work trip must be given the
highest priority in any rationing program since nearly 78 percent
of all workers reach their jobs by private passenger car. Those who
contend that, if rationing comes, these people can ride mass transit
really do not know what they are talking about. In the first place*
for 52 percent of those who drive to work there is no mass transit
alternative available at all. For many others, mass transit is only
marginally available. That is the reason we have been surprised by
statements from some Members of Congress calling for rationing
immediately.
We also are concerned because there has been little discussion in
news media of the plan and its implication. The public should
realize that rationing will not increase the amount of fuel available.
They should understand that. Implementation of a plan as drastic
as the one proposed could have serious effects on their livelihood.
It would seem to us that this committee might wish to pursue this
matter further publicly.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We intend to do that very much. We are
going to have Mr. Sawhill here and others. We intend to pursue the
proposal. One of the reasons for this hearing was to get some public
information out about any proposed rationing system because it is
major surgery, so to speak.
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . That is right.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And if the Government—if we decide as
a public policy to move into rationing, the public ought to be fore­
warned about what is in store for them, and I happen to feel also that
the public ought to have some input before any such system is even
listed out in terms of rules and regulations.
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . We are delighted to hear that. We say the same
thing. I am glad we have a sympathetic ear.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Y o u sure d o .
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . In conclusion, the AAA makes the following
recommendations :
(1 ) Congress and the Federal Energy Office should create a posi­
tive program whose purpose is to increase our fuel supply. The
present program acts as a disincentive.
(2) The crude oil allocation program should be revised so that
more of the presently available refinery capacity is being utilized.
We are not anywhere near peak capacity.
(3 ) The contingency gas rationing program proposed by FEO
should be based on need, and as you yourself have said, widely
publicized and open regional hearings should be held so that people
fully understand and will be able to comment on rationing before
it affects their lives and jobs.
(4) The FEO should develop some method of continual policing
of priority and emergency groups getting 100 percent of current
gasoline needs to see if their requests are justified.
That concludes the highlights of our testimony, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you for inviting us. We will be glad to answer any questions.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Thank you very much, and of course all of




9
your prepared statement, including your commentary on the regula­
tions of the FEO, will be included in the record.
[The prepared statement of Mr. de Lorenzi follows:]
P repared

Statem ent

of

Jo h n

de

L o renzi

I am John de Lorenzi, Managing Director of the American Automobile Asso­
ciation Public Policy Division. I am accompanied by Charles Campbell, Di­
rector of AAA Legal Department, and William Berman of our Environmental
Affairs Department.
Mr. Chairman, we are pleased to be invited to participate, in this hearing
on the consumer reaction to the current energy crisis and to comment on some
of the things now being done to alleviate it. The timing of this hearing is
excellent since we are approaching the season of the year when gas consump­
tion normally rises.
As an organization, the AAA is deply concerned with how to deal with this
crisis and has adopted the following resolution:
the

n a t io n w id e

energy

emergency

The American Automobile Association urges that measures adopted to deal
with the nationwide energy emergency be based on the following principles:
1. Officials at all levels of government should recognize the importance of the
automobile both as an essential and primary component of transportation
systems and as a mainstay of the economy. Recognition of the essential role
of the automobile necessarily rules-out the imposition of harsh restrictions
on auto use which would make it extremely difficult or impossible for people
to get to work, maintain a household and make other essential trips.
2. All agencies of government have a responsibility to keep the public fully
and accurately informed as to the extent and duration of the fuel shortage
and the need for any extraordinary measures, such as rationing, which may
be found necessary to deal with this emergency.
3. To conserve energy, a fully and accurately informed public should co­
operation voluntarily and to the fullest possible extent. Cooperation by the
motoring public, for example, could take the form of increased use of car
pools, speeds and driving practices which economize on fuel and proper auto­
mobile maintenance.
4. Government and the petroleum industry have a responsibility to exert
every possible effort to increase petroleum supplies and to develop alternative
energy sources which will conserve existing supplies.
5. Government officials should reject proposals that would impose excise
taxes on automobile or increase motor fuel taxes as a means of conserving
fuel because these are regressive approaches which place the burden on those
least able to afford it and penalize those who must rely on the automobile to
get to work because no other adequate transportation is available.
6. Agencies responsible for the movement of traffic must make every possible
effort to eliminate highway bottlenecks and slow-downs that increase fuel
consumption.
7. Government agencies have a responsibility to assure that fuel allocations
are administered as equitably as possible so as to assure the fairest possible
distribution to all regions of the country.
8. Agencies and officials of federal, state and local government should review
automotive air pollution controls and other environmental plans in the light
of the energy crisis to assure that implementation of such plans do not magnify
the current crisis.
9. To avoid the necessity of gasoline rationing, government, industry and
the public should make a concerted effort, on a voluntary basis, to conserve
limited supplies to the greatest extent possible. If gasoline rationing becomes
unavoidable, steps should be taken to assure fairness and impartiality in dis­
tributing available supplies.
10. Automobile manufacturers should undertake immediate programs to
develop engines that will provide high gas mileage economy and other operat­
ing efficiencies which a car owner has the right to expect.
Last May AAA started what we call the Fuel Gauge Report which monitors
gasoline supply conditions in all states but Alaska by contacting large numbers




10

of gasoline stations each week to learn how they and motorists were being
affected by the fuel pinch.
We launched this project because there were no reliable figures available on
fuel supplies from either the government or the oil industry and motorists
were bewildered. We also wanted to end rumors about fuel shortages which
were causing considerable economic damage to tourism. The best way of find­
ing out what was really happening at the gas pump was by interviewing the
gasoline station operators themselves. That is the basis of the Fuel Gauge
Report, what motorists and gasoline dealers are experiencing, not speculation.
We ended this weekly report after Labor Day last year but revived it again
in January of this year as its need is more apparent than ever. At present,
we survey more than 5,500 stations every week and the results are made
available not only to our 16 million members but to the general motoring
public through the cooperation of the news media.
Because we are approaching the time when tourism increases, we are ex­
panding the program so that we can give even more detailed information on
travel conditions through local AAA clubs. At the same time we will continue
the Fuel Gauge Reports for the benefit of the general public.
Because of this on-going program and our continuing contracts with people
in government and the oil industry, we are fully aware of the problems of the
fuel crisis.
Even if the Arab boycott ends, we are convinced that a gasoline “pinch”
will continue though it will not be of the magnitude of the present crisis.
People will still have to conserve. The reason is simple: consumption has been
rising every year but refinery capacity has not. Some time ago we called upon
all American motorists—not just AAA members—to voluntarily reduce use
of their automobiles by at least 25 percent in ways lease inconvenient to them
individually. We have been continuing this campaign through newspaper ads,
individual club publications and with the cooperation of local news media
stressing how travel budgeting* good driving techniques and proper engine
maintenance can enable motorists to save considerable amounts of fuel.
From various indexes, such as gasoline tax revenue, traffic counts and toll
road receipts, we know that Americans are traveling less and we believe that
a great deal of this is because of their voluntary efforts in this crisis.
Now let us examine the government’s efforts. First, there’s the petroleum
allocation regulations designed to distribute fairly across the country what­
ever gasoline supplies are available. They are not working very well. Their
failure can be attributed to a combination of politics and a too-rigid system
of allocation.
Let’s look at the month just finished, February. If the allocation system
really worked, every state in the Union would have received 84.3 per cent
of its February, 1972 gasoline supply. Instead, if you can believe the figures,
ranged from a low of 77.3 per cent in Maryland to a high of 97.4 per cent in
Minnesota.
While we realize that no allocation plan is going to be altogether right and
efficient, the variables built into this one through administrative decree, Con­
gressional action and political arm twisting have considerably dampened the
chances of it working properly.
The Federal Energy Office has protested publicly that comments about allo­
cation not working are unfair since the program has just gotten under way.
It promises better results in the future. FEO has just released its allocation
figures for the month of March and says the nation will be getting more gas.
On the surface, things do look better. But this is only on the surface.
March’s national allocation will be 89.6 per cent of March 1972 levels, up
5.3 per cent from the final national average for February which was bolstered
near the end of the month with additional emergency supplies in several states.
Since the figures have just been released, we have been able to make only
a cursory check but even so some of our findings are worth bringing to your
attention.
Here are some examples. Delaware, which received 79 per cent of February,
1972 sales last month will get 98 per cent of its March, 1972 quota. In gallons,
this is an 0.8 million gallon increase. Because March has 31 days as against
28 for February, it means 6.3 per cent less gasoline available on a daily basis
for the month.
Florida, whose arteries pulse to the tourist trade, will receive 85 per cent
of its March, 1972 quota as against 86 per cent of February, 1972 last month.




11

However, this translates into an increase of 26.3 million gallons of gasoline
over February. But when calculated on an average basis, it means 2.3 per cent
less gas available each day.
Even more startling is the situation in New York state. It will receive 90 per
cent of its March, 1972 allotment as against 81 per cent in February yet will
find this means 6.8 per cent less gas each day even though it is receiving 14.9
million gallons more during the month.
In George Orwell’s book, “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” the party of Big Brother
had three main slogans. They were: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery and
Ignorance is Strength.
The FEO obviously is guided by a slogan of a similar nature. In the matter
of gas allocations, it is saying: Less is More.
There is still one more important point to make: These quota figures are
set after some gasoline already has been withheld. Under FEO regulations,
petroleum companies must hold back 3 per cent of supplies for an emergency
reserve while a very large amount—it may run higher than 20 per cent—
must be given first to certain priority groups. This includes agriculture, police,'
firemen, emergency services but not bulk purchasers. The latter must take
their chances with their suppliers.
A major inequity in the allocation system is the use of a 1972 base period.
It is unrealistic. A case in point is Gaithersburg, Maryland. In February, it
received 80 per cent of its 1972 sales. However, Gaithersburg has had a popu­
lation increase of 50 per cent since then so, in effect, it received only a 40 per
cent allocation if measured against its increased growth.
The 1972 base period was mandated in the Emergency Petroleum Allocation
Act but the House Committee Redort on the bill notes that another base period
could be substituted. We hope the FEO will take note of this. Recent news
dispatches quote Energy Chief William Simon as saying that FEO will be tak­
ing into account population growth or increased car registration in future
allocations which is a step forward.
Besides re-examining the base period, we would hope that FEO also would
look into its priority allotments to see if they are being used properly or not.
Are the states drawing on their full allocation? What controls have been
instituted to see that emergency users really are using their supply for emer­
gencies? And here they properly justified their need?
FEO originally planned on setting up guidelines to distribute refined pe­
troleum products only but this was changed by passage of the Emergency
Petroleum Allocation Act which mandates a crude oil allocation program as
well. The intent of this, as we understand it, was to insure that independent
refiners would not be forced to close down because of lack of supply.
To carry this out, a formula was developed that determines which com­
panies have to sell their so-called “excess” crude oil to others. This “excess”
is sold at a weighted over-all average price plus a handling fee. This has
caused a drop in imports, we have been advised, because many companies
claim they have either been selling at a loss or see no reason why they should
import oil which FEO will force them to pass on to someone else. This has
decreased the available supply.
The crude oil allocation program also seems not to have increased the
domestic supply of crude. Experts from both the oil companies and the gov­
ernment have candidly termed the program a disincentive. We are not expert
enough to understand all the reasons for this but are convinced that domestic
production has not increased as it should. We hope that Mr. Simon and
Congress will modify the original program enough so that the fuel supply is
increased.
STATE ACTIONS

Long lines of cars, some stretching as long as a mile, waiting their turn at
the gas pump have caused traffic jams, frayed tempers and forced some states
to take actions of their own.
To cope with the lack of fuel supply, 15 states and several counties and
municipalities, have instituted some form of an odd-even rationing plan.
Basically, it matches the last digit of the license plate to the date so that
even digits can only get gas on even dates and so on. The aim of all of these
plans is to reduce the long lines of motorists at filling stations. This does not
always work.
The reason is that the plan cuts in half the amount of time available for a




12

motorist to search for gas without increasing the hours of operation of gas
stations. Out of our own experience with the Fuel Gauge Reports, the delegates
to last year’s AAA Annual Meeting recognized the need to make certain that
fuel is available even during a crisis period. They adopted the following
Resolution:
“ rd -

ii

.

g a s o l i n e s t a t io n o p e r a t in g h o u r s

“ The American Automobile Association recognizes growing worldwide energy
problems and views with particular concern their impact on gasoline avail­
ability for motorists.
“National gasoline supply uncertainties are manifested in the increasing
numbers of the gasoline stations which are reducing night-time and weekend
hours of operation and limiting amounts of fuel motorists may purchase. In
some communities and along some major travel routes there are no gasoline
stations open for numerous hours of the day.
“AAA calls upon state and local governments and the oil industry to develop
plans to assure that some gasoline stations always are operating and with
ample supplies along every major travel route. Such a plan, which could
involve the voluntary rotation of operating schedules by stations in a given
area, would help to eliminate serious motorist inconveniences and aid in
emergency situations at all hours of the day.”
We believe that panic buying and long lines can be diminished considerably
if gas station operators and local governments see to it that gas is available
somewhere throughout the day. Special openings to take care of morning and
evening rush hours should be part of any such voluntary plan and the sched­
ules should be well publicized.
The idea that motorists should not be eligible for gas unless their fuel gauge
registers half or less has merit as it prevents people pulling in to a station to
“top off” the tank. But if there is to be a minimum, there should be no maxi­
mum wherever possible. If the motorist coming in with less than half a tank
is allowed to fill up he will not be back in line several days latter as occurs
when he is restricted to a maximum purchase of two or three dollars.
Every station also should be urged to employ channelization whereby all
traffic entering a station must do so at one entrance point only, with traffic
lines forming on the least congested street area. This would eliminate the
confusion from motorists jockeying for position as they enter stations from
different directions.
To aid the motorist, the hours a station is open should be prominently dis­
played. If there are to be limitations on the amount of purchase this too should
be noted in a highly visible manner.
Those who should be exempted from the odd-even requirements are emer­
gency services such as police and firemen as well as garages and organiza­
tions that render emergency road service to motorists stranded with disabled
vehicles. It should not be considered a violation of the law to deliver gasoline
to a stranded motorist with even numbered tags on an odd numbered day
and the reverse.
Finally, we believe that cars with out-of-state license plates, passing through
the area, should be exempt from the odd/even regulation so that tourism,
a $61 billion industry with more than 4 million employees, will not be unduly
penalized.
The country could be well served by FEO drawing up a set of suggested
guidelines to help states standardize their systems. Standardization would
aid the traveler. As an example, most states use the date to determine if a
day is odd or even but in North Carolina Monday, Wednesday and Friday
are odd with Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday being even regardless of the
date and with Sunday a free day.
Speaking of Sunday, many stations have ignored the government’s request
to stay closed on that day. We agree with them and find such closings not in
the best interest of the motoring public. Many must travel on Sunday and
if their vehicle breaks down on the highway emergency road service often is
not available since stations are closed.
Sunday closings also work a particular hardship or lower income groups
who often cannot afford a long vacation but have in the past used the two-day
weekend for outings in the family car. The effect on recreation destinations
which depend heavily on Sunday traffic has been disasterous. It has done little
to solve the fuel crisis mostly forcing motorists to tank up on Saturday or
Monday, making them particularly heavy traffic days for filling stations.




13
GAS RATIONING

On January 16, 1974, the FEO published in the Federal Register a gasoline
rationing contingency plan. The AAA commented on the proposed plan and
I have attached to this testimony a copy of those comments and would like
to refer you to them.
AAA believes that rationing should be a last resort because the premature
implementation of such a program would have a disastrous effect on the
economy. Further, the proposed plan is basically unfair since it is not based
on need.
AAA firmly believes that the go-to-work trip must be given the highest
priority in any rationing program since nearly 78 percent of all workers reach
their job by private passenger car. Those who contend that, if rationing
comes, these people can ride mass transit do not know what they are talking
about.
In the first place, for 51.7 percent of those who drive to work there is no
mass transit alternative available at all. For many others, mass transit is
only marginally available.
The 1970 census data shows that about 4.2 million workers used buses and
street cars as their major means of transportation to work. At the same time,
just under 60 million others were reported as using the private passenger
car as their dominant mode of travel to work. If an attempt was made to
shift only half of these workers to public transit, how in the world could a
system now handling 4.2 million people suddenly absorb nearly 30 million
more?
This is one of the reasons we have been surprised by statements from some
members of Congress calling for rationing immediately. We also are concerned
that there has been little discussion in the news media of the plan and its
implications. The public should realize that rationing will not increase the
amount of fuel available. They should understand that the implementing of a
plan as drastic as the FEO’s could have serious effect on their livelihood. It
would seem to us that this committee might wish to pursue this matter
publicly.
In conclusion, the American Automobile Association makes the following
recommendations:
(1) Congress and the Federal Energy Office should create a positive program
whose purpose is to increase our fuel supply. The present program acts as a
disincentive.
(2) The crude oil allocation program should be revised so that more of
presently available refinery capacity is being utilized.
(3) The contingency gas rationing program proposed by FEO should be
based on need, and widely publicized open regional hearings should be held
so that people will fully understand and be able to comment on rationing
before it affects their lives and jobs.
(4) The FEO should develop some method of continual policing of priority
and emergency groups getting 100 percent of current gasoline needs to see that
their requests are justified.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for inviting us to appear. We hope that our
comments added perspective to your deliberations.
Enclosure.
A

m e r ic a n

A u t o m o b il e A

s s o c ia t i o n ,

8111 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, Va., January 30,1914.

Mr. W i l l i a m E. S i m o n ,
Administrator, Federal Energy Office, Washington, D.C.
D e a r M r . S i m o n : The gasoline rationing contingency plan of the Federal
Energy Office is described in the Federal Register of January 16, 1974 as
being not “ a proposed regulation but rather as a vehicle for further comment
and discussion.” Within that frame of reference, the American Automobile
Association welcomes the opportunity to make some comments and put forth
some general observations regarding gasoline rationing.
The AAA believes rationing should be an absolute last resort and feels that
any premature implementation of such a program would have a disastrous
effect on the economy.
To force the country into such a restrictive program before the need has
been demonstrated clearly (as some in Congress and the news media have
34-498 O— 74------- 2




14
urged) is the height of irresponsibility. AAA calls for a detailed public dis­
cusión in advance of the criterion which will be used to determine if a ration­
ing plan will be put inti) effect.
Beyond this, AAA firmly believes that the go-to-work trip must be given the
highest priority in any rationing program since nearly 78 percent of all
workers reach their job by private passenger car.
Let us now turn to the specifics of the proposed rationing plan as it appears
in the Federal Register even though it has since then been augmented through
numerous press conferences held by FEO officials.
Our overall comment: the plan is basically unfair since it is not based
on need.
COUPON ALLOTMENT

AAA believes that the issuance of the same amount of coupons in a given
area to every licensed driver 18 years or older is unsound. Its initial appeal
was that it would be simple to administrate. However, we believe its end
results would be chaotic.
Additionally, the proposed plan also would base the allocation of coupons
cn a formula that takes into account the size of the communities and the
adequacy of public transit systems in various communities. It could mean
as much as 20 percent less gas for the area motorist.
On the surface, using a formula which is related to transit availability
sounds fair. This formula is not. The plan’s transit factor is a statistical
shell game which overstates the availability of the transit alternative for
most urban area residents.
First, the stated formula equatees the total urbanized population with the
total area transit passengers. The area population, however, is counted
only once while the resident who uses transit is counted each time he boards
a transit vehicle throughout the year. In this way, the same person may be
counted 400 or more times if he regularly uses transit for his daily work trip.
The high numbers that result give a distorted view of transit use and avail­
ability while ignoring transit’s lack of availability for great segments of the
urban areas.
For example, the Journey to Work Study recently released by the U.S.
Census Bureau shows that in Washington, P.O., only 25 percent of the
workers in the metropolitan area live in the central city and they use public
transit in 28 percent of their go-to-work trips. Only 8 percent of suburban
residents use transit in their work commute yet they make up the other 75
percent of the workers of the metropolitan area.
Transit is convenient for D.C. residents because of readily accessible buses,
short runs and routes that take them where they need to go. The same does
not apply to the suburbs.
One of the errors of the present formula is it lumps together both the
suburban resident and the resident of the central city as if transit service
levels were uniformly available throughout the metropolitan area. That just
isn’t so.
And to reduce the gas allocation because the area is theoretically served
adequately by public transportation is to ignore reality. It would penalize those
in the suburbs who need the gas and cannot take transit and reward those
in the central city who have a lesser need because of more readily available
public transportation.
This moves us to raise another question: why isn’t the driving distance to
work used as part of a weighted formula in determining the gasoline ration
for motorists? Calculations based on figures in a study of home-to-work trips
issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation show that in our top 35
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas nearly 23 percent of workers drive
more than 30 miles a day round trip to their job while an additional 10.6
percent drive between 22and 28 miles round trip every day.
These figures are distorted because they are the average of all 35 SMSAs
and do not reflect the even greater differences of an SMSA in th Southwest
or Far West, where the driving distances are greater, as compared to a compact
Eastern SMSA.
To help correct the inequities cited, AAA recommends that any transit factor
be limited to a formula applied only to the central city of a SMSA. The
suburban part of the SMSA should be placed on par with those areas con­
sidered rural in considering gasoline allocation. The length of the trip to
work, based upon regional averages rather than a national one, also should




15
be considered in determining the amount to be allocated to a region. Finally,
the factoring of the transit user some 400 times and the non-user only once
is an abuse of the statistical process and should be eliminated.
DEFINITIONS

While the definitions in this section are general in nature, we assume they
are an extension of the more detailed definitions used in the petroleum allo­
cation regulations issued by FEO on January 15, 1974. If this is so, we again
must point out that non-governmental service vehicles rendering emergency
breakdown or road service should be included specifically under the “emergency
service” definition.
We also think that these emergency road service vehicles should be eligible
for 100 percent of their current fuel requirements under any rationing pro­
gram since it is the public interest that emergency service be available to
motorists wherever and whenever disablement occurs.
COUPONS

Since coupons will be required only for retail purchases, there could be
abuses by those who have access to gasoline through bulk purchase. This
would become a source of discontent quickly if those with coupons found
that there were not sufficient supplies at retail stations. For reasons of
credibility, those who qualify for bulk purchase gasoline should be made as
accountable as the rest of the nation’s licensed drivers.
The idea that the value (or gallonage) of the coupons might vary depending
upon the gasoline supply is a sound one. It should not, however, penalize
those who through self-rationing are able to save their coupons for other
purposes such as a vacation.
As an example, someone who has saved a five gallon coupon should not
have the value of that coupon shrink the next month when all coupons would
be worth, say, only three gallons. The computer computation which determines
the amount of supply for the next period also should take into account the
amount of unused coupons still out and adjust its estimates accordingly.
Making coupons freely transferable is a sound policy and gives a degree
of flexibility needed in any rationing program adopted.
Present plans call for the quarterly issuance of three months worth of
coupons. Consideration should be given to issuing coupons every four or
six months to cut down on the time motorists would have to spend at distri­
bution centers. A staggered system of issuance also should be adopted to
eliminate long waiting lines and to prevent the rapid draining of gasoline
supplies which would occur if all the coupons were issued in a short time
span.
The requirement that coupons can only be picked up in the state where the
driver’s license was issued would be a genuine hardship on salesmen and
others who must travel for a living. It also would have a withering effect
on tourism.
While the published plan says nothing about a fee, in various news confer­
ences FEO officials have talked about a $12 a year charge for the coupons.
Originally the charge would have been $1 a month, when the plan was a
monthly issuance of coupons, but now there is a proposal for a $3 charge
each quarter.
Since there are more than 114 million licensed drivers 18-years or older,
this would mean revenues of more than $1 billion 368 thousand, a rather
large sum to support a staff which FEO officials have estimated would be
no more than 17,000, if that. The austerity of the rationing program should
be reflected in the austerity of its administration. We would like to know
how the money is going to be spent.
Some of the knotty problems seem to have been delegated to the states to
take care of in their State set-aside program. In this, each state initially
would set aside five percent of its monthly allocation of coupons for various
uses
One of these would be to supply coupons to foreign visitors. In our mind,
this is a duty of the Federal government and their issuance should not become
mired in a bog of conflicting state regulations.




16
AN ALTERNATE APPROACH

The appeal of the proposed rationing plan is that it would seem to be simple
to operate. It also could cause the economy to grind to a halt. AAA believes
that the basis for any rationing system should not be equal distribution but
a priority system with top priority going to the wage earner who drives to
work.
In a study of home-to-work trips issued by the U.S. Department of Transpor­
tation, the national average shows that 51.7 percent of all those who drove to
work said that public transportation is not available.
Many others drive to work because public transportation in their area either
took too long, did not go where the worker wanted it to or simply was not
available often enough on a regular schedule.
While the FEO is to be lauded for its intentions of keeping industry going
during the fuel crisis, there is no point in it if the great majority of workers
who run it are unable to get to work.
TFhat is the reason any rationing program should first assure an adequate
supply of gasoline for go-to-work trips and this amount should not fluctuate
from month to month. Any fluctuation should be in the remaining fuel allocated
for other driving purposes.
Instead of equal issuance of coupons, the go-to-work ration should be based
upon the mileage the wage earner must drive to and from work with an
additional or lesser amount (as the case may be) based upon the weight of
the car. Obviously, a Buick owner would need more gas than a Volkswagen
owner.
The above is predicated on the hope that rationing would be needed for a
short time only. If it were to continue, wTe would recommend that after the
first year the bonus ration for the heavier car be reduced in order to en­
courage drivers to switch to cars with greater gas economy. This also pre­
supposes that manufacturers will have developed more efficient engines and
designed cars that get greater gas mileage without sacrificing safety.
In this computer age, it should not be too difficult to work out a fair
program of this nature. Certainly, employers should be willing to do the
necessary screening of their employees to help determine gas needs and cur­
tail the need for a large government staff.
Though we have acknowledged the FEO’s desire to keep business operating,
we also think it has failed to properly recognize the role of the travel industry
in the economy. It is the industry without the smokestack, which probably
is the reason it has been paid little heed, but its sales have a great multi­
plier effect throughout any community. We think there should be a provision
for a special or additional ration to be issued a family once a year for
vacation purposes, on application.
After the amount needed for the driver/wage earner has been determined,
an allocation would be made in descending order to other licensed drivers.
This could include such categories as families with no-driving children,
the minor who has to drive to work after school and others. Variations
could easily be worked into this program but all would be based on a needs
premise.
It is this general category after the driver/wage earner which would be cut
if fued supplies tightened and would expand when they increased giving the
plan the amount of flexibility needed to adjust to change without too severely
damaging the economy.
Finally, any statistics used in setting up such a program should be regional
in nature rather than lumping all of them together to come up with some
mythical national average which does not take reality into account.
Yours sincerely,
John

de

L o r e n z i,

Managing Director,
Public Policy Division.

Chairman H u m p h r e y . Just one quick observation. You com­
mented about the Gaithersburg, Md., situation and, of course, it is
a very striking example. Isn’t there, however, a provision in the
law for supplies to new gas stations and a correction for the num­
ber of new auto registrations in each State?




17
Mr. de L o r e n z i . Yes, there are those provisions by FEO. Mr.
Simon lias said in the news media that he will be taking these things
into consideration. However, as far as we know they have not been
taken into consideration in the formula so far. It should be based
on new car titles, registration, population increase, et cetera.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . In other words, the legal authority is there
but the administrative action hasn't been taken?
Mr. de L o r e n z i . The formula that they are using is faulty.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Also isn’t that State set-aside intended to
deal with these problems among others?
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . Yes; it is, but that is not always working either.
As I said, we have heard some reports that certain States have not
used their State set-asides or used very little of it. It seems to us
that one or two things should be done if they are not going to use
it. It either should go back into the pump for the public use or.
possibly, be used in some other State that needs it badly.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . In other words, you are saying there ought
to be close monitoring of this.
Mr. de L o r e n z i . That is relatively easy to do as we understand it,
because the refineries merely hold the stock for the States. It is not
delivered to them until they need it.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Right. Now you mentioned a program—
you said we ought to have a program to increase the fuel supply
and we ought to have maximum use of our refineries. Do you have
any specifics in mind there, Mr. de Lorenzi?
Mr. de L o r e n z i . The FEO in implementing the crude oil alloca­
tion program has come up with a formula that I don’t know all the
in's and out’s about but which basically sets an arbitrary rate of
refinery utilization so that everybody in the country gets enough
crude to operate at, let’s pay, 76 percent.
Well, the more efficient refineries, such as those that produce jet
fuel, are penalized in effect. They are only operating at 76 percent,
while they could be operating at 85 percent and supplying badly
needed jet fuel. It is the way the program is set up. It doesn’t seem
to be working out.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . On the matter of increasing fuel supply,
you feel that we have at present a system of disencentives and we
ought to have incentives?
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . Yes. Generally it works out to be a disencentive.
Why should somebody import crude if he is going to have to pass
it onto somebody else? He has no incentive to do that.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . B v the way. are vou in close consultation
with the FEO; the Federal Energy Office?
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . We are in almost daily contact with various
levels of the FEO. Some of the relationships are quite satisfactory,
some of the others are unsatisfactory. There is quite a bit of change­
over in personnel, as you know. We also find it difficult at times to
get the answers when we need them.
I think perhaps Mr. Campbell can comment on that.
Mr. C a m p b e l l . One area which we have been trying to clarify
is whether or not our emergency service vehicles qualify for all of
the gas they need under the highest priority; that is, the definition




18
of emergency services. And we have been negotiating and dealing
with the Office for almost 3 months now in attempting to clarify
that matter. Earlier Mr. Sawhill and Mr. Simon gave assurances
to Mr. de Lorenzi and our executive vice president that they thought
these vehicles should be included and should receive all the gas they
need. But in getting this down on paper we have been working for
3 months now and still have no answer.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . When we have Mr. Sawhill here the day
after tomorrow we will try to clarify this, to get this pinned down.
There is no reason that I can see that your vehicles, your emergency
vehicles shouldn’t qualify for emergency service. That is exactly
what they are for.
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . Exactly. We pointed out to them that there are
84 million breakdowns a year on American highways. Somebody
has to take care of them, in most of the States that have the oddeven plan we have favorable State rulings in this matter because
thev recognize the need.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . If you have a breakdown in some places,
you don’t have any car left when you come back to pick it up.
Mr. de L o r e n z i . Absolutely.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Some people really can cannibalize one of
those machines in a hurry.
Let me ask you, Mr. de Lorenzi, to clarify an important aspect
of your testimony; namely, the size of the March gasoline alloca­
tions relative to demand. You say the Federal Energy Office is
dealing in “double think” and trying to convince us that less is
more. I went into this briefly with you, but we need a little more
clarification. March allocations apparently will be a higher percent­
age of us in the 1972 base period than was true in February in the
two States mentioned—specifically I believe it was Delaware and
New York—the percentages for March are much higher, yet you
say their supplies will be less per day than in February. That goes
back to the number of days, is that correct ?
Mr. de L o r e n z i , That is right. You take the amount of fuel that
was available in February, divide by 28, take the amount of fuel
available in March, divide by 31, and then divide the final March
figure into the final February figure. This gives you the percentage
of February’s use available in March. In 23 cases it is to go down.
As I said, I talked to the FEO at 4 :30 p.m. yesterday, and they are
revising their figures but we don’t knowThow.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yes. They are supposed to have those re­
vised by Wednesdav, is that right?
Mr. de L o r e n z i . That is what they said.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We may be able to get a little information
bv the time of our next hearing. Let me now back up a little bit. At
the end of each month there generally seems to be a very serious
problem of short gasoline supplier. Do you expect these difficulties to
return towards the end of this month as they have in each previous
month since November?
Mr. d e L o r e n z i . We hope that some of the filling stations have
learned from this and will allocate better. I am sure they will. On




19
top of that, there was a good deal of panic buying. People get into
lines because the maximum purchases allowed are much too low.
They were forced to go back in line, and every time they saw a
line they automatically got into it. We do think some of that has
evaporated and we hope the situation will be better at the end of
this month than it was last month.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . D o you think the rule of delaying price
adjustments until the first of each month may have something to
do with these problems that come at the end of the month?
Mr. de L orenzi. I imagine the retail operators can address them­
selves to that better than we can. I myself don’t think so, per­
sonally.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . If wholesalers and retailers postpone sales
in the last week of each month they would get a better price after
the first, wouldn’t they? I mean, when you have price adjustments
on the first of the month ?
Mr. de L orenzi. I imagine so but I don’t expect that will be
happening every month. Are you referring to the most recent one,
the 2 cent increase ?
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yes. The present system is that price
adjustments are delayed until the first of each month, and there al­
ways seems to be a shortage of gasoline at the end of the month.
There is a natural suspicion that there is some holding back for the
last week, simply in order to get the advantage of a better price the
first of the next month.
Mr. de L orenzi. Again I really cannot address myself to it. I
really think that is probably—the retail operators can give you
information on that. I have no way of knowing.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We will go into that. I didn’t know if
your people had commented on that at all.
Mr. de L orenzi. We did ask price when we asked our questions
for the fuel gage report but we never got into that particular area.
Chairman H u m p h r e y , In your testimony you say that, even if the
Arab embargo ends, you expect the gasoline pinch to continue. Yet
the latest API figures show that the gasoline stocks increased sharply
in the last week of February and that they are now about 10 million
barrels, that is 4.4 percent, greater than at this time last year.
Based on what you know about gasoline stocks and conservation
and other factors bearing on this situation, how great do you expect
this pinch to be ?
That is question No. 1.
Mr. de L orenzi. Well, let me backtrack a bit. Last year when we
were doing the fuel gage report we estimated that there might be
a shortfall of 6 percent, possibly, during the summer months when
travel was at its peak. I think we have one unknown factor involved
here. We think there will be a pinch. How great I don’t know. It
could be made worse if people learn that the Arab embargo is over
and believe there is no need for them to conserve. We think it is
most important that people realize they must continue to conserve
and use their gas as economically as possible. If they don’t, it could
aggravate any shortage occuring otherwise.




20

Chairman H u m p h r e y . And it could become cumulative in the
months ahead?
Mr. de L orexzi . Very definitely.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . This is a very important point to make.
The pinch is on, Arabs or no Arabs.
Mr. de L o rexzi . Right. And even if you get all the oil you want
it is a matter of refinery capacity which has not been increased,
and we can’t use a lot of the oil from foreign refineries. It often
does not come up to our standards. The public expectation might
be greater than reality.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Will the working man at least be able to
take a restricted traveling vacation without worrying about where
the next tank of gas is coming from next summer?
Mr. de L orexzi . We certainly hope so. I think everybody has
been predicating his thinking on the Arab embargo being lifted in
the near future. If it isn’t, all bets are off. We are expanding our fuel
gage report in particular to increase its coverage so that we can give
detailed travel information with daily changes to the traveler in
order to help the tourism industry and to help the traveler who
wants to make a trip, because we think vacation time is important.
Chairman H u m phrey. D o you think it would be helpful if the
FEO were to standardize some of these guidelines and some of these
rules ?
Mr. de L orenzi. Yes, absolutely.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Across the country?
Mr. de L o rexzi . An example is North Carolina, which has an
odd odd-even system. Instead of using the date to determine whether
it is an odd or even day, Monday, Wednesday and Friday are odd
I believe, and Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are even. Now, you
only know that if you live in North Carolina, and read the news­
papers.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And you surely wouldn’t know it if you
were going to travel let’s say from Virginia to North Carolina or
Maryland to North Carolina.
Mr. de L orexzi. That is right.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . The amazing thing to me is that practically
all of the innovations that have taken place in the allocation pro­
gram, have come from the State and local governments, and I would
hope that after a period of time the Federal Energy Office would be
able to put those together, so to speak, those that seem workable.
Mr. de L o rexzi . I would agree.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And then they should call in the Governors
and others and say, “We are going to try to standardize certain
things here so that the traveler that may live 50 miles on one side
of a State line will know what is going on 100 miles away in the
other States.” You have got some standardization. There just isn’t
any at present.
Mr. de L o rexzi . We agree. We think the FEO should learn from
the first-hand experience of the States in these matters.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Take the situation here in the District of
Columbia. We have a certain number of stations open at critical




21

hours, impact hours, heavy travel times of day. Some States don’t
have that. If that is working, and if it seems to have some effect,
a beneficial effect, it might be a good plan to put into effect across
the country.
Mr. de L orenzi. The worthwhile schemes certainly should be
shared.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I suppose our Energy Office people will tell
us that they just haven’t had time recently. But I want to go back
and say 011 this that I was one of those who long advocated an
allocation system even knowing that it would have its problems. A
rationing system would have even more problems. But we urged them
to get ready ahead of time and to equip themselves with personnel
and to test, so to speak, what would work. There were months of
delay here. Everybody knew we were going to have to go into an
allocation system even before the Congress passed the law. We
got into a big to-do around here between the two Houses of Con­
gress and the administration on what kind of law we ought to have
but it was perfectly obvious we were going to go into some form
of allocation. We had to. There was no other way out. Whether it
was voluntary or compulsory or whatever, we had to do something,
and yet the Federal Government really just was dragging its feet,
was not putting together a program. I know that our Federal
Energy Office out in Chicago, the Regional Office, was staffed by
pick-ups from all around the other different agencies. They got some­
body from the Bureau of Mines, somebody from the HEW, and
so on, and many of these people didn’t know any more about a
gasoline station than I know about atomic energy. That is no way
to run a program.
Mr. de L orenzi. I agree, and I think particularly in the matter
of gas coupon rationing they really should be moving along a lot
more rapidly than they are. In fairness to them they do have some
people—we have talked to some—in the Gas Coupon Office, who are
thinking of revising their plan, but there does not seem to be any
definite deadline for when they are going to finish the revision and
publish it in the Federal Register.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We are going to press on that. Although I
do hope we will not have to go into rationing, if we are compelled
to do so, we ought to try to minimize its impact.
Nowt gasoline prices have gone up 30 percent in the past year and
some places more than that; 86 cents a gallon at some place in
Brooklyn, I read. I understand that was gasoline and not champagne
or eau de cologne. This increase alone means an increase in the cost
of living of about $200 a year to the average family. Do you think
the price will remain as at present or will it still go higher monthby-month ?
Mr. de L orenzi. I would think that it probably is near its new
level at this point, Senator. Again, if the Arab embargo is lifted it
may stabilize. I do think that in the world market we already can see
the prices coming down a bit and I think they may come down
further. I do think we have seen the peak. I certainly hope so.




22

Chairman H u m p h r e y . I hope you are right; I really do hope you
are right. The American public is very upset over what they con­
sider to be profiteering----Mr. de L orenzi. That is right.
Chairman H u m p h r e y [continuing]. Resulting from the shortage,
and rightly so. We are not going into that with you here. That is
a matter of Government policy.
On gasoline conservation, Mr. de Lorenzi, to get the facts straight,
what proportion of total of auto use does the AAA estimate is for
commuting ?
Mr. de L orenzi. Seventy-eight percent.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . For commuting?
Mr. de L orenzi. No; 1 am sorry; 78 percent is the number of
people in the work force that drive to work. Approximately a little
more than a third of auto use is for commuting as I recall. I may
have those figures here with me. I think I do.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Well, the next question was what propor­
tion is on-the-job driving.
Mr. de L orenzi. Seventy-eight percent of the people that go to
work go by car.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . What proportion for the family purposes
in ones’ hometown or region and what proportion for recreation?
It is important to get those figures because it has something to do
with the allocation program.
To save some time here let me submit these questions to your peo­
ple for the record.
Mr. de I x )ren zi . All right. I can tell you this: Current estimates
are that trips to and from work take about 23 billion gallons of the
little more than 73 billion gallons of gasoline consumed by all auto­
mobiles in 1972.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I am going to ask the staff to submit to you
this series of questions.
Mr. de L orenzi. We will be glad to supply those figures. I don’t
have them here with me.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We would like to know what proportion
of the total auto use is by taxis, by salesmen that must use an auto­
mobile, et cetera. There are a number of bits of information that are
very important if we are going to examine the rationing system.
We have got to have more information on what is going on here or
we are going to get into a situation where we will be trying to un­
ravel a mess.
Mr. de L orenzi. Right. I agree with you. We will be glad to
supply those.
Chairman H u m p h r e y , I believe that is all I want to ask of you
this morning, Mr. de Lorenzi. We thank you very much, you and
your associates. You have been very helpful.
Mr. de L orenzi. Yes, sir, and we will send you a copy of the latest
fuel gage report.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Very good.
[The following information was subsequently supplied for the
record:]




23
A

m e r ic a n

A

u t o m o b il e

A

s s o c ia t i o n ,

Falls Church, Va., March 28, 191%.
Senator

H u bert H . H u m phrey,

Chairman, Subcommittee on Consumer Economics, Joint Economic Committee,
New Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
D e a r S e n a t o r H u m p h r e y : Y o u raised two related questions when we ap­
peared before you on March 12th and commented on the effects of the Manda­
tory Petroleum Allocation Program and told about AAA urging all motorists
to reduce their driving by 25%.
You asked how we arrived at that percentage and whether the public is
capable of attaining this goal and suggested we supply additional material
for the hearing record.
We chose the 25% figure after many discussions with government and non­
governmental officials knowledgeable in fuel production and consumption. This
was in December of 1973, and our conclusion was that the gasoline shortfall
could reach an intolerable 25 to 30 percent by Spring.
We felt then and still feel Americans are capable of reducing their
fuel consumption by a quarter and that they won’t have to scuttle their
vacation plans to do so.
We are encouraging motoring families to sit down and work out their own
plans for trimming their driving—literally to budget their driving. Attached
in our booklet, “Rolling Along With the Gasoline Shortage,” a guide to motor­
ing conservation. It is being distributed to hundreds of thousands of families
by AAA clubs across the country.
One of the most important yet wasteful category of family driving includes
shopping, medical and school trips. Most families make several daily trips
in this category when it could be just as easy to combine all of them into
one trip instead of many. This could save ten miles a day more. (Please see
the attached chart— F i g u r e 1.)
Driving to educational, civic, and religious functions can add another ten
miles or so of driving a week. Certainly, it’s possible to share the ride with
others for these worthwhile excursions.
Visits with friends and other local pleasure rides boost the average house­
hold car mileage by more than 30 miles per week. Surely there can be a
reduction here. And if there is a licensed teenage driver in the household,
there is a multiplier effect on the pleasure driving. Speaking of teenagrs,
school students should leave their cars at home and use school buses, public
transit, or walk to school whenever possible.
Keeping the car’s engine in tune and properly inflating tires to cut “road
drag” are simple but important means of cutting fuel consumption. AAA
clubs, in actual tests, have found that proper tuning of the engine could
result in savings as high as 25%.
There are numerous other simple, good driving techniques which also will
save gas. Car pooling is another method to which we will return later.
Much rhetoric has been devoted to public transit as the easy answer to the
energy crisis. All we need to do, according to this view, is pour millions of
dollars into public transit, starting right now. Alas, it is not as easy as
all that. Consider these three points:
1. According to the 1970 U.S. Census on Means of Transportation to Work,
more workers worked at home or even walked to work than rode all forms
of public transit.
2. Although almost all public transit is fully loaded or near peak capacity
during regular commuter hours, the census data shows even with this load,
public transit is carrying only 8.9% of all workers.
3. The census report shows that nearly 78% of all workers reach their job
by private passenger car.
It does not require a trained economist to reach a major conclusion—if any
significant number of these motoring workers are to be shifted to public tran­
sit, then the number of transit vehicles will have to be drastically increased.
When we start examining the facts about public transit, we find that it is
not mass transit at all, as has been claimed. The 1970 census data shows




24
that about 4.2 million workers used buses and streetcars as their major means
of transportation to work.
Let’s regard the streetcars as being a minor element. Now, the American
Transit Association reported that there were 49,700 transit buses in service
in 1970. Dividing that into the number of bus and streetcar-using workers, we
find that each transit bus serviced some 82 workers, a figure inflated by our
arbitrarily including streetcar riders on the buses.
At the same time, just under 60 million others were reported as using the
private pasenger car as their dominant mode of travel to work. If an attempt
was made to shift only half of these workers to public transit, it would indi­
cate a requirement for an additional 360,000 transit buses.
Since delivery of new transit buses has been averaging about 2,500 units
a year and since, as best as we can determine, capacity to manufacture buses
has variously been estimated at 4,000 to 5,000 units per year, there is no ready
solution here. Putting it another way, even if the present annual production
of 2,500 buses could be doubled, it still would require more than 70 years to
get 360,000 new buses in service.
For these reasons, we deplore those trial balloons which have been floated
in the media to the effect that if we only allow every car owner 10 gallons
of gasoline a week, he will be forced to shift to public transit. This simplistic
approach is not only unrealistic and incapable of achievement but also would
have traumatic economic and social consequences.
AAA believes that the work trip requirements of the private passenger
car must be given a high priority in any fuel allocation program if we are
to preserve our economy. So far, we have had little indication that most high
ranking officials in the government even understand how transportation ac­
tually works in this country.
Indeed, some economists seem intent on keeping factories open by diverting
gasoline from autos, ignoring the fact that the factories might then close
because their employees would have no means of getting to work.
According to the best estimates, the to and from work trips take about
23 billion gallons of the little more than 73 billion gallons of gasoline con­
sumed by all automobiles last year. For that reason, increased efforts should be
made to encourage car pooling.
But great expectations should not exceed the reality of the situation. It is
true that an estimated 40 million persons drive alone each day and the aver­
age round-trip commuting mileage on a weekly basis is 94 miles. By doubling
up, this would eliminate an estimated 1 billion 880 million miles of driving.
Because of the low density living and working patterns which have been se­
lected voluntarily by our citizens over the last 30 years, we cannot expect to
cut in half the number of people who drive to work alone.
However, significant gains can be achieved. That is why the AAA club
in St. Paul has launched an ambitious car pooling program in cooperation
with the Minnesota State Highway Department. Other AAA clubs in California,
Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Maryland have undertaken similar
programs.
We believe you would agree this is not the time to return to normal driving
habits. The threat of renewal of the oil boycott by the Arab nations is ever
present while an increase in our domestic oil production, refining and storage
capabilities will take years to achieve. The motorist is the key to solving
our upcoming conservation crisis. We’re hopeful that reducing fuel consump­
tion through self-rationing by motorists will be all that is necessary to help us
pull through the coming months.
Thank you for allowing us to make this more comprehensive reply.
Sincerely yours,
John

de

L o r e n zi,

Managing Director,
Public Policy Division.
Enclosures.




25

Rolling
olong
with the

gosoline
shortage




if you’re worried enough
about gasoline shortages
to do something about it
you don’t even have to
meet the problem half way.
25% will do.
You already hold the key to easing the energy
crunch. And to keeping America rolling along during
this era of gasoline availability uncertainties.
Your car key.
Simply sit down with your family, analyze your par­
ticular driving patterns and pledge right now to re­
duce fuel consumption. By 25%. In ways most con­
venient for your family.
Before government restrictions cut you back a lot
more. Where it will hurt the most.
All it takes is a little care, cooperation and creativ­
ity. Because there's a lot of wasted motion in the
200-plus miles the average car owner rolls up each
week.

a motorists’ guide
to reducing fuel use
25 percent without
hardshipto prevent rationing

If you think cutting back by 25% is impractical, take
another look. In these pages you'll find a tankful of
conservation suggestions. Although not all of them
will apply to you individually, after you've read them
you'll undoubtedly be able to think of more yourself.
The point is to reduce driving by 25%, while making
most efficient use of the miles you do drive.
Starting right now.

26

We've compiled
categories:

our

suggestions

under

six

• To-and-from work trips.
• Daily family business trips.
• Family education, civic and religious activities
trips.
• Social and recreational activities trips.
• Keeping your car in tip-top shape.
• Good driving techniques.
The rest is up to you.
After you've sorted through the fuel conservation
tips listed in this pamphlet you may find it helpful to
use the "Mileage M inder" in the centerfold to help
budget your driving. After logging each trip taken in
your car for a week or two you'll get a quick picture of
your particular driving patterns and learn where you
can place the most emphasis on reducing unneces­
sary trips.
Become a 25 percenter yourself and tell your Con­
gressman you're doing your part to conserve enough
gasoline to prevent government controls on driving.
If all motorists will pitch in, hardships can be
avoided.

Here's how:

To-and-From Work
Every day 58 million American workers use the au­
tomobile to get to and from work. Forty million of
them drive alone. Those 40 million workers drive an
average of 94 miles and consume 290 million gallons
of gasoline each week.
Since commuting is the largest single category of
automobile use, it is the obvious place for a family to
start looking for ways to cut weekly driving mileage.
Two methods stand out— carpoolingand inc reased
use of public transportation, if available.
Starting a carpool is a lot easier than you think
perhaps as easy as talking to two or three of your
neighbors who go to work at approximately the same
time and work in the same vicinity. If you can't do
that, try posting a notice on your company bulletin
board asking for riders who live near you.
Your company may already have a carpooling




program— if not, ask about getting one started. If the
company is too small, try to arrange to join the pro­
gram of a nearby firm. O r get your company to enlist
the cooperation of several others nearby in setting up
a joint carpool program.
A computer isn't necessary to the success of a large
carpool program, although it might help in matching
riders. A large locator map— with grids or zones
marked off will suffice. Index cards for potential rid­
ers and potential drivers can be filled out with all the
necessary information and then matched, either in­
dividually or by company personnel.
If your company or a group of companies can't get
together on their own, investigate the possibility of
establishing a community-wide program. Many
communities have already started this— some with
the help of local AAA clubs.
In any carpool arrangement there are some basic
pointers to keep in mind:
• Set a schedule of who will drive and when.
• If only one person will be driving, have the costsharing arrangement firmly settled before starting.
• Get your pick-up routes set well in advance, at
individual homes or at a central point. Do the same
for the return trip from work to home.
• Agree on how long the pool will wait for tardy
passengers.
• Determine whether smoking, radio playing, or
eating will be permitted in the car.
• If you'll be a driver, check with your insurance
company to determine if your policy will cover any
liability or if you will have to change or add insurance
provisions. It's even possible that as a carpool driver
you may qualify for reduced premiums.
You probably will want to try out the carpool for a
week to iron out any kinks. Be prepared to make any
necessary changes after this trial period.
Another alternative to driving alone to work in your
car is to switch to public transportation. If a bus or rail
line doesn't run nearyour home, consider carpooling
to a point w,here you can board the transit service.
For communities with no available public transpor­
tation, you might consider establishing a charter bus
commuting service. Several communities, particu­
larly in the Washington, D.C., area have utilized this

approach very successfully. Your local citizens or
homeowners association is a good plac e to get such a
program going. AAA can give you details on how to
proceed.
Businesses also can consider setting up buspool
programs—even using small vans or other multi­
passenger vehicles.
A final possibility— if you're not too far from
work— is to either walk or bicyc le. You'll be surprised
how this might improve your health.

Family Business
Family business trips—such as shopping, taking
children to school, dental and medical appoint­
ments—consume 225 million gallons of gasoline
per week.
The average car-owning family makes five such
trips weekly, each 11 miles long. Here is an obvious
area for some painless cutbacks:
Start by combining shopping trips.
• Make careful lists before starting out and com­
bine other errands—such as trips to the beauty par­
lor, cleaners, and drug store.
If possible, handle all of these errands at one shop­
ping center to eliminate driving from one location to
another. Comparison shopping can be done by
phone or through newspaper ads.
• Try to arrange dental and medical appointments
so more than one member of the family can go at the
same time.
• Strive to schedule shopping and other family
business trips during non rush:hours. This will help
to reduce traffic congestion and alleviate stop-and-go
driving which uses additional gasoline.
• Carpooling is an excellent idea for family busi­
ness as well as for commuting. Share shopping trips
with neighbors. Enlist other parents to form carpools
for transporting children to and from school, extra­
curricular school activities, and other group events if
public transportation is not available.
• Cut down on trips to see friends in other parts of
the community. Call instead, it uses less energy.
• If you're planning a night out at the theater or for
dinner invite another couple, similarly inclined, to




join you. Encourage your teenagers to do more
double-dating, too.

Family Education, Civic and
Religious Activities
This is the category of driving which accounts for
the least amount of fuel consumption and since each
car-owning household takes an average of only 1.5
such trips per week, it may be the most difficult to
cut back.
Still, there are ways to cut down driving even in this
category.
• Again, stait by carpooling to evening classes,
meetings and church activities with other partici
pants
• Arrange to have schedules coordinated to re­
quire a minimal amount of travel on the part of par­
ticipants. For example, arrange choir practice on
Sunday after church services rather than on a week
night.
• If you belong to committees of various groups,
trytoarrangeyourcom m ittee membershipand meet­
ing place and schedule to require the least travel for
participants. Perhaps you could meet at a home or
other spot within walking distance of most members
• Re-think your organization's meeting schedule.
Are frequent meetings —weekly or monthly— really
necessary? Why not once a month instead of weekly?
O r bi-monthly rather than monthly?
•
If you're planning on taking courses of some
kind, try to find those offered at a facility close to
home -preferably within walking distance. Certainly
you should try to arrange a carpooling program with
other participants in the class.
• Suggest that your local government arrange its
meeting schedule so as many government agencies
as possible are meeting on the same night at the same
place. That way, citizens with business before the city
council and the planning commission could make
only one trip to appear before both groups,
• Local government units might also consider
holding more public meetings in various neighbor­
hoods rather than at the central government location.
This might help cut down on the number of miles
citizens have to drive to attend these meetings,

28

MILEAGE—MINDER
Car Use
MILES

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Trips to and
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TU E S D A Y

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, miles endiçig.

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trips
(Friends,
movies, etc )

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civic and
religious
functions

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(Shopping,
doctors,
errands)

Vacation

An important first step in conserving fuel is to become aware
of how you use your car and how far you drive during the week.
This chart can help “profile" your driving habits.
First, record the actual mileage on your car odometer under
"miles beginning.”
Now you are ready to record HOW you use your car in each
category of driving. After you make your first trip place an "X"
in the box under the column corresponding to the day of the
week you begin which best describes the type of trip and total
ROUND TRIP miles traveled (1-5,6-10, etc.). If you travel over
20 miles round trip, write this figure in the appropriate box
rather than making an “X.”
Continue this recording process for each round trip made in
your car during the entire week. And if you take a v.acation by
car, be sure to record your mileage in the “Car Use Profile”
box below.
At the end of the week, record the mileage on the odometer
under “miles ending.” Subtract the beginning mileage figure
from final figure and record the total.
Now you can “profile" how you used your car. Reading




across the chart horizontally, count the number of boxes you
have checked in each “Car Use" category and enter the total
trips in the “Car Usage Profile.” Then add and record the
number of miles you drove in each category to get a graphic
picture of where you are best able to focus your conservation
efforts.

Car Use Profile
Category
Work trips
Family
business
Educational,
etc.
Social, etc.
Vacation

Number of trips

Weekly mileage total

29

Social and Recreational Activities
Pleasure rides, visits to friends and relatives and
other social and recreational trips—together with
vacations—consume 382 million gallons of gasoline
each week. The average family takes 3.5 such trips
each week, with the majority being taken on
weekends and holidays.
Trips of this kind are not luxuries— but they are of a
nature which allows for some easy savings in fuel
consumption without depriving anyone of the leisure
activities so important to physical and psychological
well-being. Equally important is the fact that tourism
employs four million persons and it means some $60
billion to the U.S. economy.
Start off by taking a serious look at your vacation
planning. This would be a good year to vacation in an
area where you won't need your car as much to get
around at your destination, a large metropolitan area,
for example, or a beach or mountain resort. If you will
be driving to your vacation destination, look into
sight-seeing services offered locally for your trans­
portation needs while there.
This also could be your opportunity to advance in
another travel direction— any direction— utilizing
what AAA refers to as the radius travel concept. It
means systematically investigatingall the recreational
possibilities within a geographical circle, the size of
which is determined by the mileage you're budgeting
for pleasure travel.
Your mileage budget can be adjusted upward to
include longer trips if you're able to decrease use of
gasoline proportionately more than 25 percent for
other uses, such as commuting to work.
Qualified travel counselors can assist you in match­
ing your personally-budgeted fuel supply with your
travel interests.
O ther suggestions:
• If you know some friends who are planning a
motoring vacation at the same time, why not try to
combine your trips? You also might consider taking a
plane, train or bus to your destination and rent a car
for any local driving you need to do.
• Think twice before setting out on those spur-ofthe-moment local pleasure rides or visits to friends
and relatives. Do they really need that kind of sur­

34-498 O ■ 74 ■ 3




prise? And for those "gasless Sundays" why not try a
nature walk or bike trip? O r even a bus ride down­
town to the local museum or to see a local sports or
artistic presentation? You'll probably find the spirit of
family adventure and togetherness will more than
make up for any slight inconvenience.
AAA club travel counselors offer members detailed
planning advice on such things as selecting vacation
destinations, travel routes and tie-in transportation
arrangements, all designed with fuel savings in mind.
In addition, they can plan accommodations arrange­
ments tailored to avoiding long-distance driving on
"gasless Sundays." They also can route travelers
around known trouble spots and advise where
localized gasoline shortages occur from time to time.

Keeping Your Car In Tip-Top Shape
Proper care and maintenance of your car can mean
significant reductions in fuel consumption.
Start out by having your car's engine thoroughly
tuned. AAA motor club tests show that even minor
tune-ups can improve mileage by 10 percent. Other
tests have shown that tune-ups can result in an im­
mediate 9 to 15% improvement in gasoline mileage.
• Check spark plugs. Make sure yours are clean
and all firing properly.
• Next check distributor points.
• Replace clogged and dirty air and oil filters.
• Check for proper functioning of the automatic
choke— a sticking one will waste gas.
• Be sure the air-fuel mixture of the carburetor is
precisely adjusted.
• An oil change should be part of every tune-up.
Use the correct weight oil as recommended in your
car-owner's manual. A heavier weight oil will force
the engine to use more fuel to overcome the heavier
oil's resistance, while an oil too thin may not provide
enough protection to prevent engine damage.
• While you're gettingyourcar tuned, check to see
that the tires are properly balanced and wheels prop­
erly aligned. If they're not, they can create drag, forc­
ing the engine to use more power— thus more
gasoline—while shortening tire life drastically. A bent
frame could have the same effect.

30

• Check tire pressure on your car frequently.
Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and
cut fuel economy. But don't over-inflate by more than
two or three pounds. This could cause rapid wear and
cut tire contact with the road, causing a safety hazard.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
• An often overlooked item of car care is the
radiator thermostat. A defective one can increase fuel
consumption by increasing engine warm-up time in
cold weather. Automatic brake adjusters also should
be checked for improper operation which can create
brake drag and increase fuel consumption.
• Once you've had your car tuned, don't forget
about it. Keeping a car operating at peak performance
and at peak fuel economy requires constant care. A
car needs to be tuned at least twice a year, spring and
fall, or as recommended in your car-owner's manual.
• When you fill up with fuel, choose the correct
octane for your particular car. Using the wrong oc­
tane might cause engine problems, spark plug foul­
ing and reduced gasoline mileage. Avoid a higher
octane fuel than required. You'll be wasting money.
Ask the attendant not to fill your tank to the brim. This
can cause overflow if the car is parked on an incline,
and fuel expansion in hot weather can lead to over­
flow even when the car is parked on level ground.
Make sure your gas tank cap is on tight— a loose one
can allow gas to leak out.
• During this period of fuel uncertainties, many
car-owners are buying lock-type gas caps. AAA ad­
vises buyers to be sure that the cap selected is de­
signed for the specific make, model and year of the
vehicle on which it is to be used. Different models of
autos use various gas tank or cap venting systems.
Use of an improper cap can create a vacuum as fuel is
drawn from the tank by the fuel pump. This could
result in the serious consequence of a collapsed gas
tank. |ust because a gas cap fits doesn't mean that it
will function properly on your car. Buy only one de­
signed for your car.
Keep an accurate record of the amount of gas used
and the cost. O ver a period of time you'll be able to
check on fuel economy and perhaps discover ways to
improve performance even further. A drop in gas
mileage also will help you determine that it's time for
another tuneup.




Good Driving Techniques
One of the major causes of poor fuel mileage for
many drivers is poor driving technique and poor
planning. Studies conducted by one AAA club
showed gasoline efficiency could be increased by as
much as 44% if driving habits were improved over a
typical stop-and-go commuter route.
Good planning is the best introduction to good
driving techniques:
• If you own more than one car, use the more
economical one for as much of your driving as pos­
sible, particularly for commuting to and from work,
or local stop-and-go driving.
• Plan your driving routes to avoid local bottle­
necks such as extra-long lights and congested streets.
Use less-traveled roads and free-flowing highways
whenever possible, relying on traffic reports over
your car radio for assistance. This will help you avoid
fuel-robbing stop-and-go traffic. Avoid rush hours
and other peak traffic times whenever possible.
• On long trips, start early in the morning to avoid
heavy traffic and— in hot weather— minimize the
need for use of your air conditioner. Time your driv­
ing to avoid rush hour traffic in urban areas, or plan
your meal stops to coincide with these peak traffic
periods.
• Unnecessary extra weight in your trunk will cut
fuel economy. So keep baggage to a minimum when
taking a trip. Packing baggage on a roof rack also
creates fuel-robbing air resistance.
• Never carry spare cans of gasoline in your car
trunk— that's extra weight you can definitely do with­
out. This practice can be extremely hazardous since a
spark or a lighted cigarette meeting an accumulation
of vapors, or a collision, could set off an explosion.
One gallon o f gasoline has the heat energy force
(BTU's) o f 50 pounds o f dynam ite. Instead, buy an
inexpensive hand-operated pump for possible
siphoning requirements. Do not attempt to use a
siphon hose by mouth. Inhaled fumes or possible
fuel ingestion can be dangerous.
After good driving planning comes good driving
execution:
• Begin the minute you fasten your safety belts and
turn on your engine.

31
• Avoid extended warm-ups when starting a cold
engine. It may be necessary, on cold mornings, to
depress the accelerator once to set the automatic
choke— any added pumping of the accelerator will
only waste gas. Check the owner's manual for proper
procedure.
• As soon as your car is drivable, accelerate gently
and drive slowly for a mile or so—your engine will
warm up faster and you'll save fuel. If your car is
equipped with a manual choke, push it part way in as
soon as the engine is running, then push it all the way
in as soon as the car is safely drivable.
• Avoid unnecessary idling—which can consume
gas at the rate of a half gallon per hour. Idling more
than one minute will waste m ore gas than it takes to
re-start the engine.
• Don't rev up the engine and then quickly shut, it
off, thinking you've primed it to re-start. Actually,
you've dumped raw gasoline ihto the cylinder walls
where it may wash away the protective oil film and
increase engine wear when you re-start. It's also a
waste of fuel.
• Even while you're driving you should still be
planning. Look well ahead to spot slowdowns and red
lights. Pace yourself to reach them when they turn
green. A car uses much fuel when accelerating
quickly from a complete stop. Keep a good space in
front of you so you can adjust your speed gradually
without closing the gap on the car ahead. If stops are
necessary, release the accelerator early and brake
gradually.
• Smooth “ footwork" is crucial to good gasoline
mileage. You'll get the best fuel economy by smooth,
steady accelerator pressure for cruising conditions.
Gradual acceleration and braking are also helpful.
Hard acceleration pours more fuel into the engine for
more power, but the fuel is incompletely burned and
mileage suffers.
• You'll get the best fuel economy by traveling at
moderate speeds. High speeds require more
gasoline to overcome greater air resistance, hath
car's engine has a speed at which it operates most
efficiently, depending on axle ratios, tire diameter,
vehicle size and weight and other factors. Generally,
this ideal speed is under 55 miles per hour and cor­




responds with the speed in top gear at which the
engine produces peak torque.
• When approaching a hill, build up speed early to
avoid fuel-robbing hard acceleration on the upgrade.
When accelerating with a manual transmission, shift
up as soon as possible without causing the engine to
"lug" or stumble. If the engine does "lug,” the low
carburetor vacuum condition that results will cause
increased fuel consumption.
• You might want to consider installing a dashmounted vacuum gauge calibrated in fuel economy
ranges. Such gauges allow the driver to monitor fuel
use and engine condition while driving. Cost is gen­
erally between $5 and $12 at most auto parts stores.
A great deal of fuel economy of your particular car
will depend on the optional equipment on the car
itself:
• Such options as air conditioning and— to a lesser
extent— even electrical accessories such as heaters,
defrosters and radios use more gasoline. AAA tests
have shown that when air conditioning is not in use
fuel economy improves by 5 to 14% or more. Air
conditioning also adds weight— about 100 pounds
-to a car, increasing fuel consumption even more
merely because of the extra weight. If you have it, use
it sparingly.
• An automatic transmission can be a gas-using op­
tion. Manual transmissions generally use less gas, par­
ticularly in small cars, although this may not hold true
in situations where frequent shifting is required.
• Power steering also uses a bit more fuel.
Some options can help conserve gasoline:
• If you want air conditioning, for example, a light
exterior car color combined with light interior uphol­
stery will reduce heat build-up and keep your air
conditioner from having to work so hard. Tinted glass
also helps.
• Fuel injection usually saves gasoline by more
uniformly and efficiently distributing the fuel than do
carburetors. An electronic spark ignition system also
is a gas saver since its improved spark means better
combustion and loss chance for fuel-robbing spark
plug fouling.
• lop-quality radial tires usually will result in a 5 to
10% fuel saving because rolling resistance is reduced.




32
Steel-belted radials generally are even better than
fabric-belted radials in this respect.
•
If you'll be doing a lot of open-road driving, a
cruise control option may be worthwhile since such an
accessory can maintain a steady speed, rarely using the
carburetor's accelerator pump.

Summary
While some of the gasoline conservation tips we've
described will effect only nominal savings individually,
their collective impact can be great. Great enough to
prevent strict controls on mobility.
They require serious attention from motorists, be­
cause the energy crisis is a very real problem involv­
ing all forms of energy but most basically petroleum.
It is a problem that will not be resolved even with
improvements in foreign relations with Mideast
countries upon whom the United States relies for
much of its imported crude oil needs.
Energy problems will continue to face the U.S. for
at least several years until the nation gains greater
total energy self-sufficiency in a variety of waysdeveloping new sources and increasing productivity
of existing sources.
The situation will get worse before it gets better.
And each American motorist needs to do whatever is
possible to cut back gasoline consumption by at least
25 percent to avoid tough Federally-directed con­
straints on travel by car.
Become a 25 percenter yourself. Tell your Con­
gressman you're cutting back a quarter on your fuel
use and ask him to hold off on controls until you've
had time to prove yourself. This guide points the way
and the key to making it happen is in your hands.
Your car key. Use it wisely.

American Automobile Association
8111 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, Va. 22042
Printed in USA, 1974




33

FIGURE 1

PASSENGER CAR USE

-• SOURCE:

Preliminary resu lts from the
Nationwide Personal Transportation
Survey, 1969-1970, U.S. Department
o f Transportation, Federal
Highway Administration.

34
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr, Binsted and Mr. Brooks, would you
both come forward together, please.
Mr. Binsted, you represent the National Congress of Petroleum
Retailers, I believe ?
Mr. B insted . That is correct, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And, Mr. Brooks, you represent the Greater
Washington-Maryland Service Stations Association?
Mr. B rooks. Yes, Senator.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Fine. We thought it would be well to have
you both testify. So why don’t you go ahead Mr. Binsted, with
what you have to say?
Mr. B insted . I do have a very short prepared statement, Mr.
Chairman, that I would like to read into the record if I might.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Thank you.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES BINSTED, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF PETROLEUM RETAILERS

Mr. B insted . The National Congress of Petroleum Retailers is
composed of affiliated groups throughout the country and represents
approximately 70,000 independent branded dealers.
Our association supported mandatory allocation rules and went
on record with that support as long ago as June 1973 when we testi­
fied before the Oil Policy Committee.
It was evident to us at that time that a voluntary allocation pro­
gram would not work. Companies were already favoring their own
locations or over-supplying favored dealers. They had cut off inde­
pendents and had started a massive withdrawal from markets which
left their branded dealers without locations.
It was obvious to us that the power to allocate is the power to
control and we believed that if allocation rules were necessary they
should be promulgated and carried out by the Federal Government.
This, of course, was done on January 15 of this year. However,
as is the case with any attempt to regulate, there are always in­
equities and obstruction. The mandatory allocation rules are no
exception.
A major problem from the point of view of dealers and incon­
venience to the public has been the failure of the FEO Form 17
system to provide additional gasoline to individual service stations
based on unusual growth. To date there has been no improvement
in this system.
The FEO 17 is a form which must be completed by the service
station dealer and filed with his supplier and the FEÓ in order to
obtain additional product based on growth since 1972. The supply­
ing company is permitted to approve increased allocations for
growth between 10 and 20 percent without FEO approval. How­
ever, everyone loses the first 10 percent which means, for example,
that a dealer with an 18 percent growth factor can be increased
only 8 percent. Some companies have automatically built into their
base allocations the allowable increase. Now, I might say at this
point, that would help the case of Gaithersburg if in fact the FEO
17 formula had worked, because in addition to allowing gasoline




35
for unusual station growth, it also recognized usual growth in an
area, either population growth or factory growth, and this can be
stipulated in the form and FEO has discretionary authority to
provide additional gasoline to that area.
Under the regulations any increase in excess of 20 percent must
be approved by FEO. This has been a slow process and we are
aware of only a very few instances where the FEO approval has
finally been granted. We understand that a change is being con­
sidered by FEO which will require the supplying companies to
immediately grant all increases based on growth and certify this
to FEO. We strongly recommend and support such an action which
will bring additional supplies to growth areas where it is needed
most.
We have reports from some of our affiliates indicating what may
be abuses of the rules as they apply to “end users.” Various types of
companies are installing their own bulk tanks and pumps and are
applying for “end user” allocations. Complaints from North Caro­
lina, for instance, charge several companies with using the gasoline
not only for legitimate commercial vehicles but also for sales to
company employees. One report concerns a bank which is installing
bulk facilities to supply its employees. This is clearly not permitted
under the rules.
Reports from Georgia complain that bulk users are reserving
their gasoline as long as they can obtain supply from local service
stations. They use their own gasoline only when the supply is tight.
Still other reports complain of companies leasing closed service
stations and using the allocation for themselves and their employees.
These actions concern us for two reasons. First, the general public
is being deprived of gasoline if the bulk “end user” is using the
gasoline for other than legitimate commercial use. Second, the
proliferation of bulk facilities in commercial accounts will deny
that business to the service stations when the supply situation eases.
We believe that a system of supplying commercial accounts should
be set up through the service stations and the stations should be
supplied on a basis that would allow them to meet the legitimate
demands of commercial accounts as defined by the regulations.
Service station dealers in cooperation with their States have im­
plemented programs which attempt to ease the burden on the
motorist.
Semirationing programs such as the one first used in Oregon
have had some success in accomplishing this goal. The National
Congress of Petroleum Retailers has endorsed these plans, both
voluntary and mandatory.
Dealers also have cooperated through decisions to stagger hours
of operation and self-imposed daily sales limits which attempt to
make gasoline available on an everyday basis—generally with the
exception of Sundays—between scheduled deliveries by their whole­
salers. I might add at this time that we believe that the process used
by some companies of scheduling deliveries throughout the month,
rather than selling all of the gasoline to their dealer at the beginning
or the first 2 or 3 weeks in the month, if this is desired by the
dealer, is a better plan. That means that if you have an allocation




36
of, let’s say, 48,000 gallons the transports are 8,000 gallon loads—you
would get six of them staggered throughout the month to insure
that the dealer would only have to concern himself with seeing that
the gasoline reached from one delivery to the next rather than trying
to stretch his whole allocation throughout the month.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yes.
Mr. B insted . Many stations have split their hours of operation,
selling gasoline for 2 or 3 hours in the early morning and 2 or 3
hours in the late afternoon. Others sell only in the morning, while
still others sell only in the afternoon. In addition to staggered hours
of operation, we have urged dealers to post signs stating the hours
they will be open for gasoline.
In addition, dealers responded to Mr. Simon’s request to limit sales
to 10 gallons per customer. This helped temporarily, before the lines
got so long, but we believe that it eventually had a negative effect
by increasing lines; therefore, we now recommend a fill-up instead
of a limit. We do endorse the requirement for a minimum sale to
prevent top-offs of gas tanks, however.
We believe that no attempt should be made to require by law
specific hours of operation for stations, since these hours must of
necessity vary with available supply and delivery schedules. Any
attempt at mandatory hours of operation I believe would be totally
unworkable.
Further, we are opposed to any programs that will cast the dealer
in the role of policeman without credentials. Reports of altercations
and violence in service stations have not been exaggerated. Worn
nerves and frayed tempers are responsible, and nothing should be
done which would increase this tension. The motorist should be
required to adhere to State and Federal regulations rather than
making the dealer the enforcer.
The NCPR has passed a resolution in opposition to coupon ration­
ing. We simply believe it is the wrong approach, at least the pro­
posed regulations as now drawn. Under coupon rationing it would
be absolutely necessary to match the distribution of the product
throughout the country with the distribution of ration coupons. It
is perfectly obvious that if the bulk of the coupons are in one place
and the product in another, the system will not work, and such ac­
curate distribution has not been accomplished to date, I do not
believe.
It is also obvious that we have not as yet achieved a proper dis­
tribution of product throughout the country. If this is achieved
and the supply situation does not worsen, we believe that this in
itself may make coupon rationing unnecessary.
We also believe that under coupon rationing the amount of prod­
uct rationed to individuals would have to be less than what is now
generally available in order to attempt to insure that the holder of
the coupon could in fact get gasoline. I think if we consider the
problem that we have now with the motorist who comes into a
service station and waits in line only to be told there is no gasoline—
if he also had a coupon in his hand he would be doubly irritated;
and this may be the case. My information is that in World War II
wTe didn’t have really the shortfall of gasoline supplies for the aver­
age motorist that we have today.




37
Now, somehow under this program we would have to make gaso­
line available; at least we would have to get enough gasoline to get
tanks up to a level at which we could assure that coupon holders
can get gas. For the most part we are now operating off the bottom
of our tanks.
I did want to say that I own a service station and have been in
the business for 27 years. In recent weeks I have spent many of
the early morning hours talking to customers in my station. That
was an early as 5 a.m., too, on a few occasions here recently. And
I can tell you that, even when the lines wTere the longest, the great
majority of people did not favor coupon rationing from my con­
versations with them.
While there are many inequities in the proposed coupon rationing
plan, let me point out just one.
I believe it is totally unfair for a man and his wife who own
only one car and have only one driver’s license to be rationed on the
basis of 8 gallons per week, while his neighbor, his neighbor’s wife
and his two teenage sons, if all are registered drivers, would be
rationed at 32 gallons per week.
Further, the problem of handling the coupons will be a massive
one for the dealer. Bookkeeping and coupon control will place an
additional burden on him requiring control which is difficult at best.
We as dealers have another problem: Dealer lease termination by
the major oil companies and their withdrawal from some markets.
Some companies are determined to continue their policy of lease
termination and nonrenewal. B.P. in the East is attempting to dis­
enfranchise many of its dealers who operate high-volume stations
so that the company can operate the stations themselves.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I was going to ask you a question about
that. I am very interested. You have seen that pattern?
Mr. B insted. Yes, sir; it is becoming more of a pattern. Mobil
has announced that in Connecticut, for example, it intends to take
back all of its independent branded stations and run them as com­
pany operations. Total, a company that moved into the Detroit
area no long ago, a couple of years ago, is embarking on the same
practice, and when they do this, they are going to discontinue
providing some of the services to the motoring public that we have
become used to. They say it is too expensive for them to operate in
that manner, so they wiil be discontinuing services, such as lubrica­
tion, oil change, and mechanical services and just be on a gasolineonly basis. In addition to that, the majors are m ovin g into direct
competition with private brand dealers by the use of their secondary
brands to move into that market so-----Chairman H u m p h r e y . But again, company-owned, company-operated, secondary brands?
Mr. B insted . Company-owned, company-operated brands and sec­
ondary. It is a strange movement by the major oil companies be­
cause, as one of the oil company executives pointed out to me, they
look forward to a stable market and at that time they will no longer
need the dealer.
I might add that while not all of the companies have embarked
on such a program at this time, if many of them do continue what




38
that program and are allowed by either the Congress or FEO to
continue this total vertical integration, then others probably will
be forced to follow that pattern to the great disadvantage of the
many small businessmen that have been in this industry for many
years.
Chairman H u m p h rey. D o you think there is anything that the
FEO can do about that?
Mr. B insted . The FEO does have some regulation that touches
on it, and their rule—Interpretation No. 1974-3—does deal spe­
cifically with it but still skirts the problem to some degree. But we
are getting information back from the regional offices that they are
saying they will not involve themselves in contracts between com­
panies and dealers. However, companies should not be allowed to
terminate supply contracts, and supply contracts are in almost every
instance an integral part of the lease.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I think the oil industry should know that
if it continues that practice, which it apparently is engaging in, that
it is going to have a first-class knock-down, drag-out fight with
Congress and certainly with, certain Members of Congress because
this is a highly monopolistic practice. It is anticompetitive. It vio­
lates every tenet of the competitive system. And I just want to say
as one Senator that, if that kind of operation continues, I am
going to make it my business to go after them with everything I
have, because I think that such actions are destructive of the com­
petitive system in this country and the independent service station
has been the really competitive element in that industry. And when
you talk about a service station, it isn’t just pumping gasoline.
Mr. B insted . That is right.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We built our society, rightly or wrongly,
around the automobile to a large extent; the automobile is a vital
part of the American family. Now, that automobile and that family
need something more than gasoline. They need a place to go to take
their car for a tuneup, for changing the oil, for lubrication, for all
the little things that happen all the time; for the change of a tire,
battery, all the many things that happen; and if the large oil com­
panies think they are going to get by with forcing out the inde­
pendent franchised dealers and going to the company-owned sta­
tioned and with no service because service is too costly, I think we
ought to serve notice on them here and now that they are in for
antitrust action. It’s a violation of the Clayton Act and the Shermant Act. They are going to be having troubles with investigating
committees in the Congress. We will investigate the living—out of
them until we really find out what is going on around here. This
industry can’t get by with it.
Mr. B insted . I must say, Senator, that I am very happy to see
that you understand the problem so well. We are in fact proposing
some legislation which would be a moratorium on the further for­
ward integration of the major oil companies until divertiture at the
retail level can be studied.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Y ou show that legislation to me at the
light time and we will get some action around here. We won’t let
that happen. We let the railroads get rid of all their trackage be­




39
cause they said it is too expensive, so now we can’t move our crops.
We are going to have a system in which either you have to live
on an interstate highway or be rich if you want to get anyplace.
Mr. B insted . In Maryland such legislation has already passed
the senate and the economic matters committee of the house of dele­
gates and the Governor has agreed that he will sign it. I hope that
maybe Maryland will be one of the first States to have such legisla­
tion to prevent this downstream vertical integration.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I have a son in the State senate in Minne­
sota. Why don’t you send him a copy of the bill? He has more zip
and go and is brighter than his father because it comes from his
mother’s side of the family.
Mr. B insted . I certainly will. We have an affiliate in your State
and I think we already have or will send this type of legislation to
them.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Thank you. I want to urge you to keep
on it. You have friends up here on Capitol Hill and we are not
about to permit hundreds and thousands of entrepreneurs that have
served their communities to be eliminated. In some areas, the gas
station is the only business in the neighborhood, you know, the
only place you have to go to get a bottle of pop or glass of water or
to use the lady’s room or men’s room. About the only place you
have to go. If these major oil companies are going to move in with
vertical integration and cut out the independent dealer, then we
have got to serve notice on the oil companies that they will have a
first-class war with public officials. Some will be with them, some
will be against them. I am going to be against them.
Mr. B insted . We certainly appreciate that.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And I am a good infighter and durable.
Mr. B insted . I think there is one warning that you mentioned
and that is the fact that, if we find all of these stations going to
gasoline-only operations, you will find what already is happening on
a smaller scale right now. Because of the supply shortage and be­
cause of lines, we have been kind of lax with sales of products
other than gasoline because either the public didn’t have the time,
did not want to take the time, or we couldn’t do wThat we feel we
should be doing to give the service to the customer. As a result,
some automobiles have been neglected as of this moment.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Right. And they represent a big invest­
ment for many of our people.
Mr. B insted . This is right.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . That had to happen. In order just to pump
the gasoline, many times the service station operator has had to
forego the other things he would have done ordinarily. Sometimes,
you know, I go to a little station out in my hometown and I hear
something in the car that isn’t right and I talk to him, and he gets
his mechanic out there and we fuss around and he tells me what is
wrong. We get it fixed. Well, this is a part of the pattern of life
in this country, and once we get these big outfits controlling us
they will give a minimum amount of service and a maximum amount
of price.
I tell you, I run a family drugstore. I know what goes 011. I am




40
not about to let the big shots take over entirely. They have got most
of it already.
Mr. B insted . We are building—as a matter of fact, we have built
quite a record on what is happening. As a matter of fact, I do
have a letter here from Smith and Persian—Gary Persian is the
attorney for the Minnesota Association of Petroieum Retailers—
outlining some cases.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . W e work with them, and any information
you have for the record on this issue will be very much appreciated
because we are going to try to be an ally here in the Congress to
protect competitive systems that we have and the dealer-owned
stations.
Mr. B insted . I think really that discussion pretty well covers
what the rest of my testimony was about. We are saying that legis­
lation should include a moratorium against further operation of
retail outlets by petroleum companies; and a dealer’s day in court
provision similiar to the one killed by President’s Nixon’s veto of
the Emergency Energy Act is a necessity too, because this type of
legislation prevents the companies from arbitrarily terminating
the very short-term leases; under that type of legislation they would
have to have at least a reasonable cause for terminating those leases.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Right.
Mr. B insted . We think that is the kind of companion legislation
we need along with the moratorium legislation.
Finally, just a note. I have heard much about the rumored depar­
ture of Mr. Simon, and we are concerned throughout the industry
that a complete change in the top management of FEO may not
be in the best interest of anyone at this time, whether or not we
agree with what Mr. Simon and Mr. Sawhill have done up to this
point. But I think a reeducation process for new leadership in there
is a luxury we just can’t afford at this time, and I certainly hope, if
such a recommendation comes before this Congress, that we would
get somebody to follow- Mr. Simon such as Mr. John Sawhill or
somebody like that, so we won’t have to go through a reeducation
process. I have seen this happen before in working with agencies,
and it does disturb us to some degree.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Good.
On the matter of vertical integration. Have you seen a pattern
where the big companies, big oil companies, watch to see which of
the retail outlets are the juicy ones—you know, the ones that have
the most business, I mean the most customers and sales—and then
noticed that those are the ones that are taken over by the company
when the lease runs out?
Mr. B insted . Exactly so. B.P. in this area----Chairman H u m p h r e y . That is British Petroleum?
Mr. B insted . British Petroleum. However, they always hasten
to add that they are a domestic company and a part of Standard
of Ohio and are not to be confused with B.P. I have referred to
them in testimony before, and they have always corrected that, so
I will correct it at the outset. However, in this area in particular,
right around the metropolitan area of Washington, wTe have a class
action now involving 10 B.P. dealers. What happened is that




41
they took the choice locations and told these dealers their leases
would not be renewed. They were going to take them over for “gas
and go.” They were going to continue to fly the B.P. logo. The
dealer would be transferred to some other location, a much less attrac­
tive location in all instances, and he would be denied the B.P.
logo and all of the associated advertising; they would allow him
to fly their William Penn brand name.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Oh, jolly.
Mr. Binsted. Sir?
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I say jolly.
Mr. B insted . Yes. And so at least 10 of the dealers in this area
said, “Well, they at least wanted to fight it in court.” So this is
occurring now and we are bringing it to the attention of the Fed­
eral Energy Office. We know that in some instances that is what
they look at. Gulf has done it. In some areas they have withdrawn
from markets, say, and in some they have kept some of their choicest
locations for carwash type or self-service type operations that will
be company operated, and this is so with many of the other maior
oil companies. That is the way Total is going to operate in Michi­
gan. And Mobil, just in reaction to some of the legislation that has
been passed or that they anticipate may be passed, has determined
they are going to take over their operations in Connecticut so that
they will not have to face this legislation.
I think it is interesting also to note that Exxon has written into
its lease what I believe to be a deliberate circumvention of the
proposed dealer’s day in court type of legislation which was a part
of the emergency energy bill. That legislation, as you probably
know, says that the company will not terminate, cancel or fail to
renew a dealer as long as he substantially complies with essential
and resonable requirements of the contract. Exxon’s new lease says
that the dealer agrees that all portions of the contract are fair,
essential, and reasonable and any violation of any provision will be
deemed substantial.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And therefore the loophole under the law ?
Mr. B insted . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Rather than to continue questioning with
you, Mr. Binsted, I am going to ask Mr. Brooks if he wants to make
his statement now, and then we can come back to question both of
you.
Mr. B rooks. Senator, not to change the subject but I am one of
those dealers that received notice as of June 30. Either buy the
place or get out of business.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Buy the place or get out of business?
Mr. B rooks. Yes. In the metropolitan area the company is not
renewing leases, and then it lets the station stay idle maybe a year or
two and then comes up with a self-service operation with a wash
rack. They have several stations now boarded up. I received my
letter 2 weeks ago. As of June 30 terminate the service or buy the
location.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . What company ?
M r. B rooks. This is Gulf. Gulf Oil.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Where is your station located?




42
Mr. B rooks. 5120 Georgia Avenue.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Brooks, we welcome any commentary
you have this morning. Do you have a prepared statement?
Mr. B rooks. I have a prepared statement. I was instructed to
keep my comments more or less to the Washington program. We
feel as though we have shortened the lines and in fact, as of yester­
day, we didn’t have any lines at any gas stations.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Very good.
STATEMENT OP WILLIAM J. BB00KS, PRESIDENT, GREATER
WASHINGTON-MARYLAND SERVICE STATION ASSOCIATION

Mr. B rooks. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, my name
is William J. Brooks and I am the president of the Greater Washington-Marvland Service Station Association, an organization of
more than 750 members.
The purpose of my appearing before you this morning is to ex­
amine the performance of the present gasoline allocation system.
How well it is working, and what changes if any governing the
present gasol;ne distribution should be made?
I am pleased to announce today that the loii£ lines of motorists
found waiting in sfations to purchase gasoline have been greatly
shortened and in some cases eliminated.
We feel that this was due in the District of Columbia to the
arrangement between the Mayor’s Office, the city office of petroleum
allocation and the Greafer Washington-Maryland Service Station
Association. Special arrangements involved 117 of the city’s 283
service stations to date.
At first we arranged for 17 service stations scattered throughout
the city to observe early morning opening hours—5 a.m., to 7 a.m.
Next came ¿0 stations scattered throughout the city with evening
hours from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. After the third day of operation there
was a considerable shortening of lines and cars were not needing as
much gas to fill up as before.
We later found it was better to close by 9 p.m. since demand
slackened off after that time and the last hour was unnecessary.
The firs^ week of March we had 20 stations open from 7 p.m. to
9 p.m. These were distributed throughout the city. With the extra
hours in the evening other stations found it easier to operate during
their regular hours and to give normal service to motorists. At this
point March allocations had begun to flow to all stations in the
city. Tlvs was also a shot in the arm to keep the lines down. The
117 dealers used so far in the program received from 7,800 extra
gallons of gas to 15,600 for early momma: stations. This extra gas
came from the city’s set-aside program. We hope eventually to use
all of the citv’s 283 stations in the program so that all stations and
motorists will receive equitable portions of the gasoline from the
set-asicle.
We would recommend that the committee examine the northeast­
ern section of the county from Virginia to Massachusetts and also
southwestern California, including Los Angeles, where long lines
are prevalent.




43
The scale should be balanced so that, where the number of ve­
hicles obviously has increased since 1972, a larger allocation of
gasoline should be provided for these areas.
We feel that the odd and even day purchase plan combined with
the $3 minimum purchase plan which our association originated has
been very successful in eliminating tank-topping. Our plan of hav­
ing motorists not request gasoline until their tanks are below half
full has also helped a great deal, and this also has been adopted
universally across the country.
We feel that we may have to put early-morning openings into
effect in the last week of this month if the lines show signs of in­
creasing. I would like to say here that this morning in the Wash­
ington Post there is an article concerning the cab situation in the
District of Columbia in which they are reported to have used their
March allocation and now for the rest of the month will have to draw
from the set-aside. I think this is going to put a burden on the
District under which we might go back to seeing a few lines. If
that is the case, then we have to go back and reestablish the program
we had in the last 4 days of February.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Brooks, you have been an innovator
and done a good deal here in the District of Columbia to alleviate
what was a very serious situation and I want to commend you and
your association.
Mr. B rooks. Thank you.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Y ou have done some very good work and
I hope that other communities will watch to see what you have done.
The mayor has been very cooperative in this matter and we are
indebted to you for it.
How did you decide how to distribute the special allotments in
the District of Columbia in February?
Mr. B rooks. Well, in February, Senator, we actually went down
to the Mayor’s Office on the matter Mr. De Lorenzi was speaking
about this morning, and the major’s aide said, “We have got this
gasoline to get rid of. What is your suggestion?” I said the best
way to do it is pump it through the pumps. We looked at the areas
on the map and took stations off the beaten path—more or less in
the communities and not on the main arteries. We felt that if we
opened early in the morning the citizens who went to work early and
didn’t get back until late in the afternoon would be served. In my
particular station, the first day I opened I had 125 cars in line, but
as of 1 1 o’clock in the morning we were completely out of cars,
no cars in line. So it really helped.
In the evening hours, we also service the people who were at work
and couldn’t get in line of the morning.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Binsted, if I may move to you for
a minute, there seem to be disparities among the supplies by the oil
companies to individual stations. Each company has a certain per­
centage of its 1972 supply but its dealers often report different
quotas. Do you observe any systematic discrimination against dealers
in remote areas, or between dealers with small stations and those
in highly competitive locations, or against franchised stations and
in favor of the companies’ own stations?




44
Mr. B insted . We have observed that. It was pretty prevalent
during the voluntary allocation program, and that is the reason we
supported the mandatory allocation system.
I was looking here for something I had, I don’t see it at the
moment. However it dealt with a dealer-operated Gulf service sta­
tion that was doing an average of around 40,000 gallons in 1972.
He was in there for a while in 1973 and then he was forced out of
the business, I think it was in January of this year, and Gulf took
it oArer. This happened to be in Louisiana. They started allocating
to themselves and pumping between 4,000 and 6,000 gallons a day
through what previously had been a 40,000 gallon operation.
The rules on new customers are not clear unfortunately. If a
dealer moves out and the station is closed a day or two, some of
the companies feel they can reallocate to themselves as a new custom­
er. The only thing the rule says about a new customer is that if the
supplier and the customer cannot agree on a base-period volume, the
new customer may applv to be assigned a base-period volume by
the FEO. Of course, if the customer is a major company supplying
itself what it considers it is going to sell, and it certainly is not
going to complain to the FEO that it is not supplving itself enough.
I think the only recourse we have now that I can determine is
probably filing the so-called FEO 1 , which is a complaint form, and
hoping some day that thins: will grind its way through the process
and get back and correc^ that situation. Very frankly, I think the
rule should be corrected to disallow the companies from making such
a change in an allocation to a historical site. At least they ought to
be required to look at others in the area as thev do when establish­
ing prices and not to be allowed to allocate to themselves arbitrarily
at a level that is four or five times greater than they were allocating
to the dealer which they squeezed out.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yes. Actually the present svstem is sort o f
an incentive to the big companies to take over certain stations so
as to be able to up the allocation.
Mr. B insted . I am afraid fo, yes. I am afraid so unless these
rules are a little bit more tightlv drawn in that respect or unless
we get out o f the general counsel’s office of FEO an interpretation
of this rule which will provide some guidelines as to how they
must operate allocations.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Binsted, in the past 18 months, 1,200

Minnesota service stations have closed. Another 10 percent it is
estimated, will fold in 1974, dropping total stations to about 4,000
by the year’s end. Is this normal around the country or are we
a little extraordinary in this respect ?
Mr. B insted . Well, service stations turnovers historically have
been high. Now, what we have been trying to determine is which
ones are closings and which are turnovers, because they do not all
fall into the same category. We were trying to set some figures
from Maryland. We had in the last quarter of 1973 I think 281.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . These are closings, these are not turnovers.
Mr. B insted . These are closings. Yes, in Virginia I think the re­
ported figure was about—I have forgotten whether it was 400 or
600. I don’t have those figures with me. But the turnover figures




45

also have gone up. There is a lag in the reporting of those figures
by API and others from whom we get the information. You can
get last quarter 1973 figures, but it is difficult to get real current
figures since we have gotten into the crunch. But historically we have
turnover figures of anywhere from 25 to 35 percent.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . But you had new dealers taking over.
Mr. B insted . That is right, because the operations were eco­
nomically unsound, or for one reason or another the operators
turned the service stations over. Some of those did close, however.
There seems not to have been too much growth in the past 5 years
based on the census figures that I have seen and the estimated census
figures to date on service stations. I believe that the industry has
been overbuilt and that some natural attrition is probably all right,
but I don’t want to see either Government or company euthanasia
hasten this sort of thing.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Binsted, this two-tiered system of
pricing for crude oil has resulted in a multitiered stratification for
products, including gasoline. So long as gasoline is short, even highprice stations can sell out their gas. If and when supplies become
a little easier in some regions, won’t the integrated companies with
domestic crude supplies be able to drive the nonintegrated distrib­
utors completely out of business?
Mr. B insted . The dealers will not be able to stand the wide
variances in prices that they have right now when supply meets
demand. We have variations of 10 or 12 cents per gallon, and the
public is not going to permit that if and when supply becomes
plentiful.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . What do you think we should be doing
about it?
Mr. B insted . Well, I think we have got certainly to do something
about changing the program. First of all, I don’t believe that we
can possibly predicate future refinery expansion or additional pro­
duction on $10 oil simply because foreign oil happens to be $10 oil.
Now, I haven’t gotten into the crude picture to any great degree.
The FEO and their regulations have kept me too busy working with
the immediate dealer problems. But to be honest wTith you, I don’t
believe that the two-tier structure is going to be totally workable,
because if you have somebody that is drawing only on foreign oil,
or only on new crude or released crude, he is going to have very
high cost of production and the people that control the domestic
crude, which is controlled, will probably have an advantage.
There have been some recommendations that perhaps the so-called
old crude be allowed to increase to some degree and that the price
of new crude and released oil be forced down. I know the problems
you have with the people with stripper wells who say that their
production is expensive, and I know the problems about offshore
drilling being more expensive, and you might be discouraging that.
Actually this is a problem that I don’t feel competent in trying to
solve. I know this will be a problem that you people are going to
be faced with.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Cox was just talking with me, a staff
member here. Do you want to put a question ? Since no other sub34-498— 74-------4




46
committee members are here, I am going to ask Mr. Cox of our staff
to interrogate for a moment here. Do you want to follow up on
that?
Mr. Cox. Well, if we adjust the prices of crude oil in order to
bring the prices of all gasoline into uniformity, given that about 70
percent of domestic crude production is now under the lower price
limit, that will just increase the bonanza to the majors and in­
crease the prices to the consumers all around, won’t it? And pass­
throughs of higher crude prices won’t do much for the gas dealer.
Isn’t that true ?
Mr. B insted . I agree with this and I have been in some dis­
cussions about this thing. As I say, I think it is a little bit outside
of my competence. However, I know that is one of the reasons for
discussing the windfall profit tax or the requirement that certain
moneys would be reinvested in production and expanded refinery
capacity and that sort of thing. But, yes, you are right. I would
necessarily mean, I believe, that we would see an increase in the
profits to these people. Yet I don’t see how the two- or three-tier
system that we really have can continue if in fact we get additional
product in the market.
Mr. Cox. Well, I don’t either, but it would seem to me that this
would mean escalating all prices to the gasoline buyer, perhaps not
to the highest level prevailing today, but to a level considerably
higher than the average prevailing today.
Mr. B insted . Well, I think probably prices have been historically
too low so far as gasoline is concerned, but there are a couple of
reasons for that, I guess. For instance, we have had some artificial
systems at work, such as the tax advantages and various other things
that have tended to keep the price of the product down and did not
make for the kind of free market that would have let gasoline
prices rise to what may have been a more proper level than they
were some time ago. I don’t think you are going to go back and
see prices that we saw just a few years ago.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Brooks, let me ask you, on these in­
novations that you have made in the District of Columbia, have
you had cooperation from the FEO on this?
Mr. B rooks. N o. We didn’t have any—this was a set-aside from the
District and we didn’t have to go to the FEO for any large amount.
But I would say that, after meeting in the State of Maryland with
Governor Mandel on Wednesday, and after Mr. Simon reviewed
the figures that he put out in the latter part of February, he did
give us an increase which enabled us to supply the 40 stations and
the 20 stations that we are going with now.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I know that most of the information about
the operations—the changes in schedules, the hours of the stations,
the extra stations that are open—that has been highly publicized
by the radio and television.
Mr. B rooks. Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . By the way, radio and TV have done a very
commendable job, here in the District, I must say, in keeping people
informed. Did the FEO make any effort to transfer the experience
in this area to other localities?




47
Mr. B rooks. Not that I know of. I haven’t been contacted. I don’t
think the City Office of Petroleum Allocation has been contacted
yet.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . What do you anticipate the effects of the
lack of routine servicing will be on your customers’ future repair
bills, and also might I say on the income of your stations?
Mr. B rooks. Well, at my particular operation, I open in the
morning at 7 :30 and my pumps are open for commercial business
from 8 until 12 and 3 until 6 or until the line ceases, which is
about 6 :15. I am open for services from 7 :30 in the morning until
3, but after I start pumping gas I can’t do anything except pump gas.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I know. That is all you can do during that
time. What I am getting at is that, from my experience of knowing
people in this business, I know that a lot of their income comes
from batteries, from tires and repairs. As a matter of fact, you
make more money off repairs and service than you do selling gas.
Mr. B rooks. That is correct. We try to keep the stations open
and try to get the dealers to post their hours for services. All day
Saturday I am open strictly for services because I can’t sell gas
but 5 days a week. On Saturday I am open from 8 to 4 for services.
This is when I try to schedule all of my repair work.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Has anybody from the Federal Energy
Office been in contact with you to gain the benefits of the experi­
ments that you have carried out here in Washington?
Mr. B rooks. N o, sir.
Chairman H u m p h rey. Y ou just hope that they have read about
it?

Mr. B rooks. Just through the media and the press release that
the Mayor had in his office on Friday, that is the only way I think
they picked it up. Nobody has contacted me nor the Office of Pe­
troleum Allocation.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Well, it sure seems to me that there is a
responsibility to try, as I said earlier here when the other witnesses
were here, to catalog these experiences and to make them available
nationwide.
Mr. B rooks. I will say our association is based in Bethesda, and
last Monday night we had a meeting with the Montgomery and
Prince Georges Commissioners in order to get the Prince Georges
and Montgomery Counties, which immediately adjoin the District
of Columbia, to give some type of allocation to stations so as to take
some of the load off us here in the District. And this is in process
now. I don’t know what the outcome will be.
Mr. B insted . I might say, Senator, that I have discussed it at
meetings with FEO, and they have taken the position that they be­
lieve the States are in a better position to develop some of the pro­
grams for this voluntary or semirationing type program than are
they, and that includes the matter of policing priority users and
commercial accounts and that sort of thing. Now, this has just been
in some meetings with FEO types on different levels.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Well, I think there is no doubt that the
responsible State officers and State associations can do most of this,




48
but as was said here earlier when the witness from AAA was here,
for the person that does interstate work and interstate driving
and for the people that may be going on a journey, there needs
to be some kind of catalog of standardized procedures so they know
what to expect as they go along the line. There is much that can be
learned from the different experiences that have taken place.
Gentlemen, can the service stations survive as small businesses
in America under conditions like those that we have seen lately,
where you have to spend most of your time pumping gas and
have to forego some of the normal services you extend?
Mr. B insted . Well, really, under the original regulations, we
could not. We did get some relief because of the fact that we had
faced such an enormous reduction in volume in some instances.
I think it was brought out here earlier that, when we are talking
about operating on 80 percent, we are talking about 80 percent of
1972, not of 1978 when we built up our business. We have tended to
lose 2 years’ growth which may be anywhere from 6 to 10 percent
per year. In some instances service stations have greater rates of
growth than that. So to force us back to earlier sales levels with
overhead expenses and pricing that are predicated on growth makes
it hard. The service station business always was predicated on vol­
ume sales, but now we cannot engage in volume sales. And as some
of the aftermarket people have been telling us—I believe it was
the Purolator filters or one of the other filter companies—their sales
were down in service stations. Why? Of course, wTith fewer hours
of operation you have less exposure to the public, and I think that
is the answer to your question. Some of the people, the high volume
stations, will suffer financially, but will survive. Many of the others
will not if the situation is not corrected pretty rapidly.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . The fact is that the repair work and serv­
ices—your sales of tires, batteries and accessories—take time but
are a very vital part of the service station operation, are they not?
Mr. B insted . It is an interrelated business. We used to look at
ratios among different categories of sales, but these ratios have kind
of gone out the window. We used to look at ratios and determine
whether our businesses were running properly. Of course, there are
different types of service stations, but generally speaking you look
at ratios of your other products and services to gasoline to see what
your business condition is.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Brooks, do you have any comments
on this?
Mr. B rooks. The only thing I can say right now, as far as the
small station is concerned, is that there is a move by the majors to
sort of remove the small 30,000-40,000-gallon station here in the
metropolitan area. Just 88 miles away, in Baltimore, you have
15,000-20,000-gallon stations.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . What do you mean by that?
Mr. B rooks. In other words, what the oil company considers a
marginal station in the metropolitan area of Washington is 30,00035,000 gallons a month. They don’t want to go lower than that;
38 miles away, in Baltimore, they have 15,000-20,000-gallon sta­
tions. What they are trying to do now is get rid of all the marginal




49
stations and just have a few of their major stations with high vol­
ume, to sort of regulate the public into buying there. This is the
trend. Of course, the small stations are in trouble, if not this year,
then next year. Many of them may be gone when this crisis is over,
if we don’t watch ourselves.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . This is the observation in my home State.
I mentioned the number of operators that have gone out of business.
We are up at the end of the pipeline up there, as you know, and we
have a real difficult time keeping the independents as effective and
profitable operators around our State. I remember one man up in
Sauk Centre, Minn., that had 27 years with one of the major com­
panies, and they just served notice that he was out of business;
they canceled his contract. We have had others that serve farm
areas that have just been canceled outright. And we have had a
tough time in getting replacements. Where do these customers go?
They have to go so much further to get their services. In the rural
areas this can be a very serious matter because distances are so much
longer.
Mr. Binsted, on these regional differences, regional disparities,
why are there such differences among regions of the country in
prices and adequacy of gasoline supply? We have high prices and
long lines along the northeast coast and certain other areas and
no lines and prices 10 to 20 cents lower in major oil producing re­
gions and others. Are the major oil companies selling gasoline at
the different prices in different regions?
Mr. B insted . Well, they always sold at somewhat different tankwagon prices in different regions, but it generally only varied a
cent or so depending on the supply situation in those areas.
I think most of your problem with price differentials now can
be traced to differences in the price of the raw product. What you
have in some areas is companies that are—let’s say that in one city
you have a company that has high cost products, raw products, and
they are the primary marketer there, or you have two or three of
them there that are the primary marketers and only a few of them
in that area are the ones producing from lower cost crude. In other
areas you may have just exactly the reverse situation. We have
seen that happen. I think that is the biggest cause for the differ­
ence in prices because, unless they are in violation, I don't see how
they can, you know, be that far apart.
As to distribution, one of the reasons is that the system so far
just hasn’t worked. The FEO 17, as I described earlier, has not
worked to provide for the additional product to accommodate
growth, and I don’t think that FEO itself had a handle on auto­
mobile registrations or whatever other criteria they were going to
use to determine where gasoline should go. Motor vehicle registra­
tions may work but only to a degree because our population is fluid.
We are a country of travelers, or had been, and particularly in this
area. In the service stations that I own in Washington, D.C., I
probably have as many Maryland motorists buying there as I have
District residents because they are 1 mile from the District line. So
3^ou can see that even motor vehicle registration is not a total and
complete answer to assessing growth needs. Unfortunately I think




50
we are going through a trial-and-error period here, and I think
that motor vehicle registration is probably one thing the FEO
can use but not the whole answer.
On the other hand, I think we are going to have to look at the
experiences on a month-by-month vasis if this thing continues.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . One other problem you have. The oil
industry in this country is like three or four separate nations.
The eastern seaboard depends almost entirely on imports. We in
the Midwest depend on domestic plus Canadian; that is between the
Alleghenies and the Rockies. And in the Rocky Mountains and the
West they again depend upon either California crude or imports.
So that there is a difference just by the very nature of the struc­
ture. I think it is a rather poor structure, as a matter of fact.
Mr. B insted . Well, this is correct. The structure within the in­
dustry has been criticized over a period of time because of the ver­
tical control and shared ownership, particularly in the pipeline
field.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Right.
Mr. B insted . And, of course, we do have pipeline terminals here,
you know, bringing the gas in from Texas.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yes.
Mr. B insted . But in the Northeast generally—particularly in fuel
oil, I think they are heavily dependent upon imports.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Almost entirely.
Mr. B insted . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Do you see any pattern where the big oil
companies that have low-priced oil, crude oil, may very well look
at a highly profitable retail area and decide to move their lowpriced crude in there to get rid of the independents?
Mr. B insted . We see what seems to be a redistribution of markets.
We find one major moving out of this area and concentrating in
another one; another major moving out of another area and con­
centrating in a different one. I don’t know whether it is a deliberate
carving up of the areas but I think it is something the Congress
should take a careful look at.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We have seen that out home. We have seen
some of the big majors move completely out of our State, They had
been there for years and decided they were going to go to Michigan
or Colorado, just leaving people hig;h and dry.
Mr. B insted . Y ou have got a withdrawal from markets and a
reconcentration in other markets; and also a change, as we men­
tioned earlier, from a branded product to a secondary brand as
Phillips did, I believe in Utah. They have got Blue Goose and all
the rest of them out there. All the different secondaries.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I have one other little note here about this
summer that I think might be interesting. Isn’t it likely that the
existence of the shortage and the efforts of people to conserve fuel
will so change driving patterns from 1972 that gasoline demands
will shift greatly from the pattern of driving that existed in that
base period? For instance, if people take their vacations closer to
home this year, wouldn’t we find unprecedented gasoline demands
in the nearby vacation spots and less than 1972 in the far off na­




51
tional parks, the Rock Mountains and the Big Horns, et cetera?
If city people take fewer excursions in the country, won’t the focus
of gasoline demand tend to shift from the country to the city?
Will FEO be able to foresee it? Even if they foresee it, can they
act to anticipate shortages under the rules?
Mr. B insted . I think that is one of the problems. As I men­
tioned, I don’t believe that motor vehicle registrations were a per­
fect answer to the problem of assessing shifting demands, and
your example illustrates one of the problems in dealing with just
motor vehicle registrations. 1 think another illustration of it has
already occurred. We had a report from Georgia, for instance, that
the service stations on their interstate highways that were not
located contiguous to a large metropolitan area were sometimes—
their sales wxre sometimes off as much as 60 percent.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yes.
Mr. B insted . So you will find that. Yes, this problem must be
addressed, and I don’t know how they can do it without looking at
it on the basis of experience, because you have to project what the
motoring public is going to do. If they have a feeling that gasoline
is going to be there and will be available, I think they may drive.
But the thrust of the educational program by FEO so far nas been
to conserve on nonessential driving, and if this has the effect they
intend for it to have, when summer gets here maybe the people
will not be on the road.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Well, I can tell you we are already getting
letters in our office saying, “ Is it possible for me to drive to Wash­
ington? Can I be sure I will get gasoline all the way?” They don’t
know. They know from Mankato, Minn., they can get gasoline up
to Madison, Wis., but they are not a bit sure from there on out.
The local radio and television bring them that news, but from there
on out they don’t have the slightest idea.
Working people, of course, are not the ones that travel in the
Caribbean; they just like to get up to a northern Minnesota lake
with a canoe rather than to the Caribbean with a yacht, and they
are wondering whether they are going to have enough gas. I am just
posing this problem. We are going to bring this up with Mr. Sawhill
because the whole recreation industry is in absolute total confusion
and, of course, much of it is in serious economic difficulty today.
Out our way, for example, an industry that meant thousands of
jobs for our people, was the snowmobile. That industry has just
about disintegrated because of lack of fuel and the pressure that
was brought to conserve fuel. Well, you try to find me 2,500 jobs
for people out at Thief River Falls, Minn., you know, that is the
difference between living well and starving or going broke. And, you
know, you can sit down here in Washington and philosophize and
talk about the Nation and all that, but I have to go home and talk
to the people in hometowns. When I get out there, I find out they
are just out of luck; all they have now is welfare and unemploy­
ment compensation and, quite frankly, the folks I am privileged to
represent—when they need it, we want to give it to them—but
they prefer, like you people, to go to work and make a living.




52
We have got one heck of a mess on our hands. I really worry
about this summer. The winter we have survived because winter
recreation is not as elaborate and extensive in our area as summer
recreation. Of course, we have just dozens of people going out of
business out there this year even though we have had less difficulty
with the shortage than you have had here on the Eastern Seaboard
or in the middle Atlantic States. We are not as populated, we don’t
have the extreme change in population patterns, but in the summer
time we are a big recreation area. Recreation is the second largest
industry in my State next to agriculture, and we are really worried
about what is going to happen. We have got hundreds of millions
of dollars in investments in recreation and we have some of the
finest facilities. And people come from down south up to Minnesota
in the summer time. They like to come up here. Ely, Minn., Brainerd,
Minn., lovely areas in the northern part of our State. People come
from the Eastern Seaboard. It is family country. This isn’t Tahoe
or Las Vegas. You are not out there to gamble, except see whether
you can catch a fish. We are just wondering whether anybody is
going to be able to drive out there at all, and I am getting letters
from people right now from different parts of the country who
say, “Do you think if I can get to your State I can get some gaso­
line?”
Mr. B insted . The truth is that, allocations are based on motor
vehicle registrations, they will not take care of a large influx of
people you have coming into your State as tourists. Incidentally, we
are going to bring our convention to your State next year.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Where are you going, to Brainard?
M r. B insted . Y es, sir.
H u m p h r e y . Y o u ’ll love it,
M r. B insted . I have forgotten the name o f the lodge.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . It is beautiful out there.

Chairman

Well, I have to let you go. I get to talking about Minnesota and
I want to go home right now. There are a lot of folks who think I
never should have come down here.
Thank you very much, Mr. Brooks, and thank you very much,
Mr. Binsted.
[The following information was subsequently supplied for the
record by Chairman Humphrey in the context of the testimony of Mr.
Binsted:]
N orth C a r o l in a S ervice S t a t io n A s s o c ia t io n , I n c .,
Raleigh , N.C., March 27 , 1974•

Attention: Dr. William Cox.
Senator H ubert H . H u m p h r e y ,
Joint Economic, Committee, Subcommittee on Consumer Economics, Senate Office
Building, Washington , D.C.
D ear M r . C ox : Enclosed is a report of the conditions in North Carolina.
This information is to accompany the testimony of Charles Binsted, Executive
Director of National Congress of Petroleum Retailers before the Joint Eco­
nomic Committee, Subcommittee on Consumer Economics hearings on Gasoline
Distribution, March 12, 1974.
Sincerely,
A v er y C. U p c iiu r c ii .

Enclosure.




53
S u m m a r y R e p o r t o f A v e r y C . U p c h u r c h , E x e c u t iv e D ir e c t o r ,
N o r t h C a r o l in a S e r v ic e S t a t i o n A s s o c i a t io n , I n c ., o n A b u s e s o f B u l k
G a s o l i n e S t o r a g e , M a r c h 27, 1974

The North Carolina Service Station Association has received reports from
throughout North Carolina of installation of gasoline pumps and tanks at
Commercial establishments. Federal Energy Office by its regulations places all
Commercial establishments as priority users of gasoline, therefore, they are
allowed to submit an application and be assigned a supplier.
This Association request an immediate change in these regulations. If gaso­
line is available for this use the Service Station at which these businesses are
purchasing gasoline should be supplied the amount allocated these firms.
Violations of the Federal regulations are taking place at privately installed
gasoline tanks. Gasoline allocated is supposed to be used entirely for the
operation of the Commercial establishment. None of the gasoline should be used
in personal vehicles, however, we know this is being done in all cases investi­
gated. The following list gives examples from several cities in the State. The
Association Office has names of all businesses mentioned and will disclose
to proper authority for investigation. It would be very easy to increase this
number by several hundred. All tanks installed included in this report have
taken place since January 1, 1974.
Goldsboro, five Companies, three of which installed tanks for the first time,
two others enlarged present facilities.
A dealer in Charlotte reported four firms installed tanks during March
ranging from one to five thousand gallons, also, reported by another dealer,
a Charlotte base firm has leased several abandoned Service Stations in North
and South Carolina for the purpose of storaging gasoline.
A dealer in Sanford, reported four firms installed tanks and have gasoline,
also, from that area is reported a man who owns a horse and has four auto­
mobiles has been allocated farm gasoline, this man is not a farmer.
A dealer in High Point reports that a Gulf Service Station is closing after
fifteen years and a Commercial account at that Station desired to begin trading
with the dealer making this report. The FED office informed this Commercial
account to complete a FEO 17 and they could receive gasoline in a tank at
their business. This gasoline could not be delivered to the Service Station.
A dealer in Greensboro reports that a wholesale Florist purchased an aver­
age of 5,000 gallons per month. They now have their own tank as of February
1974. This dealer no longer services the vehicles from this firm which included
personal cars.
A dealer in Raleigh reports tanks being installed in his area and as a result
he will lose seventeen accounts ranging from 400 to 4,000 gallons per month.
This station was built in a location to service such accounts. This will cause
the dealer to lose his business. If all of these businesses in that area are al­
lowed on allocation it should go through the Service Station. This dealer also
reports a Commercial firm is allowing employees to buy gasoline from the
Company tank for their personal use. Also, from Raleigh a dealer reports that
he lost a 2,000 gallons per month account in March 1974. Part of this gasoline
was for personal family cars none of which have returned to the Service
Station. Another Raleigh dealer reports he lost a Commercial account March
1, gasoline sales of $500.00 and also he lost over $300.00 per month in other
products and services.
It is also reported a City Bus system is selling employees twelve gallons of
gasoline per week out of Company supply.
There has been many reports of Commercial businesses purchasing gasoline
at Service Stations and using their personal storage as a back up supply
whenever the local station is without gasoline.
In all cases cited the dealer is losing gasoline sales as well as the sales of
other products and services required. We see no reason that Service Stations
could not receive gasoline and records could be keep to show that all jrrns
received its proper allocation.
The North Carolina Service Station Association feels this an adequate
number to indicate the seriousness of the problem. A system must be devised
by which the Service Station dealer can honor priority users and obtain the
necessary gasoline.




54
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We have another witness here, Bill Brier,
accompanied by Donald Hanes.
Sorry to keep you wating so long, Mr. Brier. You are with the
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, is that correct?
Mr. B rier. Yes, sir.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And Mr. Hanes is your vice president in
charge of public relations, and you are the director of energy
resources ?
Mr. B rier. Yes, sir.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We are keenly interested in what you have
to say. You just proceed. We are trying to build a record here. Two
days from now we have the Government witnesses here and we
thought we would get you folks in here so we can ask some better
questions of our Government witnesses.
Go right ahead, sir.
STATEMENT OF BILL BRIER, BIRECTOR OF ENERGY RESOURCES,
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF FARMER COOPERATIVES, ACCOMPANIED
BY DONALD K. HANES, VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC RELATIONS

Mr. B rier. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Bill Brier and
I am director of energy resources for the National Coimcil of
Farmer Cooperatives. I am accompanied by Don Hanes, vice presi­
dent, public relations of the council. The national council is a na­
tionwide organization of 106 farmer-owned and controlled regional
cooperatives business organizations, plus 32 State councils of farmer
cooperatives. These cooperatives in turn serve about 1.5 million
farmer members throughout the United States. Farmer coopera­
tives own and operate eight refineries which supply about 40 to
50 percent of their total fuel needs. The remaining product is pur­
chased on the outside, generally from major oil companies.
Supply cooperatives are committed to serving the fuel needs of
thir farmer-members. Depending on the cooperative involved, 50
to 90 percent of all fuel sold through the cooperative system qualifies
for “agricultural production” under Federal Energy Office regula­
tions. In addition, another 5 to 15 percent of the fuel sold by co­
operatives falls into one or more priority categories.
Briefly, the national council would like to discuss the importance
of agriculture to this Nation. Agriculture is literally the lifeblood
and the cornerstone of this Nation’s economy. The energy crisis
and thus the dependence on oil imports makes agriculture the most
important offsetting export this Nation has. Thus there is an obvious
need for a national commitment to full agricultural production.
Unfortunately domestic fuel shortages have a much more severe
effect on agriculture than on the Nation as a whole and make it
practically impossible for agriculture to meet this Nation’s food
and fiber production goals without Government assistance. The Na­
tional Council estimates that a 15 percent domestic fuel shortage
could be translated into as much as a 20-25 percent fuel shortage
in agriculture. This differential between agriculture and the Nation
as a whole exists principally for four basic reasons :
(1) As energy supplies constrict, historic major suppliers with­




55
draw from rural markets in favor of the higher profit urban mar­
kets. Since no more than three or four major suppliers serve any
one rural market, the withdrawal of a single supplier can decrease
fuel supplies significantly. Remaining suppliers cannot take up the
slack since many of them already have current customers on alloca­
tion. This phenomenon causes significant supply-demand gaps in
some markets.
(2) Independents, including cooperatives, which are historic sup­
pliers in rural markets are more vulnerable to constriction in
supplies because of this traditional dependence on the major oil
companies. When major oil companies’ fuel supplies constrict, a
normal marketing practice comes into play. Oil companies with
large retain operations try to restrict outside sales so as to conserve
fuel for sale through their own retail operations.
(3) The fuel needs of agriculture are up more dramatically than
the Nation as a whole. While there is no set-aside, 45 million new
acres have been committed to production since 1972. The new acre­
age is probably more marginal, thus requiring more fuel per acre.
(4) The fuel needs of agriculture are unique in that specific fuels
are needed at specific times for specific purposes. Generally no
acceptable substitute can be made available. Agriculture is different
from other businesses in that lost production cannot be made up.
Fuel must be available for planting and harvest at the specific
times needed. By the same token, a farmer is limited by the fuel
he can use based on the equipment he owns. Suppliers also lose
a degree of flexibility during periods of short supply since reduced
inventories make it difficult, if not impossible, to respond immedi­
ately to spot shortages which often develop in rural areas during
periods of heavy fuel use.
After briefly examining the importance of agriculture to the
national economy and the unique problems of agribusiness in obtain­
ing adequate fuel supplies, the national council would like to
comment briefly on the Government response to these problems.
Significant problems have been encountered on the operations level
of various fuel programs. However, the council believes that a firm
commitment to a high priority for agriculture exists at the highest
levels of both the executive and legislative branches of Government.
For the sake of discussion, the National Council would like to divide
these problem areas into eight broad categories.
The first problem is the priority for agriculture.
The national council feels the subcommittee should be aware that
the mandatory fuel allocation program as interpreted by the Fed­
eral Energy Office will not guarantee “ agricultural production”
will receive 100 percent of its current energy needs as widely as­
sumed. The problem is that while the regulations provide that the
qualifying end users will receive 100 percent of this current needs,
they do not guarantee that the end user’s supplier will be able to
obtain that fuel.
If a supplier not directly supplying an end user has an allocation
fraction of less than one, and if demand exceed his supply, he then
subjects fuel destined for certified agricultural production to his
allocation fraction. Since there are shortages, it is safe to assume




56
that most suppliers’ allocation fractions will be less than one. Thus,
in many cases, agricultural production will be limited to a portion
of current needs rather than 100 percent.
The second problem is the propane program.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Boy, and how.
Mr. B rier . The importance of propane to agriculture cannot be
overemphasized. In particular, swine, poultry, and grain production
are heavily dependent on this important farm fuel.
In addition, the entry of nonhistoric users into the market have
until recently made it extremely difficult for agriculture to obtain
the propane it needs. Manufacturing and utilities are becoming
large users of propane as a substitute for natural gas when that
fuel is not available.
The national council is concerned that the mandatory allocation
portion of the propane regulations will in essence expire on April 30.
The council strongly believes that either new regulations should be
written or the current regulations extended.
The public should not be lulled into a false sense of security as
a result of the current surpluses since it is important to note that
the production of propane has not increased significantly. Given
the proper weather conditions these surpluses can rapidly disappear.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . What about prices. My propane prices
back home in Minnesota are up 300 percent. I have never seen
anything like it. They went up from 17 cents to 47, 48, 49 cents,
something like that, and the reason, they say, is that there is a
scarcity and we have got to raise the price.
Mr. B rier. Well, I think if you will check recent figures you
will notice that there has been a drop of several cents a gallon.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Just recently, because the FEO went after
them and started to get after some of these industrial users of
propane.
Mr. B rier. That is right, but surprisingly enough right now
there is a surplus of propane. In fact, I understand that some of
it may have been flared recently in California.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Well, I ’ll be damned.
Mr. B rier. Storage tanks for the most part are full.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Isn’t that something, and our people out
there—we get more letters about propane. We are big poultry
raisers, the largest turkey State. We need propane to dry up the
corn, to dry the soybeans. We have got to have it and we have had
one heck of a time, and the price has been exhorbitant.
Mr. B rier. I think a lot of the problem was based on the pricing
regulations of the Cost of Living Council before the FEO came
into existence, which caused large quantities of propane to be
artificially kept off the market. Tn other words, the majors that
owned propane were forced to sell that propane at, say, 6 to 9 cents
a gallon. Since the market price was, let’s say, 20 cents a gallon,
obviously they were very hesitant to put that propane on the mar­
ket. At the same time there was a number of independents and
brokers who, of course, took advantage of the situation. Unfor­
tunately they were not covered by the pricing regulations and sold
propane for 40 cents a gallon or whatever the market would bear.




57
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Then they get after the people for cheat­
ing on their income tax. This is worse. I am pleased that you have
given us this testimony because I am personally very much upset
about this problem. The whole neighborhood where I live in Min­
nesota, the wThole community uses propane. The lady that keeps
our home out there in Minnesota—I asked her, I said, “ Irene, what
is your fuel bill?” She has just a little-bitty house. She paid $187
in the month of February for propane. My own bill for the 1 months
that we were out there was $267 as compared to $90 a year ago*
Mr. B rier . Well, I think if you look at the artificial pricing
problems that were created by the Government, and then also look
at the nonhistoric users that are coming into the market, the short­
ages are easy to understand. I think you would be surprised to find
out, for example, how much propane Washington Gas Light Co.
has in storage, for example, in Conway, Kans., which is a large
propane depot for the entire Nation. While perhaps necessary, these
types of tactics keep large amounts of propane off the market and
unavailable to agriculture.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I won’t ask you any more questions. My
temperature is rising.
Mr. B rier . Turning to the lubricant program. Subpart K of the
mandatory allocation program does not provide priorities for any
class of users. Lubricants are to be allocated according to the
corresponding calendar quarter of 1972. Agricultural production
has not as yet suffered from this lack of priority primarily because
many suppliers have been providing lubricants based on current
needs rather than the regulations.
However, the national council doubts this can go on much longer.
Therefore, it seems logical that priority users of lubricants should
be provided the same priorities they receive under power fuel classi­
fications. Without necessary lubricants, gasoline and diesel supplies
for agricultural production at the level of current needs are useless.
I would like to comment briefly on Federal Energy Office coordi­
nation. Unfortunately mail}' of the mandatory programs are not
working because of bureaucratic buckpassing between two levels
of Federal and one level of State responsibility. There is an absence
of strong administrative authority from Washington. Often State
and regional offices are forced to handle problems with little direct
guidance or assistance producing different interpretations of the
same rules. The national council believes that strong central leader­
ship is necessary for an effective nationwide allocation program
adequately serving the needs of priority users.
I would also like to comment briefly on two-tier domestic crude
oil prices. The Government, by regulation, fixes the price of so-called
domestic old oil at about $5.25 per barrel. This production accounts
for about 70 to 80 percent of the total domestic supply. Newly
discovered oil and stripper oil is exempt from price controls ana
currently sells for about $10.35 per barrel.
This policy discriminates against cooperatives and many other
independent refiners because their inland refineries are often located
near fields with an unusually high percentage of stripper well pro­
duction. Thus, the farmer buying from a cooperative, which in some




58
cases is his only source of supply, is paying as much as 5 to 10 cents
a gallon more for his product than his counterpart buying from a
major oil company.
The national council strongly supports a one-tier pricing system
to eliminate this obvious inequity. Oil under this system should be
priced high enough so as to not discourage stripper production
in States where refineries utilizing this product are located.
In addition, no specific provisions are made under current regula­
tions to move fuel supplies to a given geographical area to adjust
to seasonal needs of agriculture. During harvest and in some cases
planting, large influxes of labor are generally necessary to handle
the extra work. This labor generally travels long distances to follow
planting and harvesting patterns. At the same time, the farmer is
now under increasing pressure to guarantee the availability of fuel
supplies before crews commit themselves to a given area.
Because of the limited time period for planting and harvest, the
national council strongly believes fuel must be committed to given
area in anticipation of the peak fuel needs of agriculture.
As was mentioned earlier in the testimony, suppliers are with­
drawing for economic reasons from many rural markets. This leaves
a gap between supply and demand which remaining suppliers are
unable to fill. Therefore, provisions must be made to either signifi­
cantly increase fuel supplies in these areas to remaining suppliers
or prohibit major suppliers from withdrawing from less profitable
rural markets in favor of higher profit urban markets.
By 1985 about »30 percent of U.S. oil output from the continental
United States will come from offshore sources. The offshore areas
probably hold the greatest remaining uncommitted domestic oil
reserves. Unfortunately, the Government discriminates heavily
against the independent seeking to enter the market.
Much of the problem is bonus bidding. Bonus bidding, coupled
with low royalties, has the effect of excluding independents by
requiring large initial cash payments unrelated to exploration or
production. This ties up vast amounts of capital which is difficult
for independents to justify or even raise.
The national council would also like to take this opportunity to
comment briefly on two recent charges against agriculture made by
various groups. The first complaint is that farmers are hoarding
fuel because of their high priority category. The second complaint
is that the definition of “ agricultural production” is too broad.
In the council’s judgment, the American farmer is not hoarding
fuel. Full on-farm fuel storage tanks are normal at this time of
year and represent an effort by the farmer to prepare for planting
season. In many cases, on-farm storage tanks have no more than
a 300-500 gallon capacity—hardly enough to take most farmers
through the planting season and less, in most cases, than a 30-day
supply.
As for the second criticism, there is no question that the “ agri­
cultural production” definition is broad. However, the national
council would like to emphasize that without adequate fuel for
transportation, processing, and marketing, on-farm fuel is meaning­
less and a priority category for agriculture is useless.




59
In closing, the national council pledges that farmer cooperatives,
despite the adversities described today, will continue to try to
meet the fuel needs of rural America. The council is convinced that
cooperatives, based on the strength of their f armer-owners, can meet
the challenge. Farmer cooperatives are committed to this market
and are currently working on methods to increase their ability to
provide fuel to meet this Nation’s food and fiber goals.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Very good testimony. Thank you very
much, Mr. Brier. I want you to know that as you have been testify­
ing I have been marking up your testimony to ask questions of
Mr. Sawhill on Thursday, so that we can get some clarification here
and also to get some reemphasis upon agricultural needs as we go
into this planting season.
Now, I have a few questions, just very brief ones, because we are
late.
As you have stated, wholesalers and retailers are provided with
a set percentage of their 1972 base.
Mr. B rier . Yes, sir.
Chairman H u m p h r e y , Yet they are expected to serve their priority
users with 100 percent of their current needs from this total. This
may work in most areas but it does not work for the rural supplier
who has mainly priority users, for example, farmers. Regardless
of what the regulations say about the farmer’s priority, he simply
cannot get all he needs from his supplier who is being limited to a
set percent of his 1972 base. Farm acreage has gone up since then.
The demand is greater. What do you see the FEO doing to correct
this disastrous misallocation before it hits our farmers during spring
planting ?
Mr. B rier . In my judgment the Hess telegram which was sent
out to all regional offices is basically responsible for this new inter­
pretation. Up until about a month ago when the telegram was sent,
most major oil companies were defining agricultural production as
coming off the top; in other words, current needs meant that cur­
rent needs not subject to an allocation.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Fine. We’ll look into that with Mr. Saw­
hill, too. The scarcity of fertilizer this spring could very easily
result in substantial shortfall in projected U.S. agricultural pro­
duction.
We have had other hearings on fertilizer. While part of this
problem of shortage results from lack of adequate fertilizer pro­
ducing capacity, part also results from a scarcity of natural gas
essential to fertilizer production. Therefore, the question: Are our
fertilizer producers getting enough natural gas to permit them to
run their plants very close to capacity ? If not, how can this critical
problem be overcome so that production can be quickly maximized
and grocery store prices held under reasonable control by better
production? This is, of course, the administration’s formula to con­
trol inflation. What do you have to offer us in terms of information
on this subject?
Mr. B rier . Well, Mr. Chairman, as far as cooperatives are con­
cerned, they are building new anhydrous plants in Canada, because
there are not enough natural gas supplies in this country. I think




60

a lot of the problem is based on the fact that we are wasting a lot
of natural gas. For example, we allow natural gas to be used by
electrical utilities to generate electricity which is then used to pro­
vide heat when we could provide that natural gas directly to the
end users and save three times as many Btu’s.
I think we have to recognize that natural gas is really the cadillac
of all the fuels that we have. Due to pricing policies in the past,
a lot of manufacturing companies have obviously turned to this
as a source of fuel because of its cheapness and availability at the
time, when in reality they should have been using some other fuel.
I think we got into a situation where we made a lot of commitments
and we don’t have the exploration going on for natural gas that
we had 5 years ago. So I think basically it is a reexamination of
the pricing policies for natural gas and a decision by the Govern­
ment to limit natural gas to certain historic users that are needed.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Very well. Farmers are complaining that
they are being asked by suppliers to fill out an FED form 17 for
each delivery. You’re familiar with that? That is a nuisance and, of
course, it costs them time. As I understand it, the vast majority of
these sales do not require an FEO Form 17 under current regula­
tions. Apparently the oil companies either misunderstand the FEO
regulations or wish to harass our farmers, or else they have some
game they are playing with these forms. What do you know about
this situation and its motivation, and what can we do to remove the
unnecessary burden on our farmers?
Mr. B rier. From the standpoint of farmer cooperatives, we have
in some cases required farmers to fill out the form once to give us
his estimated fuel needs. The reason for this, I think, is a recogni­
tion on the part of a lot of the oil companies that they are essen­
tially vulnerable if they can’t justify priority supplies. In other
words, they are taking supplies from other users and they want
to protect themselves legally, and unfortunately the farmer winds
up the fall guy.
As far as our cooperative system is concerned, we feel reasonably
confident that our local cooperatives could provide accurate esti­
mates of priority needs without the farmer becoming involved in
the long form-filling out process.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . N o w , a question on our Natioirs migratory
labor forces. They are a big group in our country. They are con­
cerned they won’t be able to earn a living in the spring and summer
unless some steps are taken now. Not only will these workers suffer
if they cannot be assured of gas they need. Many of our fruit and
vegetable crops simply will not be harvested. Of course, this will
mean bankruptcy to so many. I have got a considerable amount of
data on this. What must be done by the FEO to protect thousands
of migrant farmers, the farmers that they work for, and the con­
sumers who will pay the ultimate consequences of failure to give
our migrant workers enough gasoline?
Mr. B rier . I think a recognition is developing right now of the
problem at FEO and movement of supplies into areas prior to
harvest or planting would help solve the problem. In other words,
we can’t respond to this type of labor problem in agriculture as we




61
responded to the retail gasoline sale problem here on the east coast.
We can’t wait until it is already upon us and then try to do some­
thing about it. Obviously the farmer will lose his crop that way.
So I think it is an issue of anticipation.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I think we will conclude our hearing.
Thank you very much.
Mr. B rier. Thank you.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . The subcommittee stands recessed until 10
o'clock Thursday morning, when wre w7ill hear from John Sawhill,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Energy Office; Fred Allvine, pro­
fessor of marketing, Georgia Institute of Technology; and Herbert
Elisli, director, New York City Energy Office.
[Whereupon, at 12:55 p.m., the subcommittee recessed, to recon­
vene at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 14, 1974.]

34-498— 74-







GASOLINE DISTRIBUTION
TH URSDAY, M A RC H 14, 1974
C ongress of t h e U n ited S tates ,
S ubcommittee on C o nsum er E conomics
of t h e J o in t E conom ic C o m m itte e ,

Washington, D.C.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to recess, at 1 0 :10 a.m., in room
S-407, the Capitol Building, Hon. Hubert H. Humphrey (chairman
of the subcommittee) presiding.
Present: Senators Humphrey, Proxmire, Javits, and Percy; and
Representative Fraser.
Also present: Loughlin F. McHugh, senior economist; William
A. Cox and Lucy A. Falcone, professional staff members; and
Michael J. Runde, administrative assistant.
O pen ing S ta tem ent of C h a ir m a n H u m p h r e y

Chairman H u m p h r e y . I will call to order the meeting of the Sub­
committee on Consumer Economics of the Joint Economic Commit­
tee, and I want to thank Mr. John S&whill for his cooperation in
making his time available to us today. It seems like we do take a
great deal of your time but I think it is quite necessary at this stage.
I have an opening statement, Mr. Sawhill, that I want to read.
It will not take too long and you may want to make some comments.
Of course, wre are all very pleased, as we read the morning press,
to learn that the Arab oil embargo is about to be lifted. At least
that is the indication, and we hope that that is the fact. This is
good news and should provide some measure of relief to motorists
by the beginning of the peak summer driving season, and indeed,
some measure of relief to our entire economy.
However, this does not change the fact, as I see it, that we have
a long-range or long-run energy crisis. Supplies were tight before
the embargo and will be so after it is lifted. This subcommittee was
conducting hearings almost a year ago on the energy problem and
at that time we were deeply concerned as to the race between supply
and utilization. We must, therefore, not relax our conservation
efforts nor our efforts to produce more of our own energy at home,
and I worry in light of the attitude of many of our fellow Ameri­
cans that when things seem to ease up, we seem to ease up. I would
hope that we would concentrate our attention upon the conserva­
tion efforts that we made thus far and maintain them. Both en­
deavors—conservation and producing more of our own energy—
are essential if we are to eliminate the threat of foreign economic
blackmail by those who control the oil taps.




(63)

64
I might mention that there still is no peace in the Middle East.
Artillery duels between Syria and Israel are in their third day.
We hope and pray that the lifting of the embargo is a permanent
action on the part of the Arab nations, but it could be reimposed
if there were renewed hostilities. It is thus very important that we
maintain certain reserves and also certain practices.
The Federal Energy Office’s gasoline allocation program under­
went a severe test in February and emerged, I would say, with
rather mixed reviews. Critical supply deficiencies in many areas
took more than a month to relieve. At the first sign of relief,
President Nixon declared that the energy crisis was over, but not
even his own energy advisers seemed to believe him. Two days after
the President’s statement, you, Mr. Sawhill, whom we shall hear
this morning, told a group of journalists that, “the energy crisis
is not even fully upon us yet.” I might add, from my point of view,
I think you are right. And the March allocations of gasoline to
nearly half of the States actually provide less gasoline per day of
the month than in February. This applies to many of the States
hardest hit by the February shortage.
Now, the total gallonage is up from March, of course, but the
arithmetic of our calendar is rather interesting. There are 31 days
in March and 28 days in February, so the per-day amount of gaso­
line is reduced below the February levels.
The fact that the March allotments appear to be smaller on a
daily basis in these States raises the question why the gas lines
disappeared so promptly after the first of the month. Of course,
some redistribution of supplies was carried out by FEO, and some
improvements were introduced in service station hours and prac­
tices. It also is possible, however, that FEO’s announcement that
dealers and refiners would receive higher markups on gasoline after
March 1 resulted in a buildup of supplies all along the distribution
chain and accounted for much of the shortage prior to March 1 .
This would account for the big jump in primary gasoline invenventories reported by the American Petroleum Institute for the
week ending on March 1 .
In other words, the inventories were building up as the lines
were longer, and now that the price has gone up, the inventories
seem to be available and the lines are shorter.
If this is what did occur, it was a major mistake by FEO to
announce the price adjustments in advance of their implementa­
tion. In the same vein, we might ask whether the delay in pass­
throughs of crude oil cost increases until the first of each month
may help to explain the end-of-month shortages that have caused
such inconvenience to motorists each month since November. I guess
what I am saying is that I do not trust the oil companies on this
business. They have been making exorbitant profits, incredible
profits, shameful profits in many instances, at a time when many
people are being taken to the cleaners. The average American family
is paying $200 a year extra for gasoline while the oil companies
are wallowing, to use an often-repeated word, in profits. And so
I get a little suspicious when I see the inventories that were built
up at the end of February and were available in large amounts
in the first week of March at the very time, of course, that a price




65
increase came in. There were long lines of cars in February and
the lines are shortened in March.
Now, if I had not been in Washington so long, I might not be so
suspicious but, I am suspicious.
While most peoples’ eyes have been riveted on the long lines at
the gas pumps, the oil companies have raised retail gasoline prices
30 percent in the last year at a cost of about $200 a year for the
average American family.
Indeed, it appears that the oil companies’ strategy has worked.
The oil embargo is about to be lifted. Oil companies, I repeat, are
reaping exorbitant profits. The ranks of independent dealers have
been decimated and thousands of franchised operators are threat­
ened with contract termination. And, a number of other market
factors make the future look bright for the big oil companies and
bleak for the independents and consumers.
On Tuesday, this subcommittee heard testimony that Federal
regulations were at least partly to blame for the astronomical price
levels reached this winter for propane, which is widely used for
heating in rural areas, especially by lower income people and people
on farms. The subcommittee was told that low price ceilings on
propane caused substantial hoarding. We also learned that the
provisions for passthroughs of refining costs caused excessive mark­
ups on propane by oil refi?iers. The price of propane went up to
manv times its normal level during the heating season, and now,
coming to the end of the season, we are told that huge surplus of
this fuel exists all across the country. It is this sort of thing that
destroys all credibility in government and, may I say, destroy con­
fidence in the private enterprise system.
Other testimony before the subcommittee indicated that the sys­
tem of end-user priorities for gasoline is not working satisfactorily
in some cases. In particular, rural petroleum dealers, who are sup­
posed to supply farmers with the full amount of their current
gasoline needs.- are getting the same reduced quotas of gasoline
as other distributors.. In other words, the priorities system does
not apply at the dealer level, and some rural dealers—especially
farmer cooperatives, as they testified here the day before yesterdav,
are not getting enough to fully meet the requirements of their
priority customers. Now, listen, we are pinning our hopes of sta­
bilizing food prices and of paying for our oil imports on the ability
of farmers +o produce record crops this year. This will require
much more fuel than in the 1972 base year of the allocation program
rather than less.
Apparently, the FEO and the Department of Agriculture have
not been talking to each other. Since 1972, our farmers have been
exhorted bv this Government to plant an additional 60 million
acres to meet rapidly expanding export demand. Now that is as
much as all the food acreage in the whole country of France. That
is a lot of acreage. Our effort to get this additional production
from our farms is undermined bv the lack of an adequate alloca­
tion of petroleum products for planting, transporting, drying, and
harvesting this additional crop.
I might add that this, of course, is tied in with our fertilizer
situation. I see that at long last the Secretary of Agriculture now




admits that there is a shortage. We had him here before this com­
mittee, and we were discussing this possibility, and in the main
he did not think there was too much of a shortage. He now feels
that there is a need for 4.000 boxcars or hopper cars to move fer­
tilizer into the grain-producing areas. I have been trying to tell
him that, may I say, Mr. Sawhill, for months. You and I are both
from Minnesota.
I can tell you I should just send my mail to any office in this
Government. You need to know what the people are saying, not
what these statistics down here show, but what the folks are saying,
and the fertilizer situation in the grain-producing area is critical.
With the critical shortage of fertilizer, with an inadequate alloca­
tion of fuel, I want to announce from this podium right now that
the estimates of the Department of Agriculture on production are
as phony as a Confederate $«3 bill. It is a shame that the American
people will be deceived and deluded into believing that all will be
well when two of the most important farm inputs—in fact three
inputs, fuel and fertilizer and transportation—are in short supply.
We have not even moved last year’s crop from our country eleva­
tors, as you know. So all you good friends here from Washington
that are not familiar with the rural areas, let me just say to you
that you are not feeding anybody as long as the country elevators
are full and it cannot be transported to the terminals. You can
literally starve to death in a mountain of abundance.
I have got to keep pounding away at this until we get this mes­
sage through this rather—I do not know what you would call it—
this thick-skinned, thick-headed Government that just will not re­
spond to what are the facts.
Now, our effort to get this additional production from our
farmers, as I said, is undermined by the lack of adequate allocation
of petroleum products for planting, transporting, drying, and har­
vesting this additional crop. Of course, another important implica­
tion of this problem is that the nonpriority customers of these
rural fuel dealers will have no gasoline at all.
Whatever the apparent end of the Arab oil embargo brings for
the gasoline situation, it seems likely that supplies will tighten in
the latter part of the year. At least I would like your comments
upon that, Mr. Sawhill. That is just a personal observation, espe­
cially if the economy recovers, as we hope it will, and if the oil
exporting countries do not significantly expand their present rates
of production, which is by no means assured even as the embargo
is lifted. This means that the possibility of gasoline rationing is
not dead. More and more questions are now being raised about the
equity and workability of the rationing system outlined by FEO
in January, but I should note that no public or congressional debate
on the details of this plan has taken place up to now. We hope to
initiate such a discussion and dialog on it today.
These many questions and complaints focus attention on the fact
that the Federal Energy Office has a very difficult job on its hand.
I sympathize with Mr. Simon and Mr. Sawhill in dealing with the
intractable problems of this shortage. Now, however, more and
more we hear from both FEO insiders and from those trying to
deal with FEO from outside, that there is confusion in the agency.




67
Often, it seems, the regional offices do not carry out the rules as
the headquarters purports to intend. And the turnover of personnel
in the decisionmaking strata at FEO. and the appointment of new
people to positions of responsibility, it has been indicated, is ham­
pering the effectiveness and continuity of policymaking.
I have not been a critic of the FEO. I know that you have
wrestled with this problem under the most trying circumstances,
and I think that I have been rather, I would say frankly, com­
plimentary of Mr. Simon and yourself, but there are certain prob­
lems that we have that I think it is time we look into. So I would
hope that we could discuss some of these problems together,
straighten out at least a few of them, and initiate the solving of
others.
I have taken your time but I want you to know this is not merely
my thinking but the thinking of some other members of this sub­
committee that have participated with me in this work, and of our
staff.
You proceed, sir. Thank you very much.
STATEMENT OP HON. JOHN C. SAWHHL, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR,
FEDERAL ENERGY OFFICE, ACCOMPANIED BY WILLIAM VON
RAAB, SPECIAL ASSISTANT; AND DARRELL SMITH, DIRECTOR,
DATA SYSTEMS ANALYSIS

Mr. S a w h il i * I have a rather long prepared statement, Mr. Chair­
man, and I thought rather than reading the whole thing I can
summarize it.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Thank you; we will include it in the docu­
mentation here.
Mr. S a w h il l . The first part of the prepared statement summarizes
the primary goals of the allocation program, the first of which is
equity; that is. to assure equitable distribution of our fuel supplies.
The second is to manage the shortage so as to preserve employ­
ment. We went into the program of cutting back gasoline so we
would make fuel available for industry in order to keep people
employed.
And the third is the principle of decentralized responsibilities;
that is, putting decisions out into the States and local governments
and into our regional offices.
You correctly point out that we have brought together an agency
very rapidly. We began in December with less than 200 people on
board. Now we have more than 2,300 people on board.
Building an agency this rapidly, putting into place 10 regional
offices, certainly means that there have been administrative problems.
We just have to admit that frankly and honestly, that we have had
some administrative problems, but by the same token, I think we
have been able to get on top of many of these problems. I feel myself
a real sense of building in our organization and a real sense of ma­
turity, and we go through week-by-week and gain a better under­
standing of our regulations, and the industry gets a better under­
standing of them, and our own employees become better trained and
more experienced in what we are doing.




68

One of the things that has hurt us, of course, is that we have not
yet had a statutory base for our organization. We need a bill estab­
lishing the Federal Energy Office. Of course, such a bill has passed
the Senate. It has now passed the House and gone to conference and
we are hopeful that we will get it.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yesterday was the conference, I believe.
Mr. S awxtxix . Yes. the program obviously that most of us are di­
rectly concerned with now is the gasoline allocation program. Just
to put this in perspective. I think we should think back to last fall
when people were concerned about blackouts and brownouts. People
were concerned about unemployment rates of 8 to 10 percent and in
fact, we have been able to get through this winter without those
things occurring. Nobody last fall wrote articles about long gasoline
lines and said that was the thing that Americans were concerned
about. They were concerned about their jobs and, fortunately, there
are more Americans employed today than there were last November.
While our unemployment rate is still too high, 5.2 percent, it has
stabilized at this level, and perhaps we have got the employment
situation somewhat under control. And now we have got to attack
some of the other problems you identified.
As far as the gasoline problem is concerned, the Emergency Allo­
cation Act requires the equitable distribution of available petroleum
products, including gasoline, among all regions of the Nation, all
sectors of the petroleum industry, and among all end users.
We issued regulations under this law, and under these regulations
each supplier of gasoline must distribute available supplies on a pro­
rata basis to each retail service station which it served during 1972.
So we have gone back to a 1972 base as required in the law.
Stations without a historical supplier may be assigned a supplier
and a base period volume under the new customer provision of the
regulations. I f a supplier does not have a sufficient supplv to meet
the base period volumes for all its retail service stations, the regula­
tions reouire him to reduce his deliveries to all stations proportion­
ate! v. This is accomplished bv applying what we call an avocation
fraction. In other words, if the supplier onlv has a hundred gallons
on hand and the d e m a n d is 150 gallons, then he must apply an allo­
c a t i o n fraction o^ two-thirds to a l l stations.
Within the narrow limits prescribed bv the regulations, the alloca­
tion fractions have to be the same across the Nation. For example,
an Exxon station in Maryland must receive virtually the same frac­
tion of its 1972 base volume as an Exxon station in Idaho or Min­
nesota or anywhere else in the country.
This regulatory scheme results in uniformly equitable allocations
among retail service stations of a single supplier but different sup­
pliers have different allocation fractions, so that an Exxon service
station in Maryland may receive a different percentage of its 1972
volume from a Shell service station across the street. And this is
where problems arise because, if there arp more Shell stations in one
State and more Exxon stations in another State, then the States
actually get different supplies and this is one of the things that we
have been working hard to correct.
There are other reasons as well why there have been differences




69
between the proportions of the total supply going to each State other
than the difference in the concentrations of the different gasoline
dealers.
The agricultural priority, for example, means that States with
significant agricultural requirements receive a relatively greater share
of gasoline than those without. There have been different rates of
growth in gasoline sales in different States and this has created not
inequity but it has created differences between the States. Some States
have been historically more dependent on imports which were reduced
or cut off than other States.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . At that point, I think it is well to note that
our country is divided up into regional petroleum markets and the
eastern, New England States depend almost entirely on imports.
Mr. S a w h ie l . Yes, that is correct.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And we in the Midwest, the Upper Midwest,
get Canadian and some domestic oil; and in the central part of the
Midwest it’s domestic, and out 011 the w^est coast they get some do­
mestic oil and some imports.
Mr. Saw h i l e . Imports again on the west coast, yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . W e realty do not have an integrated system.
It is kind of regionalized and you get these distorted patterns.
Mr. Sa
. There are five major important districts and each is
like a nation unto itself in terms of its petroleum distribution. Also,
the demand for gasoline has changed in different States. Some States
have moved more aggressively on conservation than other States. I
think the State of Minnesota, for example, has moved quite ag­
gressively and has some legislation in the State legislature right now
to create a department of energy which would devote considerable
time and effort to conservation.
Finally, we find that in large metropolitan centers people seem to
have changed their buying patterns: they are buying both in the
metropolitan center and out in the suburban areas, so acute shortages
have occurred in some of these very large metropolitan areas.
We have tried to take steps to minimize these differences among
States. First, we have required equitable allocation among all dealers
and tried to enforce this historical supplier-purchaser relationship,
and that has meant that major suppliers mav not withdraw from a
region of the country which thev served in 1972.
Now. one of the companies. Gulf Oil. is suing us to allow them
to withdraw from certain areas, but we are vigorously fighting that
suit because we think if a company served an area of the country in
1972 it just is not in accordance with our regulations or the intent of
Congress for them to pull out of that area.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . T o wThat do you attribute this pattern of
different companies’ trying to pull out from different areas? We have
seen this particularly in. of course, an area I am most familiar with.
Out in our own part of the country, Sun Oil, for example, has stayed
in now an extra year. I personally worked 011 that with the presi­
dent of the company so thev would ke^p those stations open, but
certain companies are just pulling out completely even though they
haw b^en marketing in that area for years,
Mr. S awittll. Well, I think in some cases they just found that their
w

h




i l e

70
marketing operations were the least profitable of all their operations
and the marginal marketing operations were the least profitable in
the total marketing area, and so in trying to improve their profit­
ability of their marketing they have" closed down some of these
smaller marginal stations and tried to consolidate back into the
larger metropolitan stations.
Our regulations do provide for adjustment in the base-period vol­
umes to reflect growth in sales since the base periods. These adjust­
ments hopefully will correct supply imbalance among States that
presently exist due to the fact that some States have grown at rates
different from other States.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We had criticism about this matter on
Tuesday.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . The Petroleum Retailers and the American
Automobile Association both brought instances to our attention where
there had been substantial increase in population and automobile
registration but no real increase in allotment.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, we have a procedure to do this. You see, when
we increase the supplies into an area, that means we are decreasing
them somewhere else, so we have to have some kind of administrative
procedure to assure the people we are taking the gasoline away from
that we have in fact carefully reviewed and assessed the need for
additional supplies somewhere else. That is the problem with running
an allocation program. You only have so much and you have got to
take it from some and give it to others and this process requires some
kind of administrative procedure.
Now, perhaps the procedure we developed can be streamlined. We
are looking at this now and we believe that we will be announcing
within the next week or so a more streamlined procedure which will
leave more of the job in the hands of the companies, permitting them
to make these adjustments quickly, and our role will then be to go
in and audit what the companies have done to assure that they have
done it in accordance with the procedures that we have developed.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Will you have the manpower to regulate
and police that properly ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think we are acquiring the manpower to do that.
Obviously, there is a fine line here between wanting to have an
administrative procedure that assures equity, yet wanting to get
gasoline quickly into areas where we just know there are shortages
because we can go out and see the gasoline lines. So admittedly, we
have had to make some decisions based on our judgments. There are
lines in Washington and New York and Boston and other parts of
the country, so we put supplies into those parts of the country, and
we believe it is appropriate for us to have done this. We have been
able to eliminate the lines by doing so even without going through
a very complex administrative procedure.
But I think we are building our staff now to the point where we
do have the manpower to police compliance. We are relying 011 the
IRS primarily for compliance, and they are building a group of 1,000
people in addition to the 300 agents we took over from the Cost of
Living Council, which should provide us with sufficient manpower
to enforce compliance.




71
As far as the monthly allocations are concerned, the average allo­
cation across the Nation for the month of February was 84.2 percent
but there was a wide range among states. For example, Maine had
an allocation of 76 percent, Minnesota had an allocation fraction of
94 percent.
Chairman H u m ph r e y . But we disputed those figures, you know.
We found out that it really came down to about 86 point something,
did it not ? 86.9. But anyway, we got by.
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, when I was in Minnesota, earlier, or last month,
I did not see any long lines like I saw in other parts of the country,
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Well, we just live better out there. They are
not quite as frantic, take it at a letter better pace.
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, maybe that is right. And, of course, we have
got to have adequate supplies in places like Minnesota, because ob­
viously we have got the spring planting season coming on and we
have got to have inventories of gasoline available for spring planting.
Now, in the month of February, seeing these differences in alloca­
tion, we took several actions. On February 9 we directed the com­
panies to begin making a redistribution of up to 2 percent away
from those States that seem to have sufficient supplies and into those
States where there were obviously shortages. Subsequent to this ac­
tion, we sent 19 teams into the field and these teams worked closely
with State officials, primarily educating them on our program and
how to use our program, and also trying to assess the situation in
these States.
Based on the reports of these teams, we ordered suppliers on Feb­
ruary 19 to reduce their inventories in order to add 5 percent to the
State set aside in 10 States and 2 percent in 10 additional States. We
decided that the increased supplies should come from inventories
because the situation required deliveries of supplies immediately.
On February 22 we made an additional allocation out of inven­
tories. We ordered a further inventory drawdow'n of 239.75 million
gallons to set aside in 27 States plus the District of Columbia. Alto­
gether, then, we increased the supply of gasoline available to motor­
ists in February by 352.7 million gallons, and I think we did the job
of reducing the long lines at gasoline stations.
In order to speed up the process that adjusts the program to changes
in patterns of demand—this so-called form 17 process, as I was say­
ing earlier—we have instituted a procedure for expedited handling
of the form which effects adjustments. Under this procedure the sup­
pliers will report their customers’ requirements directly to the FEO
and automatic adjustments will be allowed immediately subject to a
postaudit which I just described.
In March we have taken additional steps to reduce imbalance
among the States. Essentially, we have ordered additional supplies
to be provided from inventory according to a formula which takes
into account differences between States. And basically, we looked at
three different rules.
Eule 1 was, we looked at the amount of gasoline that the suppliers
in each State reported would be available to that State in March.
In rule 2, we looked at 85 percent of what the State got in March
1972 and we adjusted that upwards for motor vehicle registration.




72
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Now, these are just new rules that are going
into effect ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Right. Well, they were the rules we used to re­
distribute supplies among the States. We said, for a given State we
will take the higher of three things: (1 ) What the company said
they were going to give them; (2) 85 percent of the adjusted
March 1972 level, and we adjusted it for motor vehicle growth;
or (3) 113.6 percent of what they got in February. And the reason
we used 113.6 was that 10.7 percent is the number or days that
March has over February and the 2.9 percent reflects the average
seasonal growth in consumption, so the 113 percent takes into
account more days plus the growth.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Why is it, then, that some of the States
say they are getting less per day than they got last March?
Mr. S a w h il l ,. Well, the reason is that in February they got an
initial allocation and then we made these emergency allocations. If
you add the initial allocation and emergency allocation together
and assume they got all that in February, it is true that the perday rate in some cases is less than March. However, our informa­
tion—and our information is not very good, neither is the States’—
is that these emergency allocations did not all go to the States in
February. We made them at the end of the month. Some went in
February, but a considerable amount of it went in March. I can­
not tell you what the split was, honestly, and nobody can because
the oil companies have never kept their records on a State basis.
They have always kept them by region.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yes.
Mr. S a w h il l . And they are beginning to change their systems to
work by States but, as you know, computers do not change over­
night, so they do not have good State information right now.
So our feeling is that because this emergency allocation went
part in February and part in March, that in fact the States will
get more per day in March than they got in February.
Now, if it turns out that there is a State where they begin ex­
periencing acute shortages at the end of the month we will take
another look at that State and make an additional emergency allo­
cation if we need to. So even though it is true if you calculate it
out mathematically and assume that all the emergency allotment
went in in February, that the March allocation is less on a per-day
basis, I do not think that really will be the case.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . What you are saying, in other words, is
that you have no real firm evidence that all these emergency alloca­
tions in February were used in that month.
Mr. S a w h il l . Right. As a matter of fact, most of the evidence
we have suggests otherwise. For the month of April, we are going
to be taking action again to redistribute supplies. In other words,
the companies will make an initial allocation based on our regula­
tions. We will look at this initial allocation and we will make a
redistribution. In March we just made allocations out of inven­
tories, additional allocations. We did not take it away from some
States and give it to other States. And we are prepared to begin
reducing those States which clearly have at least sufficient supplies
and redistribute to States which clearly are in serious shortage,




73
States like West Virginia and Florida and New Jersey and Connec­
ticut and others.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I hear that Georgia, for example, has an
abundance of gasoline. Is that true? Or North Carolina?
Mr. S a w h il l . No. I think that is not true in the case of Georgia.
Again, it is not only an interstate problem but it is also an intra­
state problem. You find in a State like Georgia that, in the metro­
politan areas, like Atlanta for example, they have lines and short­
ages. In some of the outlying areas they have had adequate sup­
plies. Some of the reasons why the outlying areas have had ade­
quate supplies are that we have made every effort, recognizing the
60 million new acres of agricultural production and the other things
you have pointed out, to provide fuel to these rural areas and to
give farmers as nearly as we could what the regulations say they
are entitled to—that is 100 percent of their needs. And so I think
we are finding that gasoline is moving out into these rural areas to
serve the farm communities.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . There has been some misunderstanding,
I would say, on the part of some people as to whether it was 100
percent of the 1972 base or whether it was really 100 percent of
current needs. What do your regulations say?
Mr. S a w h il l . Farmers receive 100 percent of current needs and
are treated differently from any other group. Other groups get 100
percent of their current needs subject to an allocation fraction.
Farmers get 100 percent of their current needs, period. In other
words, they get all they want.
Now, the larger farmers who buy in bulk do not have any prob­
lem obtaining these supplies. The smaller farmers who buy at re­
tail stations may have had some problems. What we are doing now,
we met with our agricultural advisory committee earlier this week,
and we worked out a procedure whereby these smaller farmers
would certify to their suppliers that they were farmers and they
had a certain need—a thousand gallons or 10,000 gallons or what­
ever—and then this certification process would go right up the dis­
tribution chain so that the refiners would be delivering sufficient
supplies to take care of the farmers in their areas.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . D o they have to fill out that form 17 every
time they apply?
Mr. S a w h il l . Only once. It is only once a year.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Once a year?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. Not on a monthly basis. At least, it is not
our intent to have it on a monthly basis.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Are you sure the distributors will have the
fuel ? I mean, it is one thing to say you are going to get 100 per­
cent of your neecte, but what about that distributor up there in Sauk
Centre that has just been knocked out of business? For 27 years
he was distributor for a certain oil company and they just decided
to terminate his contract. He served all those farmers.
Mr. S a w h il l . If that distributor has gone out of business then
we would try to move supplies in from some other part of the
country. That is the intent. And we are trying hard to move sup­
plies on that basis.




74
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I just flag this to you because one of the
problems we are seeing is that in the rural areas, for example,
frequently the distributor is an independent.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . For example, some months ago I had a
number of cases in southern Minnesota where a distributor had his
franchise canceled out completely, and some 160 farms depended
on this one distributor. That was at one place down near Austin.
I think it was Champlin Oil Co. His supplies were dried up
completely.
I was up at Sauk Centre and saw exactly the same thing with a
man that was getting his gas, I think, from Shell; as of a certain
date, it was January of this year, he was through. For 27 years
he had been the major distributor up there.
My point is that the remedial action, the redistribution does not
take place that quickly.
Mr. S a w h il l . No.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And I would hope in the compliance sec­
tion of your agency—and by the way, I know it is difficult to get
this done and I am not trying to jump on anybody—but in the
compliance section, as these cases come in, I hope that there would
be a real effort, an extra effort to get other distributors. Of
course----Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. Well, we have to do that. I mean, we have
got to serve rural America. I think that our No. 1 priority is to
provide sufficient fuel that will be consistent, as you pointed out
in your statement, with the demands we are making on our farmers.
Our whole strategy has been to provide maximum supplies to agri­
culture and provide maximum supplies to industry and that is why
we have the gas lines. We have cut down on gasoline. We admit
that. And I think if we had to sacrifice somewhere, people would
rather wait in gas lines and have America’s farming production
capacity at its maximum level.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . In your agricultural advisory committee,
do you have sort of a working operation with them, and is it re­
gionally representative?
Mr. S a w h il l . I believe it was fairly representative regionally. I
do not remember the list. But we have all the major associations
represented like the Grange and the other important agricultural
associations. And we certainly heard from them about some of the
very problems that you are describing, and it was because of our
meeting with them that we established a procedure to insure that the
smaller farmer was taken care of.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I might say that in most of these areas
the possibility of cheating on this is limited, because generally
the distributor knows who the farmer is.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . It is not as if you are dealing in the no
man’s land of an urban area where you do not know your neigh­
bor. Everybody knows each other and the different dealers out
there know who is a farmer and who is not. There will be a few----Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.




75
Chairman H u m ph r e y [continuing]. That you have to watch.
Mr. S a w h il l . One of the things they suggested was that we use
the Extension Service of the Department of Agriculture----Chairman H u m ph r e y . Right.
Mr. S a w h il l [continuing]. To certify these farmers. And I think
that we are probably going to do that.
There are a couple of other problems I would like to call your
attention to that, of course, you already are aware of. One is that
the continuing strike of the 26,000 miners in southern West Vir­
ginia is beginning to have a serious impact on the steel industry.
This has led to the phased shutdown of coke plant operations in
at least two steel companies and could lead to layoffs of 30,000
steelworkers at United States Steel alone by March 17.
The striking coal miners have been protesting West Virginia’s gas
shortage and the State’s gasoline distribution program and we have
been meeting and working with the State. We understand now that
there is a sufficient supply of fuel in West Virginia and that the
miners may be going back to work and some already have gone
back to work.
Obviously, we are concerned with the effects of this strike and
we have tried to do everything we can to put sufficient supplies of
fuel there so that these very important people in our economy can
get to work and can get the job done that needs to be done.
A second problem we have is with migrant workers which, of
course, are very important in agriculture. We know that they will
need to be assured of gasoline supplies to reach their work sites and
assurance that more will be available as they move from one to
another.
Chairman H u m ph r e y . N ow , is that being worked out, Mr. Saw­
hill? That is a point we brought up the other day here.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. We have established in the FEO a special
impact office, partly in response to the urging of Congress, to look
at groups like migratory workers and low-income groups and other
disadvantaged groups that normally would not receive the atten­
tion of something like the FEO. That office is working with broad
groups in society, and I believe we are coming to a solution. At the
present time, we are looking at two possibilities, and I think that
I can assure you that we will have a solution for these problems
because we recognize that they are just vital to maintaining the
productive capability of our agricultural sector.
Chairman H u m ph r e y . Of course, they move from one place to
another, these migratory workers.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m ph r e y . The automobile is vital to their economic
livelihood. They have got to have the gas.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m ph r e y . I have asked one of our staff people to
kind of keep in touch with your Office to make sure this is followed
up on, followed through, because we are going to be receiving some
complaints. I am sure we already have.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. Well, we will be glad to be responsive to that
because it is something we have got to be concerned with.




76
A third area that I wanted to discuss briefly, because of your
concern over problems of consumers and the effects of the energy
problems on them, is that we have established an Office of Con­
sumer Affairs reporting directly to Bill Simon and me in the Fed­
eral Energy Office. As you know, we have a Consumer Advisory
Committee headed up by Lee White. We met with him yesterday.
We told him about this new office and its functions, and in a sense
it is going to be a vehicle to make sure we consider consumers’ inter­
ests in our decisionmaking process. And I think that this will be a
very effective way of making sure that we are not only—that we
are responsive to consumers as well as all the other groups that we
have to be responsive to.
And finally, I wanted to mention, since I saw in the report that
was prepared by the committee some comments on car pooling, that
starting in December we initiated an intense carpooling effort to
prepare materials for and run training sessions within our 10 Fed­
eral regional offices. We put our complete support behind this ef­
fort. Funding for car-pool projects, including demonstration proj­
ects, is available under the car-pool section of the Emergency High­
way Energy Conservation Act. We have encouraged local and State
initiatives and done everything we could to encourage car pooling
because I think that is one of the most effective forms of con­
servation.
Again, your own State has done quite a bit in this regard. They
have adopted a system where they send out with the telephone
bills a little slip asking those interested in car pooling to provide
certain details about their needs, and then they try to match
them up.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Have you budgeted that item and others so
that you have it adequately staffed or is it something that is a hitand-miss operation? I do not say that disparagingly.
Mr. S a w h il l . I think probably at this point it has got some hitand-miss characteristics but I think it is something we want to make
sure that we build, too.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . It seems to me that that is a very im­
portant part, of our conservation efforts.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes, I think it is, too.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And it should be, I think, structured into
the agency.
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, that really completes the summarized state­
ment.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Sawhill follows:]
P repared S t a t e m e n t

of

H

on.

John

C.

Sa w h il l

Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I am pleased to have the
opportunity to appear before you this morning to discuss the mandatory allo­
cation program. My purpose today is to outline the principles and some of the
procedures which are central to the allocation program we implemented
January 15, 1974, and to comment on our progress to date and our prospects
for the future.
OVERVIEW

The primary goal of the allocation program is equity. The program was
created to manage the shortage and to distribute it fairly acros the broad




77
spectrum of petroleum users in this country. The objective is to have each
citizen suffer no more inconvenience than is absolutely necessary. Each week
we move closer to this goal as suppliers, state and local government officials
and our own employees become more familiar with the program and its ad­
ministrative procedures.
A second underlying principle is to manage the shortage in a way which
minimizes unemployment. The program is designed so that when shortages
occur, they will not cut the muscle of the American economy. A family with
its thermostat lowered is better off than one with its breadwinner idle. We
were gratified to note that the national rate of unemployment did not increase
last month, and that in spite of what the prophets of doom were predicting
last fall, there are more people employed today than there were prior to
the embargo.
Our organization is based on the principle of decentralized responsibility.
Pursuant to this principle, we have placed heavy reliance on our regional
offices and upon extensive participation by state governments. We believe it
is very important that the problem created by the oil shortage be handled
by the people who are closest to the situation, and who are best able to evalu­
ate the facts and devise a solution.
Our regional offices are rapidly improving their ability to deal with the
problem. A larger and more knowledgeable staff is now at work in the field
even though many are not permanent employees. Similarly, the state govern­
ment energy offices, with whom we have ben working very closely, are now
functioning well under the very considerable presures with which they must
deal. On the enforcement side, the 1RS has willingly and effectively assumed
its responsibilities.
Even if we were beginning this program as a large and experienced Federal
agency, we would expect many difficulties. But we are not. On December 4th
we began the FEO with 200 inherited employes. Three months later we have
2300 employees. We are formulating, applying, and adjusting policies while
at the same time attempting to build the organizational capacity to manage
the situation. Congress has not yet passed the legislation creating our organ­
ization, and without a statutory base we have had to depend almost entirely
on temporarily detailed personnel from other government agencies. This situa­
tion has resulted in some uncertainty and instability within the organization.
In addition, the lack of a permanent authority has made the recruiting of top
flight talent extremely difficult.
Ÿet on balance, even without the legislation we so desperately need to estab­
lish the agency on a more permanent basis, we are satisfied that our brief
«experience indicates that we are on the right track. We remain convinced
that our operating principles are sound and that our goals are achievable.
I am confident that our generally good experience in the start-up period
provides the basis for steady and continued improvement in all aspects of
the program.
GASOLINE ALLOCATION PROGRAM

Each of the fuels programs which we administer is of major importance to
the American consumer. The effects of some are subtle, indirect, and long
range. Others are more immediately seen and felt. The shortage which has
most visibly affected the consumer is that of gasoline. For that reason, I
would like to discuss the gasoline allocation program in some detail.
Before addressing the events of the last month concerning gasoline, let me
review the way in which the program is intended to work.
The Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 requires the equitable dis­
tribution of available refined petroleum products, including gasoline, among
all regions of the Nation, sectors of the petroleum industry, and among all
end users. Section 4 (c )(1 ) of the Act requires that the mandatory allocation
program shall be so structured as to result in the allocation of gasoline to
each independent marketer (and to each small and independent refiner who
purchases gasoline) in an amount not less than the amount sold or otherwise
supplied to such marketer (or refiner) during the corresponding period of
1972.
The regulations issued by the Federal Energy Office provide for allocations
to certain classes of end users and to all wholesale purchasers of gasoline
(tvnicallv retail service stations) on the basis of their 1972 base period vol­
umes. Allocations to certain classes of end users are specified at 100% of
34-498— 74-------6




78
current requirements. These include agriculture, emergency public services, and
several other priority categories.
Under the regulations each supplier of gasoline (typically a refiner) must
distribute available supplies on a pro rata basis to each retail service station
which it served during 1972. Stations without a historical supplier may be
assigned a supplier and a base period volume under the “new customer” pro­
visions of the regulations. If a supplier does not have a sufficient supply to
meet the base period volumes for all its retail service stations, the regulations
require him to reduce his deliveries to all stations proportionately. This is
accomplished by applying an allocation fraction.
An allocation fraction for each supplier is set by dividing total available
supplies of gasoline by total requirements. Requirements for each supplier are
the sum of the base period volumes of its wholesale purchasers. The allocation
fraction is applied to each wholesale purchaser’s base period volume to calcu­
late the amount of fuel each receives. Within narrow limits specified in the
regulations (5% ), the allocation fraction for each supplier of gasoline must
be uniform throughout the United States. For example, an Exxon service sta­
tion in Maryland must receive virtually the same percentage of his 1972 base
period volume as an Exxon station in Idaho.
Although the regulatory scheme results in uniformly equitable allocations
among retail service stations of a single supplier, different suppliers will have
different allocation fractions, reflecting the fact that each supplier has different
levels of total supplies compares to the requirements of his purchasers. Ac­
cordingly, an Exxon service station in Maryland may receive a different per­
centage of his 1972 volume than a Shell service station across the street.
Despite the equitable allocation of gasoline among all retail gasoline sta­
tions throughout the Nation, supply imbalances may occur among and within
states for the following reasons:
Because of the differences in allocation fractions among suppliers, the aver­
age allocation fraction in effect in each state will naturally vary. Each state
will have a different mix of suppliers serving the service stations in that state.
The agricultural priority under the Act has been implemented in the regu­
lations by allowing agricultural users to certify 100% of current requirements
rather than base period volumes. This means that states with significant
agricultural requirements may receive relatively greater supplies of gasoline
than other states.
There have been different rates of growth in gasoline sales since the base
period in different states. This difference reflects both normal growth of an
area and unusual growth associated with areas where the closing of some
stations during 1973 resulted in the remaining stations having more customers
than they did in 1972.
Some states have been historically more dependent upon imports, which
were reduced or cut off, than have other states.
The manner in which demand for gasoline has changed in a state since the
base period, and in response to the energy crisis itself, will differ from state
to state. For example, conservation measures such as reducing speed limits
and encouraging reductions in pleasure driving may reduce demand for gaso­
line less in urban areas where daily commuting is a major factor in gasoline
consumption than in other parts of the country.
The existing shortages tend to be felt more severely among gas stations
located near population centers because it appears people are tending to fill
their tanks as close to where they live or work as possible. Fewer fill-ups are
occurring in outlying areas where, in normal times, pleasure driving was
taking people farther away from their homes and jobs.
The regulations issued by the Federal Energy Office are designed to minimize
these differences among states:
Equitable allocation among all dealers and enforcement of the historical
supplier-purchaser relationships means that major suppliers may not withdraw
from a region of the country which they served in 1972 (without the permis­
sion of the Federal Energy Office) and such suppliers may not discriminate
in allocations among their stations in different regions.
The regulations provide for adjustments to increase base period volumes
of retail service stations to reflect growth in sales since the base period. These
adjustments should correct supply imbalances among states that may presently
exist due to a nonuniform pattern of growth or a large number of station
closings since the base period. Adjustments for increased growth require the




79
processing of a form for each station requesting an adjustment by either the
supplier or the Federal Energy Office. This administrative procedure is neces­
sary to insure equity. Due to the limited time available between the issuance
of the regulations and the start of the February 1974 allocation period, ad­
justments for growth were, for the most part, not reflected in allocation
fractions for the month of February. The March allocation fractions are
much better, but we are still short of perfection. The Federal Energy Office is
giving the processing of these adjustments the highest priority and will be
implementing an expedited system to reduce drastically the time necessary
to effect these adjustments. These adjustments should tend to reduce even
further the apparent supply imbalances among states.
As noted above, the Federal Energy Office is requiring suppliers who with­
drew from a region to continue to provide allocations to their base period
purchasers in those regions. Under Section 211.14(d) of the regulations, such
suppliers may apply to the Federal Energy Office for reassignment of their
retail service stations in a region from which they have substantially with­
drawn. In making reassignments under Section 211.14(d), the Federal Energy
Office will attempt to further equalize each supplier’s allocation fraction.
Provision for emergencies and intrastate supply imbalances is made under
the regulations through the state set-aside programs. Currently 3% of the
fuel otherwise available in a state must be “set-aside” from the workingstocks of the suppliers who serve that state for emergency or hardship allo­
cations or to alleviate intrastate supply imbalances. The state, typically
through the Governor’s office, exercises complete discretion over fuels in the
set-aside program.
MONTHLY ALLOCATIONS

Despite the self-executing provisions of the regulations described above,
which are designed to assure equitable allocations of gasoline among all sec­
tors of the petroleum industry, the Federal Energy Office maintains continuous
surveillance for significant supply imbalances among states. The Federal
Energy Office has authority to redirect supplies to correct severe imbalances
under Section 211.14 of the regulations. Accordingly, as soon as the relevant
data was available, the Federal Energy Office calculated allocation fractions
for the month of February for each of the 50 states and the District of Co­
lumbia. The average gasoline allocation fraction for the Nation was 84.2%.
Most states had gasoline allocation fractions within plus or minus 5% of this
figure. A few states fell outside that range. For example, Maine had an allo­
cation fraction of 76%. Minnesota had an allocation fraction of 93.8%.
Differences in allocation fractions per se do not necessarily indicate the
extent of any supply imbalance. It was a parent at this time, however, from
the existing statistics and from reports from various states, that there were
certain regional supply imbalances in the availability of motor gasoline. Ac­
cordingly, on February 9, 1074, based on the statistical information available
at the time, the Administrator of the Federal Energy Office directed all sup­
pliers to proced under Section 211.14(b) of the regulations to increase their
allocation fractions to purchasers in twelve states and the District of Colum­
bia and to reduce their allocation fractions to purchasers in ten other states.
Any redistribution resulting from the February 9, 1974 directive was not to
exceed an amount that would change a supplier’s allocation fraction in any
state by more than 2 %.
Subsequent to this action it became clear that the shortages were more
widespread and severe than we first anticipated. Long lines formed as gas
stations causing traffic jams and long waits for gasoline. This caused tradiness and absenteeism by workers, confusion and irritation among motorists,
and in a few cases resulted in violence.
We then took two additional steps. We sent into the field 19 teams to review
at first hand the situation in various states, to work with state officials on
program administration, and to verify certain data we had received in Wash­
ington. The teams talked with the Governors, industry representatives and
other state and local officials to obtain a clearer understanding of the unique
problems within each state. Simultaneously, we re-estimated the changes
which had occurred during the past two years by using growth in automobile
registrations.
This re-examination led to our order of February 19 which directed sup­
pliers to reduce their inventories in order to add 5% to the state set-asicle in




80
10 states, and 2% to those of 10 additional states. We decided that the in­
creased supplies should come from existing inventories both because 1974
gasoline inventories are above 1973 levels and because the situation required
the delivery of supplies immediately. Inventories provided the most readily
available source.
On February 22, in order to cope with the extreme shortages which con­
tinued to be felt in many states, we ordered a further inventory drawdown
which added a total of 239.75 million gallons to the set-asides in 27 states
plus the District of Columbia.
Altogether, then, we increased the supply of gasoline available to motorists
In February by 352.7 million gallons. These increases were necessary to re­
lieve acute shortages in states experiencing unusual growth, a large number
o f station closings and changes in buying patterns.
We expect that emergency allocations, such as those provided in February,
may continue to be needed in subsequent months. However, as the change
^adjustment process which we have built into the system begins to take hold,
and as supplies, state officials, and our own employees become more familiar
with the system, the need for emergency allocations will be reduced.
In order to speed up the process which adjusts the program for change, we
have instituted a procedure for expedited handling of the form which effects
adjustments. Under this procedure, the suppliers will report their customer’s
requirements directly to the FEO, and automatic adjustments will be allowed
to be made immediately subject to post audit by the FEO. This new procedure
will cut through some of the red tape which existed previously. We have
appointed a high level project manager to see to it that the process works as
smoothly as possible. We have also called in the suppliers to make sure that
they continue to give this effort top priority.
For the month of March we have taken additional steps to reduce imbalances
among the states. Essentially, we have ordered additional supplies to be pro­
vided from inventory according to a formula which takes into account differ­
ences between the states. This was done in the following manner:
The Federal Energy Office used three allocation rules to determine the
amount of gasoline that was to be allocated to each State and the District of
Columbia during, March, 1974. Under the rules, each is to receive whichever
is greater as computed b y :
Rule 1.—The amount of gasoline that the suppliers in each State reported
would be available to the State in March, 1974; or
Rule 2.—At least 85% of the gasoline sold in the State in March, 1972, ad­
justed to reflect vehicle registration growth; or
Rule 3.—113.6% of the amount of gasoline allocated initially to the State
in February, 1974, except that no State could receive more than 100% of the
March, 1972, amount adjusted for vehicle registration growth. The 113.6 per­
cent is calculated as follows:
100% of initial February, 1974 supplies, plus 10.7% to reflect the three
additional days in March over February, plus 2.9% which reflects the
average normal seasonal increase in consumption.
Attached to this statement are two tables showing: Attachment A : Com­
putations for March, 1974; Attachment B : Comparison of allocation figures
for February and March, 1974.
The effect of this FEO action, which raises the National allocation fraction
from the February figure of .843 to a figure for March of .896, is to insure that
every state will receive a greater supply of gasoline in March than initially
allocated for February.
It has been said that, although the total March gallonage for each stat§
will exceed that of February, the daily average in some states may be less.
This is true only if it is assumed that all of the February 23 increase was
delivered during February. The fact is, however, that suppliers were not able
to get all of the February 23 increase to their customers by the end of the
month. Although final data are not available yet, we know from informal con­
tact with the suppliers that this was the case. A substantial portion of the
February gallonage will, therefore, be included as part of the March supply.
Consequently, no matter how the March supply is viewed, whether in terms
of total gallonage or in terms of daily average, we estimate that it will exceed
the amounts actually delivered during February.




81
For the month of April, the Federal Energy Office is planning to take action
that will produce a distribution of gasoline among the states such that no one
state shall have an allocation fraction which is five percent greater or less
than any other state. This action will require some redistribution among states—
i.e. taking supplies from states with adequate supplies and allocating them
to states experiencing shortages.
We feel, therefore, that we have made progress in implementing the gaso­
line program. We should achieve greater equity in the months ahead as the
distribution system adjusts to the program requirements and people become
more familiar with the program operation. We will, however, remain flaxible
and where we find that changes are necessary, we will not hesitate to imple­
ment them.
SIGNIFICANT PRESENT PROBLEMS

Before turning to future considerations, I would like to comment briefly on
two current problems of particular interest: the miners in West Virginia and
the migrant laborers.
Coal M iners

The continuing strike of an estimated 26,000 miners in southern West Vir­
ginia is beginning to have serious impact on the steel industry. The strike has
led to the phased shut-down of coke plant operations in at least two steel
companies. The strike threatens to lead to layoffs of 30,000 steelworkers at
U.S. Steel alone by March 17.
The striking coal miners have been protesting West Virginia’s gasoline
shortage and the state’s gasoline distribution program. With respect to the
first problem, FEO met 10 days ago with Arnold Miller, President of the
United Mine Workers and Walter Wallace, President of the Bituminous Coal
Operators’ Association. As a result of these meetings, more gasoline was di­
rected into the southern West Virginia area. Amendments were made by
Governor Moore to the State’s distribution program providing for more fre­
quent refueling by anyone driving more than 250 miles a week in the course
of getting to and from work. Miners remained on strike for the most part
despite these amendments. They demanded all the gasoline they needed to
get back and forth to work.
Governor Moore of West Virginia yesterday morning, following conversation
with the Federal Energy Office and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service suspended for 30 days the quarter of a tank rule which was a signifi­
cant issue raised by the miners. It is believed that there is a sufficient supply
of fuel at this point in West Virginia, and I understand that the miners will
be going, if they have not already gone, back to work.
FEO is concerned over the effects that this strike could have on our Nation,
including the far-reaching impact it could have on the Nation’s balance of
payments, as a large percentage of the Nation’s annual coal exports are ex­
tracted from southern West Virginia.
M igra nt W orkers

Our office is very much concerned with the anticipated problems of migrant
farm workers traveling long distances to harvest the crops as they do each
spring. We know they will need to be assured of gasoline supplies to reach
their worksites and an assurance that more will be available en route.
Without migratory labor, it is possible that nearly 50% of the national
asaragus and broccoli crops could be lost along with the following losses for
other crops: lettuce, 42%; cantaloupe, 36%; watermelon, 31%; green beans
and apples, 29%; processed corn, 16%. The projected loss in overall national
agricultural products could be as high as $500 million without migrant
workers.
In light of the potential impact of a gasoline shortage on migrant labor
and crops, the Special Impact Office of the FEO, together with representatives
of the Departments of Labor and Health, Education and Welfare, has ex­
plored the alternatives available in dealing with the immediate situation.
We are considering giving migrant labor status as either a priority user
of gasoline, in the same category as ambulances and sanitation services, or
as an integral aspect of agricultural production. Both priority and agricultural
users are allowed 100% of their gasoline needs. However, assigning special




82
status to migrant labor under either category requires regulatory changes or
exceptions. The feasibility of such alterations is now being explored in the
Office of the General Counsel.
At present, conflicting evidence exists as to the gravity of the effect of the
gasoline shortage on the migrant labor force. Availability has increased de­
cidedly over recent weeks, yet future seasonal changes are as yet unde­
termined.
In any case, the FEO will work closely with other Federal and local agencies
in supplying the migrant with up to date information on gasoline accessibility
along main travel routes. In addition, telephone hotline systems are proposed
and efforts are being made to provide knowledgeable personnel at the local
level to help expedite emergency needs. An overaU strategy for dealing with the
problems of migrant labor should be completed within a week, with a target
date for fuU implementation of April 1.
Consum er Affairs

FEO has long been concerned with the problems of consumers and the effect
of the energy problems on them. Consequently, this week the Administrator
established an Office of Consumer Affairs, reporting directly to him and the
Deputy Administrator. The primary duties of the office will be to represent
the consumer in development of agency policy, to monitor complaints regard­
ing humanitarian and due process considerations, and to provide technical
assistance on substantive matters to the Consumer Advisory Committee.
The office will strive to establish a working liaison with all agencies to in­
sure that consumer interests are given a fair hearing, that consumers are given
accurate information in order to assist FEO in decision-making, and that FEO
has an accurate evaluation of the trade-offs consumers are willing to make
both in the short and long run.
Carpooling
Starting in December, the Department of Transportation initiated an in­
tense carpooling effort to prepare materials for, and run training sessions
within the ten Federal Regional Offices. The Federal Energy Office has put
its complete support behind this effort. Funding for carpool projects, includ­
ing demonstration projects, is available under the carpool section of the
Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act. Local and State initiatives are
encouraged as the primary mechanisms for funding and implementing these
projects. The Federal Energy Office has supported this program respecting
the Federal government’s participation in this project and, under Phase II
of its Federal Energy Conservation Program, a mandatory requirement is
being placed on all agencies of the Federal government to allow at least 90%
of available parking spaces to carpools exclusively.
OVERLOOK AND PROJECTIONS

We believe that given the additional authorities which we have requested
from the Congress, we will be able to cope with most forseeable problems with
our current allocation program without going to the extreme of gasoline ra­
tioning.
The experience of recent months permits amendments in the assumptions
underlying estimates of petroleum product shortages. The demand for pe­
troleum products has been reduced due to successful allocation policies. This
has produced higher inventories, particularly in the middle distillates. Gaso­
line inventories remain at a satisfactory level. According to the American
Petroleum Institute, inventories as of March 1 stood at 226,458,000 barrels.
This is up some 5 million barrels from February 22, 1974, and is 10 million
barrels higher than inventories of a year ago at this time. These improved
inventory positions permit additional flexibility for meeting the shortfalls of
the coming months.
In addition, import levels should not suffer the seasonal drop originally
forecasted for the second and third quarter. The changing world market
conditions should permit the United States to maintain or improve our current
levels of imports.
The Federal Energy Office has developed several new scenarios which fore­
cast petroleum supply and demand through the remainder of 1974. These




83
scenarios deal with a full embargo and the lifting of the embargo under a
number of different assumptions.
The supply of petroleum products for the last four weeks has been close
to the forecasted levels with a fully effective embargo. Domestic crude produc­
tion has averaged 100 thousand barrels per day above the full embargo esti­
mate. In addition, conservation, allocations, and warmer weather have kept
consumption below the forecasted levels producing higher inventories, pri­
marily in distillate fuel oils.
Continued improvement in world oil production levels should produce in­
creased imports during the next two quarters, particularly in residual fuel
oil. Our original import estimates anticipated a seasonal reduction during the
second and third quarters of 1974, but we are now expecting to maintain the
current import levels with the embargo in effect.
The combination of the higher imports and higher inventory levels pro­
duces a new forecast with smaller shortages and different distribution by
product than previously estimated. The difference betwen supply and uncon­
strained demand drops from the previous estimate of 3.1 million barrels per
day to 2.2 million barrels per day in the second quarter. On a percentage basis,
the shortage is reduced from 17% to about 12 %.
This full embargo shortfall represents the difference between supply and
the estimate of demand unadjusted for price changes or conservation effects.
The distribution by-product is quite varied. For example, the large stocks of
distillate have eliminated the possibility of an early shortage of heating oil
and diesel fuels but continued conservation of these products will be neces­
sary to permit the flexibility for blending to meet the demands for residual
•oils and kerosene based jet fuels. Both of these products will have shortages
in the range of 18-20% if conservation and allocation actions are not continued.
The maximum shortage of gasoline is expected to be in the range of 10-11%
•over the spring and summer months. We are now at the time for the normal
reasonal reduction of gasoline inventories and these inventories will be used
to meet the rising demand as well as the requirement for special allocations,
as appropriate.
The rise in prices will reduce the demand for petroleum products. The
quantification of this effect over the short run is complicated by the lack of
a history including price changes of the current magnitudes. In addition, price
effects reinforce major conservation efforts but the savings are not additive.
However, some estimates of price responsiveness have been made, and an
indication of the magnitude of short-term demand reductions can be obtained
by applying these elasticity estimates and price changes. Estimates of the price
or conservation effects alter the product shortfall distribution, but the total
shortage continues in the neighborhood of 8%.
Although the situation has improved, this shortage indicates that a vigorous
program of energy conservation must be supplemented by the continuation of
allocations and a close monitoring of the supply and inventory situation. The
shortage is being managed and we can avoid drastic reductions in output or
dislocations in the economy if these efforts are maintained.
If the embargo is lifted and imports return to pre-embargo levels, the situa­
tion will be much improved. After a period of transition, the price effects could
combine with continued conservation efforts to produce a situation that would
not require a large allocation program. I must emphasize that this depends
upon a substantial increase in imports and we have no guarantee that this
will occur. Even with the removal of the oil embargo and a reduction in de­
mand caused by price rises, the balance between supply and demand will
depend largely on production levels and effective mandatory conservation ef­
forts. If you assume something like the September, 1973 production, the
shortages should show a sign of being reduced. The lag time of 45 to 60 days
to receive embargoed supplies, of course, is another factor in this estimate.
Therefore, we must be selective during the period of transition and ensure
that the removal of allocation controls is accompanied by a restoration of more
normal supply conditions.
The detailed analysis of our new supply and demand estimates for several
cases with and without the embargo, will be published by the Federal Energy
Office within one week and I will provide it for the record at that time.







ATTACHMENT A
(Units are in millions of gallons]
Allocation rule No. 2

State

Alabama.............
Alaska...............
Arkansas............
Arizona..............
California............
Colorado.............
Connecticut..........
District of Columbia
Delaware-............
Florida...............
Georgia...............
Hawaii...............
Iowa..................
Idaho.................
Illinois...............
Indiana..............
Kansas...............
Kentucky............
Louisiana............
Massachusetts......
Maryland.......

Allocation rule
No. 1, March
supply schedule
before FEO
action

March 1972
consumption

March 1972
consumption
adjustment
for motor
vehicle growth

85 percent of
March 1972
adjustment
for motor
vehicle growth

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

126.7
9.5
84.5
81.2
733.3
106.1
107.2
19.0
18.8
318.1
218.0
19.6
108.3
37.0
343.6
193.7
118.6
114.3
164.1
182.8
136. Q

148.9
8.5
91.6
95.9
845.0
101.9
107.8
20.1
23.1
349.1
246.1
22.3
129.2
38.3
424.8
221.4
105.6
131.9
145.3
187.1
146.9

161.9
9.1
95.1
108.6
917.2
119.8
114.9
20.2
23.6
412.5
280.6
24.7
133.4
45.1
457.8
227.4
116.6
147.9
161.6
203.8
167.2

137.6
7.7
80.8
92.3
779.7
93.3
97.7
17.2
20.1
350.6
238.5
21.0
113.4
48.4
389.2
193.3
99.1
125.7
137.4
173.2
142.1

Allocation rule
No. 3,113.6
percent of
February 1974
supplies

Which
rule was
used

(e) (O
122.5
9.5
91.9
83.7
772.7
101.8
99.6
19.8
23.3
334.9
197.4
20.8
118.4
35.0
369.1
192.2
122.8
118.1
185.3
187.6
127.7

2
1,3
3
2
2
3
1
3
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
1
1
2
1
3

Z

Total supply
for March 1974
after FEO
action

Modified allocation
fraction (column
g divided by
column e)

(g)

<h>

137.6
9.5
91.9
92.3
779.7
109.9
107.2
19.8
23.3
350.6
238.5
21.0
118.4
38.4
389.2
193.7
118.6
125.7
164.1
187.6
142.1

0.850
1.046
.967
.850
.850
.917
.933
.979
.987
.850
.850
.850
.888
.850
.850
.852
1.017
.850
1.015
.920
.850




Michigan.............................. .
Minnesota............................. .
Missouri............................... .
Mississippi............................ .
Montana................................
Nebraska.............................. .
North Carolina.........................
North Dakota.........................
New Hampshire......................
New Jersey........................... .
New Mexico............................
Navada................................ .
New York............................. .

Vermont................................
Washington............................
Wisconsin..............................
West Virginia..........................
Wyoming............................... .......

332.1
169.2
166.0
78.7
26.8
51.6
199.4
24.0
21.3
234.8
48.8
27.3
417.8
348.3
133.1
78.0
353.9
28.1
103.7
29.1
175.5
657.8
44.1
174.0
18.4
130.0
143.4
48.9
21.7

Total...................................

7,564

Oklahoma............................. .
Oregon..................................
Pennsylvania......................... .
Rhode Island......................... .
South Carolina....................... .
South Dakota..........................
Tennessee.............................
Utah.....................................

#
•

3U
355.1
154.0
213.5
92.5
31.4
70.6
165.6
26.5
28.8
271.8
52.7
28.5
499.9
392.9
122.2
93.7
387.7
30.4
113.4
32.1
167.7
574.2
45.1
198.3
18.6
126.8
160.4
67.2
17.6
8,203

i See exception to allocation rule No. 3.

Note 1.— The total supply figure for March 1974 (col. (g)) will also appear in colun
Note 2.— The amount of inventory drawdown can be calculated by subtracting coluir

42.8
391.1
165.8
232.5
103,3
38.2
78.3
189.5
28.8
34.5
289.8
59.5
32.2
519.2
409.3
134.1
102.5
417.7
33.1
124.5
35.0
188.5
630.2
50.3
227.4
21.3
136.2
175.5
73.2
19.6

36.4
332.4
140.9
197.7
87.8
32.5
66.5
161.1
24.5
29.3
246.4
50.6
27.4
441.3
347.9
114.0
87.2
355.0
28.1
105.9
29.8
160.2
535.7
42.8
193.2
18.1
115.8
149.2
62.2
16.7

8,969

7,623.6

39.3
335.7
191.9
177.4
90.9
31.1
57.7
191.4
27.8
20.3
241.4
54.9
22.4
468.5
363.3
139.0
76.9
355.8
30.9
103.3
30.2
173.4
611.3
35.2
167.4
14.7
127.7
157.1
45.2
23.9

3
3
1
2
3
2
2
1
3
2
2
3
2
3
3
31
2
3
3
2
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
3
2
1

7,748 ..................... .

39.3
335.7
169.2
197.7
90.9
32.5
66.5
199.4
27.8
29.3
246.4
54.9
27.4
468.5
363.3
134.1
87.2
355.8
30.9
105.9
30.2
175.5
657.8
44.1
193.2
18.4
130.0
157.1
62.2
21.7

.918
.858
1.020
.850
.880
.850
.850
1.052
.967
.850
.850
.922
.850
.902
.888
1. OCO
.850
.852
.933
.850
.864
.931
1.044
.876
.850
.862
.955
.895
.850
1.108

8,033

.896

ins (a), (d), or (e) depending on which allocation rule was used.
.............
in (a) from column (g) (8,033 million gallons minus 7,564 million gallons equals 469 million gallons or 11.2 million barrels.




86
ATTACHMENT B
COMPARISON OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH GASOLINE SUPPLY SITUATION
[In millions of gallons]
February 19.
and
Februar^23,
Initial February
1974 supply

emergency
allocations

Final February
1974 supply

Final March
supply

Final FebruaryMarch increase'

Oklahoma.......................
Oregon...........................
Pennsylvania....................
Rhode Island....................
South Carolina..................
South Dakota....................
Tennessee... ...................
Texas............................
Utah..............................
Virginia..........................
Vermont.........................
Washington......................
Wisconsin........................
West Virginia....................
Wyoming........................

107.3
8.4
80.9
73.7
680.2
96.7
87.7
17.4
20.5
294.8
173.8
18.3
104.2
30.8
324.9
169.2
108.1
104.0
163.1
165.1
112.4
34.6
295.5
168.9
156.2
80.0
27.4
50.8
168.5
24.5
17.9
212.5
48.3
19.7
412.4
319.8
122.4
67.7
313.2
27.2
90.9
26.6
152.6
538.1
31.0
147.4
12.9
112.4
138.8
39.8
21.0

10.7
0
0
7.4
0
9.7
0
1.7
2.0
29.5
8.7
0
0
0
32.5
16.9
0
10.4
0
16.5
11.2
3.5
0
0
15.6
8.0
0
0
16.8
0
1.8
21.2
0
2.0
41.2
0
0
6.8
31.3
2.7
9.1
0
15.3
0
0
14.7
1.3
0
0
4.0
0

118.0
8.4
80.9
81.1
680.2
106.4
87.7
19.1
22.5
324.3
182.5
18.3
104.2
30.8
357.4
186.1
108.1
114.4
163.1
181.6
123.6
38.1
295.5
168.9
171.8
88.0
27.4
50.8
185.3
24.5
19.7
233.7
48.3
21.7
453.6
319.8
122.4
74.5
344.5
29.9
100.0
26.6
167.9
538.1
31.0
162.1
14.2
112.4
138.8
43.8
21.0

137.6
9.5
91.9
92.3
779.7
109.9
128.2
19.8
23.3
350.6
238.5
21.0
118.4
38.4
389.2
193.7
118.6
125.7
164.1
187.6
142.1
39.3
335.7
169.2
197.7
90.9
32.5
66.5
199.4
27.8
29.3
246.4
54.9
27.4
468.5
363.3
134.1
87.2
355.8
30.9
105.8
30.2
175.5
657.8
44.1
193.2
18.4
130.0
157.1
62.2
21.7

19.6
1.1
11.0
11.2
99.5
3.5
40. S
.7
.8
26.3
56.0'
2.7
14.2
7.6
31.8
7.6
10.5
11.3
1.0
6.0’
18.5
1.2
40.2
.3
25.9
2.95.1
14.7
14.1
3.3
9.6
12.7
6.6
5.7
14.9
43.5
11.7
12.7
11.3
1.0
5.8
3.6
7.6
119.7
13.1
31.1
4.2
17.6
18.3
18.4
.7

Total.....................

6,821.0

352.7

7,173.7

8,033.0

859.3:

State
Alabama.........................
Alaska...........................
Arkansas........................
Arizona..........................
California........................
Colorado.........................
Connecticut.....................
District of Columbia...........
Delaware........................
Florida...........................
Georiga..........................
Hawaii...........................
Iowa..............................
Idaho.............................
Illinois...........................
Indiana..........................
Kansas...........................
Kentucky........................
Louisiana........................
Massachusetts..................
Maryland........................
Maine............................
Michigan.........................
Minnesota.......................
Missouri.........................
Mississippi......................
Montana.........................
Nebraska........................
North Carolina..................
North Dakota...................
New Hampshire................
New Jersey......................
New Mexico.....................
Nevada..........................
New York........................

.
*

Chairman H u m p h r e y . Would you identify the two gentlemen
with you?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. Mr. Darrell Smith is with me, who is from
our allocation office and knows the technical details of allocationsr
and Mr. William von Raab serves as a Special Assistant to me and
has also worked on the allocation program; and I have with me also
people who have worked on our rationing program and on our
pricing regulations.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Fine.




87
I have some questions here which we prepared for your being with
us.
Considerable discussion still persists about the extent of any gaso­
line shortage. The National Petroleum Council, an expert industry
group advising the Secretary of the Interior, just released a report
estimating the gasoline shortage in the second quarter of 1974 at
only 12.5 percent of the would-be unconstrained 1974 demands. In:
other words, if you just let it rip, it is only 12% percent below what
you might call the unrestrained 1974 demand.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Other knowledgeable authorities estimate
that the shortage may be no more than 5 percent of the 1974 demands
after the constraining influence of higher gasoline prices and the
slackening of the economy. Meanwhile, gasoline inventories on March
1 , this year, were 10 million barrels above last year. Why, then, did
FEO assign gasoline allotments for March that are 10 percent below
the 1972 level and over 20 percent below the unconstrained 1974
demand?
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, we did not assign these allotments. These
allotments were initially assigned by the industry. In other words,
the industry makes their allocations under our regulations; they
determine the supplies they have available to distribute and the
1972 demands of their service stations. So they made these assign­
ments, and then we went in and dipped into inventories to the
extent of about 1 1 million barrels to provide increased allotments.
Now, we could have gone further into inventories. We just did not
feel it was prudent at that time.
It is true that inventories are 226 million barrels and that is 10
million above last year’s 216 million barrels and that sounds like a
lot of gasoline. It is a lot of gasoline, but we have got to remember
that the minimum operable inventories are somewhere in the range
of 180 to 170, let us say 170 million barrels. So this means that we
really only have working inventories of 56 million barrels above
those we need just ot keep the pipelines full and the distribution
system operating, and if we assume we are consuming at the rate
of about 6 million barrels a day, that is only about 10 days’ supply.
So our inventories seem very large when you look at them in the
aggregate, but when you remember that a large portion of these
inventories really are not available for consumption, the inven­
tories are not all that large.
As far as the estimates of shortages are concerned, we had initially
been using a shortage estimate in the range of 15 to 20 percent and
we expected that this would be the shortage for the second quarter.
But we have had imports about 100,000 barrels a day above our full
embargo estimates. We also have had production averaging about
100,000 barrels per day above our forecast so that we actually have
had some buildups in inventories.
We also have had conservation. So I think now, rather than the
15 to 20 percent range, we would probably look at the shortage as
somewhat less, perhaps more in line with the estimate that you quoted
of 10 to 1 1 percent.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . When you let the industry make the alio-




88
nation and you have the practice of price passthroughs and price
adjustments, is there not some temptation for the industry to kind
of hold back if they think they are going to get a pri<?e adjustment
“the next month?
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, of course, I think you are referring to the
fact that during the month of February gasoline dealers became
extremely disturbed over the fact that their profit margins and their
total profits were shrinking in many cases to almost nothing or they
were losing money because they had less gasoline to sell. And also,
they were selling fewer tires, batteries, and accessories. So we per­
mitted them to increase their prices 2 cents on March 1 , and we an­
nounced that at the end of February.
Now, we felt it was prudent to make the announcement at the time
we did because there was tremendous unrest among these gasoline
station operations, and maybe it is true that some of them held back
and did not sell until March; we really do not have any evidence of
this at this point. But we felt it was most important that we announce
this when we did, which was at the end of February, in order to
cool off the situation and prevent some of the things that were being
talked about at that time.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . There was such a miraculous change from
the long lines in February to March; that all seems to be related not
only to the allocation program but to price. I think we have to be
concerned about that.
Mr. S a w h il l . I think your are right. I do think this. One of the
reasons the lines disappeared in February and I think have not
reoccurred in March is this emergency allocation we talked about;
while we announced it in February, it just did not all get in, in
February.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I see that point.
Mr. S a w h il l . A lot of it has come over in March.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I think that is a very valid observation.
On this matter now of lifting the Arab oil embargo, it is estimated
it will take as much as 6 to 8 weeks for crude oil to reach the United
States from the Middle East in any appreciable amount once the
embargo is actuallv lifted. It will take even longer for this crude
oil to go through the refineries and pipelines. Therefore, even if the
oil begins to flow tomorrow—and there is no assurance that the
embargo lifting would be complied with by all Arab States and will
not be reimposed if the Israel-Svria situation escalates—it will not
be until around Memorial Day that the effects of the lifting will be
felt bv our gasoline consumers. I mean, that is just looking at the
time it takes to bring in the crude, refine it, process it and get it out
into the pipelines.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Given the above estimate, can we make it
into June without rationing?
Mr. S a w h il l . I think we can because, as you pointed out, our
inventories at 226 million barrels are 10 million barrels over what
they were at this point last year. So we could draw on inventories
to some extent to tide us over this period when we are waiting for
the additional supplies to come into the country.




89
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Can we do that without drawing down
reserves to dangerously low levels?
Mr. S a w h il l . I believe that we can, yes. I think obviously, we have
to be careful when we do this, and we have to be assured that the
embargo really is over and the production is really going up and the
supplies are really coming into this country. We would not be able
to draw down inventories unless we had that kind of assurance, but
if we did have that kind of assurance I think we could continue to
draw down inventories as we have in the past because our refineries
right now are switching over massively to making more gasoline.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . From the fuel oil ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes, because we have more than adequate stocks of
fuel oil.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . You got a good break on the weather on
fuel oil.
Mr. S a w h il l . Tremendous break, yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Has the agency determined anything, any
figure, that it feels would be a desirable adequate reserve during
these rateh precarious days? Has there been any calculation of that?
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, I think the size of the necessary inventory is
going to depend on how confident we are that the embargo really has
ended and that we really are getting increased production; it also
always varies from month-to-month a little bit. We want bigger
inventories at this time of the year than we expect to have in the
summer, because at this time of the year normally we are producing
more than we consume in order to build up inventories, and in the
summer we consume more than we produce. We draw down inven­
tories normally in the summer.
We are working right now on some figures and perhaps we could
make these available to the committee.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I think it would be good—since your agency
will soon get legislative status, probably within the week----Mr. S a w h il l . S o do we.
Chairman H u m p h r e y [continuing]. And I must say that it is very
necessary—we would hope that your agency might be able to give the
country and the Congress some guidance on what is an adequate
reserve because-----Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y [continuing]. We have gone through a very
painful experience here with this embargo, and it still is uncertain
how long it will last and whether the lifting will really last. We hope
it will. But I just do not want to see us get into a situation after this
experience where we have to draw down our reserve so much to
meet current demands that, if an embargo is imposed again, we are
really in a bind going, let us say, into the late summer or fall.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. I do not think we can affor to put ourselves
into that kind of a position again, and over the longer run I think
we are going to have to look seriously at increasing the storage
capacity in this country.
Chairman H u m p h r y . That is one of the needs that your agency
should be looking at in its advisory and planning capacity----Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.




90
Chairman H u m p h r e y [continuing]. And giving some guidance to
us.
Just a question here that we had yesterday or the day before
yesterday, Mr. Sawhill, that we did not really resolve without wit­
nesses. We have talked about it a little this morning.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Do you think that the allocation system w ill
be able to iron out the disparities among regions?
Mr. S a w h il l . I think it will, because even though the initial allo­
cations that the companies make will contain some disparities, I
think by drawing out of inventories and shifting inventories between
States, that we can begin evening this out, and that is what we intend
to do in April.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . In other words, you are really going to eval­
uate each State as to whether or not it has extra supplies or is in
short supply and try to arrive at a more equitable allocation, is that
correct?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. We have not felt up to this point that our
information was adequate to enable us to go into a State and take
the supplies away from it.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I think you are right.
Mr. S a w h il l . But by April I think we are going to be in a
position where we can do that kind of redistribution.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . One of the things that may develop this
summer that I would like to call to your attention is this: It it not
likely that the existence of the shortage and the efforts of the people
to conserve fuel will so change driving patterns from 1972 that gaso­
line demands will shift greatly from the pattern of supply dictated
by the base period? For instance, if people take their vacations
closer to home this year, will we not find unprecedented gasoline
demand in the close-by vacation spots and less than in 1972 in the
far-off national j>arks, for example, in the Eocky Mountain area,
and so forth; if city people take fewer excursions, that is, long trips
into the country, won’t the locus of gasoline demand tend to shift
from the country to the cities? Are you looking at this? Is there any
concern in the agency?
Mr. S a w h il l . We are concerned about it in the agency. I have to
tell you frankly, though, we do not yet have a good understanding
of how to make an adjustment for that phenomenon, which may
well be occurring: we could encourage it frankly. Even though the
embargo ends and we get supplies back to the September 1973 level,
we still face an important need for conservation in this country, not
only gasoline but other petroleum as well, and all kinds of energy.
So we have to keep hard at it, to push out car pooling program. We
have to ask people to vocation closer to home and, instead of taking
several weekend trips, to take one longer trip and to do all the
things we have to do to conserve energy.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And you are going to keep at your conserva­
tion program?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. I think it is terribly important that we do.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Some of our witnesses on Tuesday from the
petroleum retailers and from the American Automobile Association,




91
find so forth, urged that there be greater efforts on the part o f the
F E O to collect inform ation from across the country so as to formu­
late some sort o f standardized procedures that can be used-------

Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y [continuing]. After the experience that we
had in the winter months. I know, for example, We are getting letters
now in some congressional offices—I know we are in our State—
from people that say they want to come to Minnesota for a vacation—
they would like to go into the northern part—what is the situation
there? Can I get gasoline, et cetera, et cetera? Or how long do your
stations stay open? Is there Sunday opening, and so on? I do believe
it would be helpful if you would have one of your people look over
the testimony from our Tuesday meeting, which we will make
available to your agency rather than burdening you with the ques­
tions here today. Just look that testimony over and see whether
some of the points raised have merit and what you can do about it.
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, I think the need for standardized procedures
makes a lot of sense. We have got to urge Americans to drive less and
to use their cars in a more efficient way, but I think we clearly have
to make information available to them on the situation around the
country.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I think you did make some statement that a
major conservation effort was being prepared by FEO.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. I am really thinking about a longer range
package of conservation initiatives that might include things like
insulation standards for buildings and would augment the Manda­
tory Labeling Act that we have already sent up. I think it is this
kind of package that we need to bring before the Congress, because
this is really a solution to our longer range problem—reducing de­
mand growth from the current rate of 4% percent to something like
3 percent.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . As one Senator I surely want to encourage
you to pursue this conservation effort, because I believe there is
always a danger that when this embargo is lifted we may very well
relax on our efforts to be more self-sufficient. We may relax on our
efforts here to conserve, and I believe that there was some good in
then embargo in the sense that it brought us to our senses and com­
pelled us to take a look at the waste of energy in this country; and
as we noted of late, industry too has been able to save a great deal
on energy.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes, tremendously.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Tremendous savings. And I believe that
there there is a great deal more that can be done, provided that there
is some sense of direction. Otherwise we will go right back into the
old bad habits. And I would hope with the legislative powers of the
agency now on the horizon that the agency really will crack down
on this and help us.
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, it is clearly our intent to have a strong and
continuing conservation effort, not just a public relations effort but
something with teeth in it, something that will cause a reduction in
energy consumption. I think we have got to do that.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Spokesmen for motorists and retail station




92
operators testified before this subcommittee on Tuesday that restric­
tions on gasoline sales should be removed. They especially urged the
removal of bans on fill-ups. They feel that these restrictions have
aggravated the long-line problem and could do so again in the near
future.
My question is, has the FEO reassessed its position on this ques­
tion I
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes, I think we have reassessed our position on
banning fill-ups and I think at this time we would be prepared to
relax the restriction that we had previously. I do not think we would
want to relax our minimum purchase requirement, however, because
that can help reduce the lines.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I think there was a feeling that that should
be maintained.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . In other words----Mr. S a w h il l . A minimum but no maximum.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Yes. But no maximum.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Senator Percy, who has taken a great
interest in this matter, is here and I would like to yield to him for
some questions now.
Senator P ercy . Thank you very much, Senator Humphrey.
We thank you, Mr. Sawhill, for once again appearing before a
committee of the Congress. I do not know how many you have ap­
peared at since you have taken office but we are grateful for your
being with us.
I would like to ask you about the allocation program as it relates
to the allegations that were made that, because of the allocation pro­
gram at the producer level, imports were being actually restricted,
cut back. It made no economic sense for a major importer to bring
in oil and have to sell it at a lower price to a competitor of theirs
and this actually was hurting the flow of product into this country.
It was my hope that the legislation that was passed was broad
enough and gave enough discretionary authority to your office so
that you could take those factors into account and correct them.
Could you update us as to what now is the situation ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Our General Counsel did not feel that the legislation
passed gave us enough flexibility and he felt even the regulations
which we have published for proposed rulemaking recently, which
I will provide a sufficient incentive to bring more imports in, involve
some question as to their legality. So I think we are going to need a
change in some of the language of the law in order to make our
regulations legal.
Senator P ercy . Could you put the question to your counsel. With a
strict interpretation of the intention of the law to give an interpreta­
tion that would certainly not—it was not the intention, I should
think, of the detracters of that legislation to actually inhibit and re­
strict imports coming into this country, but if you feel that modifica­
tion in legislation is required, I certainly hope it can be sent up
promptly and the situation corrected.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes, sir.




93
Senator P ercy. I wonder, could you update us as to how you now
interpret the impact for the American consumer of the reported de­
cision for the embargo to be lifted now for a period of 2 months and
then to be reimposed if the peacemaking efforts of the United States
and the use of our diplomatic offices are not successful in bringing
about the desired end objective? I have only had a verbal report on
what actually occurred this morning. I cannot be any more specific
than that. Can you give us any more specifics on it and then indicate
what the action the oil-producing countries have taken in the Middle
East means to the consumer if the embargo is permanently lifted;
how quickly can we expect supplies ? If it is reimposed in 2 months,
what effect that would have on the consumer ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, clearly, if the embargo were lifted and if we
returned to September 1973 production levels, this would change the
situation markedly. We would go from a situation in the second
quarter of shortage in the range of 1 1 to 12 percent down to shortage
in the range of zero to 4 percent perhaps, because I think that we
could draw down our inventories almost immediately and begin
making supplies available if we knew that the production was up and
we could be assured of that crude oil coming into the country within
the 30- to 45-day period it takes to get it here.
As far as the embargos being lifted for only 2 months is concerned,
I think if we thought that was likely to happen, then we would have
to be a great deal more circumspect about using our inventories.
Senator P ercy. Can you give us authoritative statements on what
actually did come out of the Mideast this morning?
Mr. S a w h il l . N o. I do not have any better information than you
have, frankly.
Senator P ercy . Let us just assume, then, that the embargo is lifted
for 2 months. What effect would this have on prices if it is only a
two-month lifting, and what effect would it have if it is permanent ?
Would this exert a downward pressure on gasoline prices or do you
think we have entered a period of permanently high prices on
petrochemicals ?
Mr. S a w h il l . I think we probably have entered a period of prices
higher than they were prior to the embargo being imposed because
the prices of the Middle Eastern countries have been raised signifi­
cantly. They were tripled in 1973, and so I do not think we will see
prices return to their preembargo levels for a long time, if ever.
That is, prices at the gasoline pump.
On the other hand, as more supplies of oil come onto the world
markets, if production levels are lifted, this could have some down­
ward pressure on price. But this would be offset by the fact that we
would be using a greater proportion of imports in this country which
tend to be higher priced than our controlled domestic oil. So I think
overall, while we might look for some stabilization in price and
possibly some slight reduction in price, I would not look for any
dramatic change.
Senator P ercy . D o you feel that certain quantities of fuel and
gasoline are now being withheld from the market in the expectation
that prices will go up?
Mr. S a w h il l . I do not think so.
34—498— 74-------7




94
Senator P ercy . And do you think that there would be a release of
at least some of those supplies now, if it is apparent that there is
not going to be much of an increase? There may be stability; in fact,
there may be downward pressure. Would those supplies then tend to
come into the market in greater quantities?
Mr. S a w h il Ií. I do not believe that there is excessive hoarding or
withholding from the market of supplies in anticipation of a higher
price, at least not in gasoline at this time. And so I would not
expect that the scenario I have described—level or slightly reduced
prices—would bring forth any large additional quantities.
Senator P ercy . Have Mr. Ash and Mr. Simon resolved their
differences on the seriousness, loñg-term and short-term, of the energy
problem?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. I believe that anv differences that existed, and
I think they were more differences that the press made something of
than differences in fact, have been resolved.
Senator P ercy . Would you then care to make a statement that
would embrace the views of both Mr. Ash and Mr. Simon-----Mr. S a w h t ix . I w ill be on the spot.
Senator P ercy [continuing!. As to the seriousness of it, short­
term and long-term, with particular emphasis on a statement that I
notice Mr. Simon made, I think, this morning? Even if the embargo
is lifted, he said, the problem—I do not know whether he used the
word “problem” or “crisis.” That is important. I should have re­
membered that. But could you state how serious it is even if the
embargo is lifted?
Mr. S awhill Well, let us assume that the embargo were not to be
lifted. I f the embargo were not lifted, we originally had foreseen a
shortage in the range of 17 percent for the second quarter. I think
because of the conservation that we have practiced, because we have
seen some buildup in inventories, because domestic production ac­
tually has gone up somewhat, and because we have had some leakage
in the embargo, that our estimates would now be slightly lower
on a percentage basis. It would probably go down to the range of 12
to 14 percent, and I think there would be general agreement in the
administration on that figure.
I f the embargo is lifted, I think we will see a much lower shortage,
probably overall in the range of zero to 4 percent, somewhere in that
area. In terms-----Chairman H u m p h r e y . Y ou mean a final shortage of around 2 to
3 percent?
Mr. S a w h t t x . Yes, if the embargo is lifted and if we return to the
September 1973 production levels.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Well. I would think that would be rather
optimistic. I hope you are right. The National Petroleum Council
estimated before the embargo was on that there was a shortfall in
the country of over 5 percent. Now, of course, with the conservation
measures, you can improve that.
Mr. S a w h il Ií. Yes, and I think we have significantly improved it.
I think the important thing, thought, is not what the* shortage is in
the next quarter or the quarter after that, but really what is the
nature of the long-term situation we face in energy. The fact is that




95
our demand is growing at 4y2 percent a year, but domestic production
has leveled off, so we are getting ever more dependent on the rest of
the world. And as you said in your opening statement, Senator
Humphrey, we just cannot put ourselves in the position where we are
subject to this kind of economic blackmail. We have got to do some­
thing to reduce demand growth and bring on new sources of supply,
and I think we all agree in the administration that this is our prin­
cipal task. This is the goal of what we have come to call Project
Independence—to put this country in a position where it is no longer
so terribly dependent on the rest of the world for its sources of
energy.
Senator P e r c y . The exact quotation from this morning’s New
York Times is as follows: “Mr. Simon said that one of Ms main
tasks, once the embargo is ended, would be to convince Americans
that because of the continuing shortage of refining capacity in the
United States and Europe, the energy problem has not been solved.”
Now, he is basing that on refinery capacity.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes.
Senator P e r c y . What do we need to do to get adequate refinery
capacity ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think we need to do a couple of things. One
of the most important things is we need to provide an energy facility
siting bill which will make it possible for refiners to get places on
which to site their refineries. We have seen from recent experience in
New England, for example, that people just do not seem to like to
have refineries near where they live, and yet we have got to build
refineries in this country and we have got to have siting legislation
which permits this to be done on a rational basis. We will be submit­
ting such a proposal to the Congress and I think it is important that
we work hard to get a bill enacted.
Senator P e r c y . I s it mainly a problem of site selection or is it also
a problem of return on investment on the refinery operation?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think site selection is certainly an important
part of the problem. Obviously, we have got to have an adequate
return on investment. To build these refineries, the oil companies have
got to be assured of adequate profitability so they will make the
capital investment to do the job, and if we keep talking about price
rollbacks----Senator P e r c y . What w ou ld a price rollback specifically do? What
influence w ould this have on a management and a board of directors
entrusted with the public stockholders’ money?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I th in k it would obviously discourage new
investm ent.
Senator P e r c y .

I could not agree more and I hope that, as a part
of our educational program, we can put across the point that a price
rollback is going to discourage the very creation of the capacity that
we need to provide adequate supply. I do not think you are ever
going to solve the problem if you do not get supply. This is our
great concern. If we talk about price rollbacks and other ways of
reducing the profitability of the oil companies and if we get overly
concerned, emotionally concerned, with oil company profitability,
what we are going to do is discourage the very thing we are trying




96
to create; namely, bringing on new sources of supply in this country.
So instead of paying the dollars to American producers to build new—
to bring on new supplies in America, we are going to continue to
ship them on over to Saudi Arabia.
There are some in this country who argue that we could possible
have an energy glut. They point the agricultural shortages of the
years 1946 to 1959. They point to the shortages of 1950 and 1951.
Even the dollar shortages that existed in the early fifties when
dollars were short all over the world. And now there is a glut of
dollars. In the London Economist magazine in an article entitled.
“ The Coming Glut of Energy,” they cite the reasons why they feel
it is going to be. “ In modern conditions of high elasticity of both
production and substitution, plus surprisingly equal leadtimes for
many investment projects, we now generally do create overproduction
of whatever politicians and pundits earlier thought would be most
urgently needed, because both consensus-taking governments and
profit-seeking producers are then triggered by that commentary into
starting the overproduction cycle at precisely the same time.”
In my own talks with oil companies, I have not seen a tendency on
their part to just rush ahead now and develop the refinery capacity
we might need, nor have I seen the rush on the part of communities
to want to attract and invite refineries to come in.
Would you care to comment on whether you feel, though, that
politicians are being overly concerned with this problem and may
trigger us into a condition of overproduction of energy ? Or do you
foresee still a long-term shortage?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I foresee for this country a long-term imbalance
betwen supply and demand and I take issue with the statement you
just read on a couple of points. The first is on the question of elas­
ticity. It does not seem to me that demand is as elastic as the author
of that article indicated. I think that it probably is more inelastic,
and I would say the same for supply, at least in the shortrange.
As we have looked at the possibilities of bringing on new energy
supplies in this country, we find this to be a very difficult task. To
increase coal production—we could require a doubling of the coal
miners in this country, and we just do not have that many people
that want to go into the coal mining business these days.
It just seems to me the leadtimes built, to get coal gasification
plants built. Let us take the case of nuclear energy, for example. We
have had that technology around for 40 years and yet how much
nuclear energy do we have ? One percent of our total energy, as we are
fond of saying is nuclear. Here is a technology that has been avail­
able to us and, because of all the problems of bringing a new tech­
nology on line, we still only have 1 percent. If it takes that long, I
do not foresee any kind of an energy glut in this country.
Senator P e r c y . I would like to ask specfically on the authority for
your office. You do not have statutory authority yet. You are oper­
ating with regulations. The House has passed a bill; the Senate has
passed a bill now to provide you with authority; and we are ready
to go ahead with the conference and provide you statutory authority.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Thank you . We need it.
Senator P e r c y . I understand that there may be an attempt to hang




97
onto that bill price rollbacks or other of the highly controversial
matters that have already been discussed, voted against, and about
which the controversy is quite evident. Can you tell us what damage
it would do, if any, if once again an attempt to get statutory author­
ity for your offices is frustrated by this continued maneuvering to
hang on these highly controversial matters ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think that would tremendous damage. The Congress
has asked us to carry out an allocation program, to allocate supplies
equitably to the American people, and yet they have refused so far
to give us a bill which would establish our agency and put us in busi­
ness and enable us to recruit on a permanent basis and to contract out
with contractors to do some of the studies that the Congress wants
us to do. We have just got to have this authority if we are to function
effectively.
I have sat up here for hours and hours talking to Congressmen
and listening to criticism about why we have not moved faster and
why we have not brought more people on board. I think some of it is
justified frankly, but if we do not get a bill, the Congress just cannot
expect us to carry out its mandate. And if they—if they Christmas
tree our bill and hang on it provisions such as a price rollback and
unemployment insurance and other things that should be considered,
I think, in separate legislation, it is going to seriously inhibit our
ability to do the job that the Congress and the American people
want us to do.
Senator P e r c y . My last question pertains to taxes. Do you feel,
first, that the oil companies are paying a fair share of their U.S.
income taxes?
Mr. S a w h t l l . Well, I think that depends on how you define fair
share. Certainly, they are not paying the same percentage of total
taxes to their profits as other companies in the country. But we have
used the tax system in this country as a means of providing incen­
tives to certain industries to make capital investments or to make
investments in particular regions, and, viewed in that light, I think
that the tax structure probably-----Senator P e r c y . What incentives— what help—does it provide us
to have a depletion allowance for foreign drilling?
Mr. S a w h i l l . None. And we would favor elimination of th a t.
Senator P e r c y . So y ou favor elimination of that?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes. we would.
Senator P e r c y . I should ask this of Mr. Simon because of his dual
role as Under Secretary of the Treasury, but do you happen to know
are now?
Mr. S a w h i l l . No. I do not have that information,
offhand, Mr. Sawhill, what the total taxes paid by the oil companies
Senator P e r c y . Would it sound like a fair ball park figure to you
if we sought to have the oil companies pay $3 billion to $4 biliion
more a year in taxes ? Might this be a fair goal ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, of course, I do not have a good answer to that
question but it seems to me that every dollar we take away from the
oil companies is a dollar we may be taking out of investment to in­
crease the productivity of our energy industry. So I think we
have to-----




98
Senator P e r c y . Would it----Mr. S a w h i l l [continuing]. Weigh that in thinking about taxes.
Senator P e r c y . Would it be proper for us to go to the oil com­
panies who are experts in the field, and say we think—and I just
happen to feel that they will feel better not being under the cloud
of paying only 1 to 7 percent in income taxes when other corpora­
tions are paying between 30 and 48 percent and individuals are pay­
ing more on their individual incomes—would it be a desirable thing
from our standpoint to say, here is what we think ought to be the
minimum tax level paid by a major industry in this country, but
you tell us how we can increase tax revenue by that amount without
destroying your incentive to produce and provide adequate supply?
We would like to do it in the least harmful way. Taxes always
hurt anyone.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes.
Senator P e r c y . But we want to do it in such a way that we will
not destroy incentive; we will not remove incentive for the very kind
of production that we are going to require in the future.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think----Senator P e r c y . I s it in your judgment equitable and fair to work
with an industry in trying to find the best way to increase their tax
load rather than just arbitrarily picking something the impact of
which we might not really know?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think it would make sense to find out from the
people who are going to be subject to the tax which taxes will pro­
vide greater or lesser incentives, yes.
Senator P e r c y . Last, I have just taken delivery yesterday morning
of my new 6-cylinder compact. Do you know how I can get rid of my
4-door, 8-cylinder automobile?
Mr. S a w h i l l . N o, sir. I do not. I drive a 4-cylinder car myself.
Senator P e r c y . Thank you very kindly, Mr. Sawhill.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Sawhill, I agree with the necessity o f
incentive to get investment but sometimes the incentive becomes more
than an incentive. It becomes a kind o f gluttony and I think that is
what has happened here.
Now, we have built a great automobile industry and they have
been taxed. We built a great iron ore industry and steel industry in
this country. It has been taxed. I do not know what is so unique
about the oil industry that they have got to be treated like a sort of
neurotic sick child that needs overly protective mother care and
psychiatric treatment.
What is so unique about it?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I do not have any, you know, any real, you know,
good answer to your question.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I believe they have sold us a bill o f goods
that somehow or other you are not going to get anv oil unless you
treat them differently. Next thing I can see United States Steel com­
ing in here and saying you are not going to get any steel unless you
treat them differently. They pay corporate taxes. And Minnesota
Mining pays taxes. Beer companies pay taxes.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well-----Chairman H u m p h r e y . I am just simply saying I want them to




99
have an incentive but I am not going to let the record look like some­
how or other they need to be brought in-house and told, “ Industry,
you tell us how we should tax you.”
Well, now, you know that if that is how it’s done, a lot of folks
out here would like to tell the Congress how to tax them.
Mr. S a w h i l l . I do not think that was quite Senator Percy’s point.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . N o , I do not think it was his point but I
am worried that it is being sold to the public.
Mr. S a w h i l l . My interpretation of his point was that we clearly
need to increase the tax take from $ie oil industry but we want to do
it in a way which will be least damaging to the incentives to bring
on new production, and perhaps one of the ways to find out where
the important incentives are is to talk to the industry and those who
are going to end up paying the taxes anyway.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I think that is possible true. Another way
recommended by some of us is to set up a sort of quasi-public corpo­
ration like a sort of TYA like we did with the utilities to see what it
really takes to produce a barrell of oil and what the costs are. They
vary, of course, in different parts of the world. There are two ways
we can deal with the oil companies. I f the income is too high, maybe
they can reduce the price.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . That would help. We have seen unprece­
dented price increases in the last few months, and I hope that we
have seen—I hope that they have leveled off here and will come down.
When you talk about price rollbacks, it is not as if somehow or an­
other we were going to impoverish these poor weaklings, these little
struggling companies. I had some figures here that-----Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, you are right, Senator, that the major oil
companies are giant corporations but there are small producers as
well.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Oh, absolutely, and I think that there has
to be a difference. I think our tax laws should be fixed so there are
incentives. I voted for investment tax credit. I am a capitalist. I
believe in the free enterprise system. I believe in it strongly, but I
tell you these oil companies have got a bad public image and they
better understand it. They have a bad public image and all their
full-page ads together are not going to redeem them, because prices
have gone up. The average fellow out in the countryside and the
worker and businessman are paying a lot more for their petroleum.
Whole economies today are—really whole economies are being re­
structured. Eight here this past week in Washington there was a
meeting of the major international banking officials to see what they
can do to save the economies of about half the countries of the world.
The World Bank, the African Development Bank. Asian Develop­
ment Bank, IMF, and what were they here for? They were here to
see whether or not there was some way they could not bail out these
weak economies that are the victims of incredible price increases,
particularly in fuel.
Now, they have said the Arab nations ought to share more with the
poor. I will wait for that.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think-----




100
Chairman H u m p h r e y . One nation shared. There is one country that
has been sharing but that is not Arab. I have to be very frank about
it, because when we talk about—you were worried about the profita­
bility of the oil companies. I am worried about not only the profita­
bility of the oil companies but about the wellbeing of the consumers
of this country. They are entitled to fair prices. And when I see these
big majors start closing in on all the independents—we had testimony
here that thousands of independent oil dealers that kept prices down
when there was an adequate supply have been eliminated, and there
is a restructuring of the market, vertical integration, from the crude
oil and the tanker to the refinery and the co-ownership of pipelines
right on out to the jobber and the retailers. The whole chain is owned
by the same company.
I am going to repeat what I said Tuesday. These oil companies
better remember that there are antitrust laws, that there may be a
change in administration, that there may be different people in Con­
gress ; we do not like what we are seeing because this is not competi­
tion. This is oligopoly! Not monopoly, oligopoly. I think that we
we have got to do something about it.
Now, having gotten my fever up here a little bit on this, and it
will stay up permanently until we see some results-----Mr. S a w h i l l . You should recognize that you are talking to a
regulator of the oil industry in me. I have got to look at end balance
off the interests of consumers, environmentalists, labor, industry.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I just needed you there as the target for. the
moment. I am not holding you accountable. I just want to make sure
you are not trapped into the thinking what I sometimes see and hear.
Mr. S aw hiitl . OK.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Speaking of what I just said, though, and
what you said about your agency, I think your agency must have its
authorizing legislation and I do not think we ought to try to encum­
ber the legislation unnecessarily. I think there is a way we can do
that, however. Yesterday we acted on unemployment compensation.
There are some things we can do separately from the bill that affects
your Agency. You need the law and we ought to take care of it, and
you are right in being a bit critical of the Congress on delaying this.
I would hope you might speak to the President about the veto, but
that is a little aside.
Now, the FEO is concentrating its efforts these days on the present
problems of allocation discrepancies, as vou said here todav, and
lines at the gas pumps, and assuring gas for priority users. That’s a
big job. However, it is essential that the bigger, longer-term questions
of how we meet our nation’s future energy requirements in 1980 and
bevend be addressed immediately. I want to point out that we have
gotten so fixed on current events that we have forgotten the fore­
casts that have been made about future enerpv needs. You addressed
yourself to it somewhat this morninp*. saying you do not see an
energy glut. I tend to agree with you. The requirements of our econ­
omy are going to be great. Therefore, we need a comprehensive, long­
term energy policy. We need to decide where we will invest our
public resources, where we will encourage private spending and how
we will influence our energy consumption habits.




101
What is the administration doing to develop such a national energy
policy? When will it be ready for the Congress and the public to
review and discuss?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I gave a presentation to the Vice President and sev­
eral members of the Cabinet yesterday in which I outlined our organi­
zation plan for creating a blueprint for what we call Project Inde­
pendence, and basically that is a plan for creating a national energy
policy as you just outlined. Our plan is to work over the next several
months and by this fall to be in a position to come to Congress with
a national energy policy that would include a legislative package and
budgetary requirement. It would define what we need to put into
place in this country over the next several years to move toward a
goal of energy self-sufficiency. It would get at the kind of changes
we need in regulations and administrative practices, looking at each
different fuel type to determine how we ought to develop them and
provide incentives for bringing these fuels on line more quickly. It
would look at our overall research and development plan to see in
what areas we need to put research and development, and how much.
I do not think one can create something like this in a week or
month. I think it is going to take us several months and I would
envision coming back to you in the fall with a complete package.
The President has assigned the lead responsibility in developing
this to the Federal Energy Office.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Good.
Mr. S a w h i l l . And we intend to make this our number one priority
over the next several months.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . The purpose of my question was to elicit
that response. I am very pleased. Would it be helpful to you, for
example, if there were a Joint Committee on Energy here in the
Congress? I sometimes reallv do feel sorry for you and Mr. Simon.
You have to go to every little old subcommittee like mine. I brine:
you up here for this subcommittee, and then you have to go to
Interior and to Appropriations, et cetera. You are all over the
Congress. #
Would it be helpful to you if you had one sounding board?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I would urge the Congress to establish a Joint Com­
mittee because I think this could be a way in which we could come
and work closely with the Congress on-----Chairman H u m p h r e y . Policv.
Mr. S a w h i l l [continuing]. Policy on this very thing I am talking
about. We could have periodic reviews of this program and could
gain agreement and then we could understand the legislation we need
and move forward with it quickly, rather than having all the bills
that are up here on the Hill now and verv little action.
I think we could establish a much better dialogue and a much better
framework for obtaining agreement if we had such a committee.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I hope to introduce such a bill, a Joint
Committee on Energy Policv, not a legislative committee but a policy
discussion committee. Then from that, after we have had the dialogue
between your office and the Joint Committee, then you can go to the
proper legislative committee for your legislative authoritv. The way
it is now, as I say, we in Congress criticize FEO, and I have been




102
Tight in th e fo r e fr o n t at tim es on this, bu t w e have m ore com m ittees
and subcom m ittees arou n d here and it is pretty h a rd to kn ow w here
y o u r base— w here y ou need to ta lk and where you o u g h t to go.
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think we would certainly support that kind of----Chairman H u m p h r e y . We will have something u p here.

Just a quick question on the fertilizer problem. Fertilizer has
natural gas as its feedstock Now the scarcity of fertilizer this spring,
as we have discussed, could have some serious repercussions on food
production. There seems to be a temporary surplus on fertilizer. If
this current surplus disappears however, will our fertilizer producers
be getting enough natural gas to permit them to run their plants at
very close to their capacity ? If not, how can this critical problem
be overcome so production can be maximized and grocery store prices
held at some kind of reasonable levels? Remember, this is what this
administration is counting on most to counter inflation. In other
words, is the FEO proposing any disincentives to low priority gas
users?
Mr. S a w h i l l . At this point we are not. You must remember that
natural gas is regulated by the Federal Power Commission rather
than FEO. Now, we could make some proposals to establish a tax on
excessive use of natural gas or other kinds of disincentives. I do not
think that would have much effect on the near term. But it is some­
thing we have had under active consideration.
I think the fertilizer problem is something that is much broader
than FEO. It really is a price problem. It is a problem for the
Department of Agriculture as well as for the FEO.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And the FPC.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes, but we will certainly do everything we can to
provide adequate supplies of fuels to the fertilizer industry because,
as you state, there may be a shortage of fertilizer and that clearly
would have a detrimental effect on our capability to produce food.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . N o w , on propane I mentioned that there
is a current surplus. Adverse weather conditions could dry up these
surpluses. I f this happens, we would be in serious truble again on
this vital fuel.
What is the FEO doing to provide against this contingency ? What
is the FEO doing on the outrageous propane price structure ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, on the price structure, about three weeks ago I
called in the industry and I told them basically to either roll back
their prices or we were going to roll them back. Subsequently, prices
have dropped fairly significantly. They were in the range of 40 cents
and now they have come down to 30 cents or 25 cents. And so I think
we have achieved some results as far as propane prices are concerned.
As far as supplies are concerned, I think one thing we would do—
we have not done this but what we considered doing is banning the use
of propane bv utilities, in utility boilers.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Right.
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think that might be a good step because that would
make more supplies available and also should have a favorable effect
on price.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Y ou might do the same thing with the FPC
with gas in boilers, too.




103
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, if we could get legislation to enable us to put
coal under those boilers, because I am not sure I would want to put
residual oil under them.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Your allocation, will the FEO write new
regulations before they expire on April 30 ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think we probably will. Well, certainly if the
embargo ends we will modify significantly all our regulations includ­
ing our propane regulations.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Senator Proxmire.
Senator P r o x m ir e . Mr. Sawhill, I understood when you testified
before this committee before that with the end of the embargo you
anticipated about an 8 percent shortage of oil and about a 4 percent
shortage of gasoline. Is that still firm?
Mr. S a w h i l l . No. I think probably our estimates would be reduced
now and----Senator P r o x m ir e . What would they be now?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think we would be talking, oh, in the range of
zero to 4 percent and I think the reason we have lowered our estimates
is because inventories have built up due to the warmer weather and
conservation, because we have gotten some more imports than we
expected to get, not a lot but some more, because domestic production
has actually been up, and finally, because increased prices have ohbiously had an impact.
Senator P r o x m ir e . And because there has been conservation?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I said conservation.
Senator P r o x m ir e . I missed that. But we might get quite a turn­
around on consumption with the end of the embargo.
Mr. S a w it il l . We could. It would depend on prices, I thing.
Senator P r o x m ir e . There were several indications what might
happen. One is that gasoline stations might be open on Sunday. Is
that real possibility?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes. Of course, we never had a mandatory closing
on Sunday.
Senator P r o x m ir e . But the President requested it and they patri­
otically agreed they would do that.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes. I would think that would be one of the things
we would consider lifting, that ban on Sunday closings, primarily
because this has affected the tourist industry in this country and if
we have got to try to protect jobs, we have got to have incentives.
Senator P r o x m ir e . That is right. However, if we permit gasoline
stations to be open on Sunday and gasoline is made readily available,
is it not possible we could have a continued shortage ? I notice that----Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes.
Senator P r o x m ir e [continuing]. Mr. Simon this morning said,
“We anticipated spot shortages would continue.”
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes. When I am talking about in the range of 4
percent, that is kind of a spot shortage type. I think last summer
Denver had a shortage of somewhere around 4 percent and that was
a sort of uncomfortable kind of shortage to live with.
Senator P r o x m ir e . All right. Now, if we have that kind of a situa­
tion, how long would it be necessary to retain, in your view, price
limitations on gasoline?




104
Mr. S a w h i l l . Price controls?
Senator P r o x m ir e . Yes. Do you think it would be possible to move
into a free market within a period of months or would that still take
several years ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think that we are going to have to maintain
price controls for some time. Whether it is several months or several
years I am not sure. I think certainly until our current authority
expires, which is in February 1975, we would want to maintain price
controls on crude oil that we have and controls on refiners5 margins.
I think we need to maintain those and I think we can maintain them
without destroying the incentives to bring on new production.
Senator P r o x m ir e . The reason for the rollback was that we have
never gotten an explanation that I can understand from you or Mr.
Simon or anybody else in FEO as to the reason why we had the
very large increase in crude oil over the past year, it has gone from
$3.50-----Mr. S a w h i l l . Crude oil prices----Senator P r o x m ir e [continuing]. To $5.25 per barrel for old oil
and, of course, much higher for other oil, why we have gotten that
enormous increase? Obviously, there is not incentive for more pro­
duction with the old oil. The old oil was there. There was every indi­
cation it would be produced at far less than $5.25. The reason I sup­
ported the rollback was because there just did not seem to be any
justification for what seemed to be an artificially and unnecessarily
high price.
Mr. S a w h t l l . Yes, but I think the rollback, as I understand it,
applied to new oil and stripper well oil rather than—the rollback
would not have reduced the old oil price. It would have put a cap on
new prices and stripper well oil.
Senator P r o x m ir e . The cap was $7.09?
Mr. S a w h i l l . N o, I think it was $5 with an opportunity to go up.
Senator P r o x m ir e . That is right. The opportunity was there.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes, some opportunities, but it would have required
an administrative procedure but in any event, I think there is a
difference between old oil and new oil and I think that to keep the
price of oil up, I do not know where the price would be, whether it
should be $7.25 or $8.25 or $9.10. I do not think any of us can really
pinpoint exactly what the long-range supply price of these alternative
sources is.
Senator P r o x m ir e . Have you yet arrived at a justification for the
$5.25 price rollback for old oil ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I do not think this is something that you cost justify.
Senator P r o x m ir e . You do not cost justify?
Mr. S a w h i l l . No, I do not think you do. You know, prices are
based on demand and supply. They are not based solely on the
supply curve.
Senator P r o x m ir e . Well, if you do not cost justify it, then you are
allowing an enormous transfer of income from consumers to the oil
companies and I mean enormous. The profits of last year will be just
dwarfed by the profits we are going to have in 1974 with this new
price that went into effect in December 1973, will they not? And if it
is not iustified on a cost basis, I do not know why you have any price
controls at all. Why stop at $5.25 ?




105
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think you do not just suddenly let a price
explode.
Senator P r o x m ir e . Well, may I just interrupt to say as I under­
stand the philosophy of our wage-price control system, it has been
to bottom it, to base it on costs. That has been true everywhere except
in the energy area. Now you have got something else here, another
standard that I think is very vague and results in an extraordinarily
high price and what seems to be an exploitation by the oil companies
of the consumer when you get an oil oil price that, as I say, cannot
be justified on the grounds of more production because that would
apply to the new oil but not to the old oil.
Mr. S a w h il l . That is correct.
Senator P r o x m ir e . And it seems to be much, much higher than is
necessary.
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, I think what you have got to eventually get to
in this country is one price for oil, not a series of prices, a different
price for stripper well and oil oil and new oil. I think we have got
to move to one price that basically has got to be tied to the world
market price and to the extent that price has been allowed to go up,
it has moved toward these longer range prices which is probably
where the price is ultimately going to settle.
Senator P roxm ire . Have we made any progress in getting better
and more reliable information from the oil industry than before?
That has been a point of contention with this committee and particu­
larly with my subcommittee where we had hearings on this.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes, sir.
Senator P r o x m ir e . And virtually all the information came from the
American Petroleum Institute or from the companies themselves,
very little information from the Government except what the Gov­
ernment in turn received from the industry. It was a very peculiar
situation there. Agriculture and Commerce, and so forth, gather
their own information, audit their own information, verify their
own information, but in oil we just get it from the people who have
a self-serving reason for providing what information they wish, not
that they are not good, honest people, I am sure they are, but they
are in a position which is, I think, very advantageous to them and
very disadvantageous for the consumer and for the Government.
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, as you know, we will shortly discontinue get­
ting our information from the American Petroleum Institute and
begin getting----Senator P r o x m ir e . When?
Mr. S a w h il l . [continuing]. Our information directly from—I do
not know what the exact date is but I am sure it is within the next
month—the companies and as we get it directly from the companies,
we will send audit teams out to the companies to insure that the infor­
mation we are getting has been verified by Government officials. We
already have these audit teams auditing some of the refiners right
now, as a matter of fact.
Senator P r oxm tr e . Yes. Five or 6 weeks ago Mr. Simon announced
we would audit, the Government would audit the refiners.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. This audit program began in early February.
Senator P r o x m ir e . What has been the result of that? What have
you found?




106
Mr. S a w h i l l . I do not think we have any meaningful results yet..
They just started to go out.
Senator P r o x m ir e . When will you be in a position to get cost
estimates that will be useful ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think that we will accumulate this informa­
tion over a series of months. I mean, I think that the Cost of Living
Council had some good cost estimates and we probably have good cost
estimates on refiners margins and that kind of thing. I think it is
going to take us a while before we can get good cost estimates on the
producing side of the business.
[The following information was subsequently supplied for the
record by Mr. Sawhill in the context of the above interrogation by
Senator Proxmire:]
R

e f in e r y

A

u d it

P r o g r a m S t a t u s R epo rt

The refinery audit program is intended to be a continuing and not a one­
time program. Auditors have been assigned to follow the approximately 30
largest refiners on a continuing basis and other refiners on an intermittent
basis, as needed. The first comprehensive review is now under way and is not
expected to be complete until at least the latter part of May.
However, audits and investigations to date of complaints of suspected vio­
lations have resulted in several specific actions being taken, without waiting
for the completion of the first phase of the investigation. Thus far approxi­
mately $55 million of increases on the part of 4 or 5 companies has been
challenged and in the near future FEO expects to challenge additional increases
in prices amounting to many millions of dollars—approximately $35 million
in the case of just one company.
FEO has issued numerous remedial orders to refiners that had increased
prices without properly reporting cost justifications to FEO. Remedial orders
were also issued to several refiners requesting recomputation of cost increase
figures where proposed price increases would result in over-recovery of costs.
It was found that several cases of over-recovery were due to the fact that
certain companies anticipated the change in the Canadian excise tax before
it became effective. In addition, FEO has initiated a special investigation of
the pricing practices of major oil companies where transfer from a controlled
foreign subsidiary to the parent company is involved. Results from this in­
vestigation will not be known for several weeks.

Senator P r o x m ir e . In the event the good news that seems about to
be forthcoming on the end of the embargo materializes, does that
mean that rationing is a dead letter, that we will not have rationing?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I would say this, that if the embargo ends
and if we are confident that we are going to get restoration of the
preembargo production levels, that I would think rationing at that
point would only be a remote possibility.
Senator P r o x m ir e . N o w , I would just like to spend a couple of
more minutes because I think that the previous questioning got into
a very interesting area with respect to the favors to the oil industry.
I do not think we have mentioned the biggest advantages that the
oil industry has which are these. They have had effective regulation
of their domestic oil supply through prorationing systems over the
years. And this has enabled them to fix their prices, in effect, for
domestic oil. Then they have had the oil import quota system that has
protected them for years—now it is no longer necessary—from for­
eign competition. On top of that they get these tremendous tax
advantages.
Now, you argued and one of the questioners indicated that they




107
did not want the tax changes that would reduce incentives for pro­
ducing more oil. I am not so sure that philosophy in the long run
makes sense. It does not seem logical to me that we should have a tax
incentive to use up a limited resource. We are energy gluttons in this
country. Why should we adopt a policy that encourages an artificially
low price of gasoline, encouraging consumption, when we have this
limited supply, and why should we interfere in the free market to
that extent?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think it is a question of how much you inter­
fere. I would agree that we do not want to keep prices artificially
low and encourage a rapid depletion of our fossil fuel reserves. On
the other hand, I think we have to recognize, as we look forward at
some point, this country is going to run out of oil unless our geo*
logical estimates are all wrong, so what we have got to do is be
concentrating on developing alternative energy sources.
Senator P r o x m ir e . Why not let the market determine that rather
than let artificial programs like the oil depletion allowance which,
incidentally, on the basis of every survey I have seen by academic
people outside the oil industry, has not worked very well, has not
achieved a greater degree of exploration, improving reserves ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . That has been my understanding, too, that the deple­
tion allowance has not contributed all that much to increased produc­
tion----Senator P r o x m ir e . Has your office done anything----Mr. S a w h i l l [continuing]. Against the foreign oil depletion.
Senator P r o x m ir e . H o w about the golden gimmick?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Pardon?
Senator P r o x m ir e . I am talking about the provision in the tax law
that enables the oil companies to subtract the taxes they pay to other
countries, royalties they pay to other countries from their taxes as a
tax credit.
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think that is something that the Treasury is study­
ing and whether they have come forward with a proposal or not, I
do not know.
¡Senator P r o x m ir e . Intangible drilling writeoff, does that apply
abroad or do you think that should not ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Again, I think we are getting into tax matters that
are probably a little outside— —
Senator P r o x m ir e . I think it is very critical. This is one o f the
reasons we have—I think those incentives were applied abroad very
foolishly.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes, I would agree with you. Without discussing the
specifics, we do not want to give our industry incentives to explore
outside the United States. We want to give them incentives to ex­
plore in this country and disincentives to explore outside this country.
Senator P r o x m ir e . My time is up. I have just one more question.
You mentioned in your prepared statement the West Virginia strike.
We are all very aware of the truckers’ strike which was featured by
violence, a tragic situation in our country. Do you have any kind of
a program to anticipate this kind of disruption so that we can meet
it with policies that would forestall it and policies that would prevent
this kind of sheer muscle prevailing? In every case I have seen when




108
they have struck or when they have used—resorted to violence they
won, and I think that is a very bad precedent for our country and a
very bad basis on which public policy should be determined, and I
think it is partly because we have not had, Congress too, perhaps, we
have not had the imagination to provide policies that would prevent
this kind of thing.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think to some extent these situations have
arisen out of the fact that we have regulated the oil industry. In a
very short period of time, about a month, we put together a very
complex set of regulations over a very complex industry and obviously
inequities resulted from it. We tried to be flexible, in giving addi­
tional price increases to gasoline station owners, we made some provi­
sions for the truckers and this required working with ICC, which was
a difficult thing.
As far as the miners in West Virginia, we have anticipated prob­
lems that miners have experienced in other States and it seems to me
the problem in West Virginia is more complex than just not sufficient
gasoline.
Senator P r o xm t r e . What concerns many people is that the na­
tional Government, Federal Government, which certainly in this area
should have exercised leadership, had to give way to the Governor
of Pennsylvania in the case of the truckers’ strike and does not seem
to be exerting the kind of imaginative, aggressive leadership which
the situation calls for.
Mr. S a w h i l l . At times when we exercise that kind of leadership,
you do not hear about it. This just is not dramatized because the
problem is taken care of right away.
Senator P r o xm t r e . Tell us about it. We would like to know.
Mr. S a w h i l l . For example, in Kentucky, I talked to the Governor
of Kentucky 2 or 3 weeks ago about a similar problem he had had
brewing* in his State, the fact that we did not have adequate fuel so
the miners could get to work, did not have adequate fuel to provide
for coal mining: and other forms of energy. We made some provisions
in our regulations and I sent him a letter outlining a plan which he
adopted. It is things like that that we do every day that solve these
problems before they become problems.
I think another example is the retail gasoline station owners. We
met with them and I did continuously for 12, 14, 18 hours at a time
and you know, I was on the phone for 3 or 4 hours in a row with
dealers out in Oregon and Washington and we did not have any
national strike of retail gasoline station owners.
I think we are doing things but they are things that just do not
get national attention and they should not. We ought to anticipate
these problems.
Senator P r o xm t r e . Thank you.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Very good, Mr. Sawhill.
Senator Javits has some questions. You have been a very patient
witness and very forthcoming. We have been here a couple of hours.
Do you need a break, any of you?
Mr. S a w h i l l . N o .
Chairman H u m p h r e y . OK.
Senator J avits . Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair­
man, I shall try to confine my questions to the 10 minutes.




109
I noticed that you said to Senator Proxmire that rationing would
be academic if the oil embargo were lifted. I have been for rationing,
and so the question I would like to ask you is, what happens to allo­
cations if the oil embargo is lifted?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think our allocation system would become a great
deal more flexible if the embargo is lifted and if we had the assurance
of additional supplies.
You know, I think it is a combination of not only an embargo
being lifted but of the assurance of getting more supplies. I think we
would become a great deal more flexible in the exercise of our alloca­
tion program because we would not be under such constraints to
preserve for greater demand periods of the year like this summer.
Senator J a v it s . We were disturbed in New York that the alloca­
tions for March were based on the allocations for February and,
therefore, the danger that the same kind of tightness would take
place in March as it did in February. Also, that we felt the State
reserve was to small, as you depend so heavily on it. We would
recommend that it go to 5 percent.
Could you comment 011 both those?
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I think New York actually was more fortunate
than many other States because New York had an allocation fraction
which was above the national average, although I should say only
slightly above, but New York—actually, we used three rules in trying
to determíne the allocation for each State in March and we took the
higher of the three.
The first was how much the oil companies said they were going to
put into the State. The second was 85 percent of the adjusted March
192 figure. And the third was 113 percent of the February figure.
In New York’s case the oil companies initially under our regula­
tions were going to put in 417 million gallons. Under the revised allo­
cations that we announced last week, they will be putting in almost
470 million gallons, 468^ million gallons, so we increased the sup­
plies to New York about 50 million gallons through our allocation
rules and brought New York up over the national average.
I know there is concern in New York because they feel that if they
take their February supplies and they add to it the total emergency
allocation that we made in February and then they look at that on a
per day basis, what they are getting in March, it appears to be less.
But I think the facts are that they did not get all of that emergency
allocation in February. A lot of this is being'carried over to March.
I cannot tell you exactly what the split is but I think New York is
going to be better off in March than it was in February.
Senator J a v it s . The tremendous increase in residual oil prices
which is putting a tremendous squeeze on landlords, apartment own­
ers, co-op owners, schools, hospitals, and educational institutions.
What, if anything, can FEO do about the inequitable pricing pattern
in view of the provisions of the Emergency Petroleum Act on that
subject which read: “Equitable distribution of residual fuel oil at
equitable prices among all regions and areas of the United States.”
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, you know, we import roughly 65 percent of our
residual oil. Our refineries in this country do not make it. It primarily
comes from the Caribbean. Most of the residual oil in this country
34-498— 74------- $




110
comes into the East Coast and naturally because it is based on the
higher prices we pay for imported oil, we are finding higher prices
for residual in cities like New York.
I have talked to Mayor Beame about this and I recognize this is
causing the very problems that you are pointing out. I do not have
a good solution right now to how we level out prices because if we
reduce prices for people in New York, this means we are going to
be increasing prices for people in other parts of the country and I
do not think there is a great deal of leveling out we can do.
It seems to me a better solution rather than reducing prices is
finding some other way to subsidize people that have been subject to
these very high prices.
Senator J avits . That is in the New York area?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Senator J avits . And would you recommend that as a method of
equalization because they are taking the rap the hardest for these
imports ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. I just wonder if there is not some program
either through HUD or HEW that could provide some kind of special
benefits to people in these apartments in New York—since I used to
live in an apartment in New York, I well understand the problem—
rather than trying to change the distribution system around so that
we would level off prices.
Senator J avits . In that same connection, what about the possibility
of mandating the production of residual oil in this country?
Mr. S a w h il l . That certainly would be a possibility. I am not sure
of the capabilities of our refineries. I would have to come back to you.
Senator J avits . Can you look into that ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes, I could.
Senator J avits . And give us a reply for the record.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Senator J avits . Because that would seem the most likely way to get
relief.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
[The following information was subsequently supplied for the
record:]
M a n d a t e d P r o d u c t io n

of

R

e s id u a l

O il

Over the past decade, a pattern has evolved whereby residual fuel oil for
the East Coast is predominately supplied by imports from Caribbean refin­
eries. In turn, domestic refineries have tended to minimize residual fuel oil
production through the installation of procesing units such at catalytic crack­
ing and coking to convert the heavy crude fraction into products such as
gasoline, heating oil and diesel fuel.
Any increase in residual oil production would require a corresponding de­
crease in the production of other products. Modifications or additions to refin­
ing and transportation facilities would also be required to accommodate any
major shift in refinery yield patterns. Fortunately, with the lifting of the
Arab boycott, it appears that it will not be necessary to mandate production
of residual fuel oil from domestic refineries.
On a longer term basis, the construction of new refinery capacity on the
East Coast may permit a more favorable balance between domestically refined
and imported products. In addition, a resurgence in the use of coal in power
plants and an acceleration in the pace of building nuclear power plants are
factors that will have an increasing influence n the demand and production
of residual fuel oils.




Ill
Senator J avits . The last thing I want to ask you about is conserservation. May I tell you that I am very deeply concerned that
euphoria will return with the lifting of the embargo and that the
lifting of the embargo could be the worst kind of national entrap­
ment. In short, if it would be lifeted, we would go back to tre­
mendous profligacy in the use of gasoline and then when they
crack down on us again as they could the day after tomorrow, the
people would feel tremendous hardship. There would be tremen­
dous resentment, great social instability, only because we have failed
to persevere in conservation. Therefore, can I ask you this:
What is the policy of the administration and how will it follow
through on the effort to continue conservation which is essential in
the national interest, even though the embargo is lifted?
Mr. S a w iiil l . We intend to have a very strong and positive con­
servation program even though the embargo is lifted because we
recognize like you do, that one of the real causes of the energy
problems in this country has been the very rapid rate of demand
growth. I think what we need to put into place are long-term
conservation measures, not things like Sunday closings but things
like major efforts directed at car pooling. I think we need to put
into place our lighting standards which could save 800,000 barrels
a day of residual if they were uniformly applied across the country.
I think we need legislation to mandate national building codes.
I think we need to work with the automobile industry to see if
there are ways that we can accelerate the reduction in the—or the
increase in miles per gallon or the energy efficiency of our auto­
mobiles. I think we need a very broad based package of conservation
initiatives and we intend, assuming we get statutorily based as an
office, vigorously to pursue a very active conservation program be­
cause I could not agree more. I think while we talk a lot about
bringing on new supplies, we have got to remember that the demand
side of the equation is equally important and I certainly would
make this a major responsibility of our agency.
Senator J avits . Well, that is very gratifying, Mr. Sawhill. Will
you recommend to the President that he offer to the country a
conservation program immediately upon this announcement respect­
ing the lifting of the embargo? It seems to me that is the critical
moment and you may not yet have your law by then and if it
came from anybody but the President it would not have the impact.
Mr. S a w h il l . I certainly think that any announcement following
the embargo should include a call for conservation. We probably
will not have the details of a legislative package to announce at
that time but we can certainly talk about the need for continuing
conservation and we intend to.
Senator J avits . Serve notice that the Federal Government policy
will be to require where it can demand and can legislate and other­
wise to ask for conservation on a priority basis because if you do
not do it then and there, everybody will forget about it.
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, I could not agree with you more. I think that
one of the things that we can clearly do and continue to do is to
practice the leadership in the Federal Government for conservation.
As 3^ou know, we have set a goal of a 7-percent energy reduction.




112
In the first 6 months of this fiscal year we have achieved over 23
percent and I think going on all through the Federal Government
is a very major effort at conservation just to show the kind of
leadership that we need to show in the Federal Government and
that is one way of communicating to the rest of the country.
Senator J a v it s . Y ou can also enlist the States in that and the
localities.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes. I have talked to a number of State governors.
I was out to see the Governor of Minnesota the other day and
we talked about conservation and the things they are doing. Texas
is another State that has made a vigorous effort. As a matter of
fact, we released last week a scorecard, if you will, showing how
well different States had done in adopting conservation practices,
just in a way to kind of encourage competition among States to
adopt conservation programs.
Senator J a v it s . Well, unless the Federal Establishment and the
President maintain a very stiff attitude on that, it is going to go
right down the drain.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Well, I can assure you that the F E O will main­
tain that.
Senator J a v it s . With not only carrots but sticks as well.
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes, sir.
Senator J a v it s . I believe you will find a very receptive audience
here in the Congress to give legislation, if it is needed, in order to
effect conservation, which will not put is in this spot again.
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think legislation will be needed.
Senator J a v it s . The greatest danger we face in the energy crisis
now is euphoria----Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes.
Senator J a v it s [continuing]. And the cessation of the conservation
activities.
I have just one other question. In order to conserve our own
reserves of oil, fossil fuels, et cetera, what would you think of
national prorationing? Have you studied that at all ?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I have not really studied that. Mr. Simon made a
trip down to talk to the Texas Railroad Commission to really try
to find out a little more about the way in which the States’ con­
servation agencies have operated proration programs in the States.
I think it would be a little premature for me to comment at this
point on that.
Senator J a v it s . And also the matter of governmental exploration
if private exploration is not available or too expensive on the Con­
tinental Shelf.
Mr. S a w h i l l . I think this about the Continental Shelf. It is
important not only that we drill but we drill where there is a more
likely chance of finding oil and I do not think that I would oppose,
as a matter of fact, I think it might be a good idea to have the
Government go out there and collect information through seismic
surveys and core hole drilling and stratigraphic testing, I can see
the Government going out there and taking some of the initial
steps to establish where the best structures are, where the most
likely evidence of oil is, and then opening the Continental Shelf




113
up for bidding, and it could be we would want to go all the way
to exploratory drilling, but I think we should seriously consider
programs of this type.
Senator J a v i t s ." I hope very much you will and you will make
recommendations both to the Congress and the President on that
score. I think it would be very well received by the country.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Thank you, Senator Javits. I think I should
say to Senator Javits, prior to your coming here I expressed the
same concerns, may I say, as the chairman of this subcommittee as
you have, the euphoria that could grip us now and thereby leave
us once again with serious energy problems and destroy much of
the gains that have been made, i think we have made some real
gains.
Mr. S a w h i l l . I do, too.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . And I think the agency has been very
helpful in this and I hope this will continue.
Senator Javits, we have one of our colleagues from the other
body here, Congressman Fraser. He had been in touch with me
earlier about the rationing, the possibility of the rationing program.
I brought this up, Congressman Fraser, on Tuesday and again this
morning, the need of any rationing program not only to be published
in the Federal Register for commentary but actually for some public
discussion to that the interested parties can have a chance to be
heard.
Obviously, any rationing program would have a very serious im­
pact upon our total economy and I for one, while I felt there should
be standby authority for rationing and hope we could avoid it
and make the allocation system work, I have been dubious. I have
to be honest with you, in January and February whether the allo­
cation system could work successfully.
Congressman Fraser has some questions that he wants to ask. I
have a number of questions but I am going to send them to you,
Mr. Sawhill, to answer for the record. Mr. Sawhiil, who is it that
is here with you on the rationing?
Mr. S a w h i l l . I have a member of our staff. Miss Judy Liersch,
who is here with me today who will be available to provide written
answers to your written questions.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We are going to send some questions over
for written response because we want to have in this record some
information on the rationing program and some of the questions
that members of the subcommittee have developed. We will get
them to you some time next week.1
Mr. S a w h i l l . Yes, sir. Thank you.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Congressman Fraser, I know you have some
concerns here and we welcome you. I am sure Senator Javits would
agree with me that we will give him unanimous consent to proceed.
Representative F r a s e r . Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am sorry I
was late. I was trying to keep a quorum in another committee.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . That is our problem.
1 See responses of Mr. Sawhill to additional written questions posed by Chairman
Humphrey and Representative Fraser, p. 123 and p. 124, respectively.




114
Representativ e F raser. Mr. Sawhill, one specific problem has been
raised. The District of Columbia apparently will receive about
45,000 gallons a day less than it did in February.
M r. S a w m il l . I do not believe that is correct.
Representative F raser. The allocations----Mr. S a w iiil l . No. I am sure that is not correct. As a matter of
fact, the District of Columbia will receive about 2 million gallons,
I think, more than it did in February.
Representative F raser. What was the February allocation? Do you
have that there ?
Mr. S a w iiil l . It is 19.8 for March and 17.4 for February. The
17.4 was the initial allocation in February and 19.8 is the amount
that has been allocated to the District in March, and, as a matter
of fact, the District is very fortunate that it has one of the highest
allocation fractions in the country, much higher that the State of
New York and maybe oven higher than Minnesota.
Representative F raser. Minnesota came out pretty well in Febru­
ary. I am not sure about March.
Mr. S a w iiil l . Minnesota and the District are very close in terms
of their allocation fraction.
Representative F raser. Does the increase account for the longer
month, the additional days to be found in March ?
Mr. S a w iiil l . Yes. What we did was take 113.6 percent of the
February 1974 supplies and made that allocation in March.
Now. here is the confusion. I do not mean to be misleading you;
that is, that we made an emergency allocation to the District in
February and if you take the initial allocation plus the emergency
allocation and compare it to the March allocation, and divide them
both by the number of days to get a per diem rate, it would
appear that they are getting less per day in March than they got
per day in February. However, not all of that emergency allocation
that we directed to be made in February was made because it
came right at the end of the month. A considerable amount of that,
we think, is spilling over into March. How much of that, I reallv
do not. know. But I think that the District will be at least as well
off and probably better off in March than it was in February.
Representative F raser. Part of the problem in the District, ap­
parently, is that a lot of the employees who work here, a lot of
the employees of the Feedral Government, are going to gasoline
stations in the District,
Mr. S a w iiil l . Yes, as well as at home. Yes, I recognize that.
Representative F raser. And what we are really confronted with
hero is a regional consumption level, but with the District isolated
for allocation purposes. Has there been any effort to try to region­
alize the allocation so as to deal more realistically with this prob­
lem?
Mr. S a w iiil l . We made a much higher allocation to the District
than we did in Maryland or Virginia. I mean, higher in terms of
a percentage allocation. So that the District is relatively better off
than those two States.
Representative F raser. Well, is this on the basis that, in fact,
people arc coming in from outside the District to get their gasoline?
Mr. S a w iiil l . Yes.




115
Representative F raser. Let me ask about something* that has been
rumored for a long* time. We have had recent reports on it; that is,
that there are a large number of wells that have been sunk which
are currently capped. We have an estimate of some 8,000 capped wells
that are on federally leased properties. Do you have any information
that would verify that fact or disprove it?
Mr. Sa w h i l e .* I do not have any count on the number of capped
wells, which are not significant but as far as onshore, I suspect
that there are a lot of capped wells because you only produce a well
down to the point where it does not make any economic sense to
produce it any more.
I do not think there are any capped wells that are capable of
producing at a profit today, although I do not have any specific
facts on that.
Representative F raser. Well, given a choice, of course, it is better
for a company to be using imported oil rather than to draw on its
domestic supply, assuming they can keep their refineries function­
ing. That is the way the economic incentives function now. Am I
right in that assumption?
Mr. S a w i i t l l . No. I think probably the opposite is true because
wo control the price of domestic crude at $5.25 where the price of
imported crude has tripled in the last year and is significantly
higher than it was.
Representative F raser. Let me turn to the price question. I think
you have covered some of this. We have a report that you office
has estimated that the peak price for gasoline may be around 65
cents a gallon.
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, I do not think—we cannot really foresee what
the price is going to be with any degree of exactness because we
do not know what is going to happen to world market prices. I
said earlier that I though prices would stabilize at about current
levels, which are somewhat less than 65 cents. They are in the low
fifties, I think, as a national average.
Representative F raser. What was the average price a year ago?
Do vou have those figures ?
Mr. S a w h il l . No. I guess we do not have it with us.
Representative F raser. In the thirties, 85 cents?
Mr. S a w iiil l . That is my recollection but that is just my own
individual experience: 33 cents a year ago, 33 cents plus taxes.
Representative F raser. And you use what figures now for current
pricing on a comparable basis ?
Mr. S a w h il l . 40 to 42 cents plus taxes, so it has gone up 7 or 8
cents in the last year.
Representative F raser. That is an average price and you expect
it to level out at the present price ?
Mr. S a w iiil l . Yes. This, as I say, is a very judgmental statement
here that I am making because we do not know what is going to
happen to world market prices.
Now, it is clear that if the embargo is lifted and we get more
imported oil into this country that is going to mean more high
priced oil to mix with our lower cost domestic oil. By the same
token, we may see some reduction in the world prices and uncon­




116
trolled domestic prices as new supplies come onto the market, so I
do not really foresee any major increases, but I think if I had
made that same prediction a year ago I probably would have been
wrong.
Representative F raser. I would like to turn for a minute to the
reports we have had on prospective rationing. The stories that I have
heard suggest that if a rationing plan were to be instituted, it would
consist of a fixed allocation to each driver or car-owner, perhaps
with a markedly higher price established for purchases made through
leaving the coupons negotiable.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. That is the plan we published.
Representative F raser. Is that a rough description of the plan
that has been under consideration ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. Everybody would get a certain number of
coupons and then if you wanted more coupons, you could buy them
from someone who did not want to use all their coupons.
Representative F raser. I am wondering if consideration has been
given to the extraordinary differences that exist among car owners
with respect to how far they have to drive to work. For example,
in our State we have people that drive 100 miles a day in some
cases. There are not too many perhaps, but there are some who do
drive that far in order to work. What happens to a person like that
under the rationing: plan?
Mr. S a w h il l . Well, I guess there would be several answers. One,
they could use public transportation; two, car pool; or three, they
could buy additional coupons from those in the State or elsewhere
that did not have to travel so far.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . He is talking about the iron range up
there. The boys drive 50 to 55 miles morning and night and there
is not anybody in between to supplv them their coupons.
Mr. S awhtt/l. They could buv them from somebody else down----Chairman H u m p h r e y . Pelaplane, for example ?
Mr. S a w h il l . And they could car pool.
Representative F raser. Well, public transportation is not realistic.
We have a lot of people, for example, that live out on farms who
also work.
Mr. S a w h il l . I recognize that.
Representative F raser. And they travel long distances. Car pooling
will not work. Public transportation will not work.
Mr. S a w h il l . Car pooling might work.
Representative F raser. It is unlike!v because there is not that
kind of concentration of workers. If it were to happen, it would
be at such extraordinary inconvenience that it would not work.
Mr. S a w h il l . Y ou know, the more I talk about rationing and
think about it, the more I recognize it would be a very difficult
plan to administer because, you know, the point you are making
is a good one and I have had 30 or 40 people make very good points
to me about rationing, about groups that need special exceptions,
doctors and schoolteachers and traveling salesmen and------Representative F raser. And the handicapped.
Mr. S a w h il l . Handicapped, a whole host. Migrant workers that

we were talking about earlier. Trying to administer a rationing




117
plan in this country, I think, would just be an extremely difficult
thing to do and that is why we have been under criticism, but we
have tried very hard to avoid rationing and, of course, with the
prospect of the embargo ending, that would diminish it.
Representative F raser. I am not really arguing the question of
whether there should be rationing, but the Middle East settlement
has not yet occurred.
Mr. S a w h il l . Correct.
Representative F raser. And it may not come for some time.
Mr. S a w h il l . That is very possible.
Representative F raser. And there exists the possibility that the
embargo may be reintroduced.
Mr. S a w h il l . That is correct.
Representative F raser. Is there not a way of devising a rationing
plan on a contingency basis that, on the face of it, would have more
equity than the fixed allocation system you are thinking of?
Mr. S a w h il l . I am sure there are possibilities. It is very difficult,
though, as you bein to try to make exceptions for different groups.
The plan we announced was a very simple plan, just treated every­
body alike. We could create a plan that had a, &, c, a?, all the other
types of classifications we had in the Second World War. As you
try to get into that type of system it gets more and more complex
and more and more difficult to administer. That does not mean we
cannot improve what we have got. I think we can. But I am also
afraid of getting so complex that we have something we just cannot
administer.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Why do you not take it over to the
Defense Department and let them war game it ?
Mr. S a w h il l . That is a possibility.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . They have got all kinds of exercises over
there.
Representative F raser. Before I arrived, earlier in the hearings
this morning, you apparently said that you would be looking seriously
into expanding storage capacity as one hedge against difficulties.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Representative F ra ser. Could 77011 spell out what is under con­
sideration with respect to increasing our ability to deal with short­
term shortages, at least ?
Mr. S a w h il l . I do not think we have anything that could deal
with the short term. I think this was really more in the context of
how as we look out toward 1980, what we can do to make us less
vulnerable to the kind of cutoff we have had in the past several
months. We could store oil. We could either build enormous under­
ground storage tanks or store them in salt domes. Various methods.
What we have to do is look at the economics of storage as opposed
to the economics of creating other energy supplies.
Another thing we could do, we could require all our utilities to
have the capability of burning either coal or oil and if they were
burning oil, we would require them to have a big pile of coal next
to them so if we got cut off, they could immediately switch to
coal.




118

Representative F raser. Are there plans that are reaching any
kind of final form yet ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Not at that point. This is part of the whole effort
we are making to develop a blueprint for Project Independence.
Representative F raser. In the absence of any plans, is the thought
to continue as before, assuming the embargo does result in an in­
creased supply of crude, and I suppose some refined products? We
were importing some refined products from abroad before, were
we not ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes, a considerable amount, because we do not have
sufficient refinery capacity in this country.
Representative F raser. On the assumption that the embargo ends,
the flow of refined products would become easier at the same time
that we get more crude, is that right?
Mr. S a w m il l . Yes, I would think so.
Representative F raser. Well, are we to look forward to the next
few years with gasoline and other refined stocks being kept at about
the prevailing levels, the levels that prevailed, for example, a year
or so ago ?
Mr. S a w h il l . N o.
Representative F raser. In other words, are we going back to kind
of a business as usual basis or are we going to start to build some
kind of a hedge into our reserve capacity, our storage capacity?
Mr. S a w h il l . I would like to see us increase our storage, frank!v.
I would say this. There is disagreement among my staff about the
storage because some feel that it is too expensive to store but this
does protect us against vulnerability. As I look at our energy policy
over the next several years it seems to me we have got to consider
our vulnerability to cutoff, the economic tradeoffs wo have to make
in terms of should we bring on higher cost alternative sources like
coal and oil shale as opposed to usinq: lower-cost imports, and the
environmental effects, and these are the three tradeoffs we have to
keen making as we develop this energy policy.
Representative F raser. One place, o f course, to store oil is in the
ground.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Representative F raser. Provided it is ready to come on line as
soon as the need exists.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Representative F raser. But the difficulty with that concept is i f
we continue to have a shortage of refinery capacity, then that will
not do us much &*ood.
Mr. S a w h il l . That is correct.
Representative F raser. If we go back to business as usual, whv
are we not. going to see a continuation of the old pattern in which
the refineries have been built abroad because of the advantageous
tax situation ?
Mr. S a w h il l . Clearly, our Government policy contributed, in part,
to exporting our refinery capacity, but last spring we changed the
mandatory oil import program and opened this country up to
imnorts basically, so it is now much more attractive to build
refineries.




119
Representative F raser. Was that a suspension of quotas or a per­
manent end to them ?
Mr. S a w h il l . It is a permanent end to quotas. There is a license
fee system but not a quota system.
Representative F raser . That is now settled.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Representative F raser . Fixed end, no temporary aspect to it at
all.
Mr. S a w h il l . No. That is permanent. Since that change actually,
there have been a number of new refinery expansions announced.
Now, some of them have been temporarily postponed because of the
embargo. As a matter of fact, we are doing a catalogue of those
right now to determine exactly where we stand.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Could you provide that for our record,
Mr. Sawhill?
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We are very keenly interested in the pro­
jected refinery developments and constructions and also what stage
the construction is in, and so forth.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes. We will make that available.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . We would like to have it for this record.
Mr. S a w h il l . Yes.
[The following information was subsequently supplied for the
record:]
P r o je c t e d R

e f in e r y

D evelopm ents

The attached tables provide the information requested on the current status
of planned additions to U.S. refining capacity.
Table 1 shows the Firm Additions to U.S. Refinery Capacity by year of
initial start-up through 1978. Information for additions on this list was ob­
tained by direct telephone contact with each company in late March and is
the best information available. Planned additions totaling 2,193 MB/D fall
into this firm category. Some of this capacity is undoubtedly based on im­
ported crude from the Middle East, and these plans could be scaled down or
delayed if the crude oil supply does not materialize. An additional 55 MB/D
of capacity has also been announced which we have not yet confirmed.
Table 2 shows a list of Possible New U.S. Refineries which have been pro­
posed. In total they add up to 2,370 MB/D of potential new capacity. Some of
these projects are only under study and will undoubtedly be dropped due to
lack of crude supply, siting obstacles, financial or other problems.
In addition to announced refinery expansions, refineries historically have
been able to expand existing capacity by 1-2% per year through small bottle­
neck removal projects, improved operating and maintenance practices and
other technological improvements.
Planned additions to U.S. refining capacity now somewhat exceed the levels
announced by the Fall of 1973, following the April revision of import controls.
This information indicates that U.S. refiners are proceeding with their re­
finery expansion plans despite the uncertainty of foreign crude oil availability.







TABLE 1.— FIRM ADDITIONS TO U.S. REFINERY CAPACITY

Refiner

Present
capacity
all units
(thousand
barrels
per day) Refinery expansion or new location

Alabama Refinery Co..............................................
15.0
4.3
Allied Materials....................................................
Amerada Hess.......................... ..........................
536.0
American Oil Co. (Amoco).............. .........................
1,027.6
American Petrofina, Inc..........................................
185.3
Anderson-Pritchard (Apco)......................................
37.0
Arizona Fuels Corp..................... ..........................
20.5
Arizona Fuels Corp.......... ........................................................
Atlantic Richfield Co. (Arco).....................................
815.5
Atlantic Richfield Co. (Arco)............................... . ......................
Atlantic Richfield Co. (Arco)........................................................
Charter Oil Co.....................................................
114.9
Charter Oil (Kern County (Refinery)...........................
12.9
Clark Oil & Refinery...............................................
107.0
Coastal States Gas Corp..........................................
161.1
Dingman Oil Co.................................... ..............
2.5
Douglas Oil Co. (Conoco)...................... . .................
35.0
Exxon (Humble Oil & Refining)..................................
1,203.2
Famariss Oil and Refining.......................................
5.0
Gladieux Refining..................................................
5.5
Hawaiian Independent Refining.................................
40.0
Husky Oil Co.......................................................
45.8
LaGloria Oil Co. (Texas Eastern)................................
24.0
Midland Coop._........................................ . . .........
17.7
Mobil Oil Corp....................................................
918.1

Expansion— Theodore, Ala.....
Expansion— Stroud, Okla.......
Expansion— St. Croix, V I.......
Expansion— Texas City.........
Expansion— Port Arthur, Tex..
Expansion— Cyril, Okla.........
Expansion— Roosevelt, Utah...
Expansion— Fredonia, Ariz.....
Expansion— Carson, Calif.......
Expansion— Philadelphia.......
New— Washington State....... .
Expansion— Houston, Tex......
Expansion— Bakersfield, Calif..
Expansion— Hartford, III........
Expansion— Corpus Christi.....
Expansion— Bakersfield, Calif..
Expansion— Paramount, Calif..

Operable
1974
7.5
1.5
200.0
25.0
7.2
20.0

1975

1976

Total,
■additional
1974-78

Refiner
projected
capacity
22.5
5.8
736.0
,052.6
192.5
57.0
32.0

8.0
3.5

20.0
967.5

40.0
92.0

"Ï30.8

64.0

" 3 .T

Ï4§.'5

42.0
50.0
2.5

211.1
25Ö.0

New— Lovington, N. Mex......
Expansion— Ft. Wayne, Ind...
Expansion— Barbers Point___
Expansion— Salt Lake City___
Expansion— Tyler, Tex.........
Expansion— Cushing, Okla___
Expansion— Various locations.

1977-78

50.0

37.0
4.5
30.0

5.0
49.0
503.2
42.0

10.0

85.0

14.0
15.0
15.0
159.0

155.0
59.8
39.0
32.7
1,068.1




Murphy Oil Corp.................................................
121.5 Expansion— Meraux, La.....................................................................
20.0 .........................
141.5
Navajo Refining..................................................
20.9 Expansion— Artesia, N. Mex.....................................
9.0 ....................................................
29.9
8.5 Expansion— Newhall, Calif.......................................
3.0 ....................................................
11.5
Newnall, Refining.................................................
Pennzoil Co. (Atlas Processing).................................
48.1 Expansion— Shreveport, La....................................................
26.5 .......................................
74.6
Pioneer Refining Co.................................................................. .New— San Antonio, Tex.........................................
2.0 ...................................................
2.0
Pride Refining Co..................................................
14.1 Expansion— Abilene,f ex.........................................
23.5 .....................................................
37.6
Standard Oil of California (Socal)...............................
727.4 Expansion— ’Various 1cations..................................................
490.0 ......................................
*>217.4
Standard Oil of Ohio..............................................
368.9 Expansion— Lima, Ohio...........................................
15.0 .............................. - .....................
428.9
Standard Oil of Ohio (BP)........................................................... Expansion— Marcus Hook....................................................— .
4 5 . 0 ................................................ -- -60.5 Expansion— Carrizo Springs, Tex.............................................
7.0 .....................................
67.5
Tesoro Petroleum.................................................
Texaco..............................................................
1,091.0 Expansion— Lockport, III..................................................................................
25.0 ............
1,316.0
Texaco................................................................................. .Expansion— Convent, La...................................................................................
200.0 ..........................
Toro Oil (Ryder System)..............................................................New— Port Allen, La..............................................
36.0 ............................................................ .
Vickers Petroleum.................................................
30.0 Expansion— Ardmore, Okla.................................................................
30.0 .........................
60.0
Witco Chemical....................................................
30.0 Expansion— Hammond, Ind......................................
2.5 .....................................................
32.5
National Cooperative Refining Association (NCRA)...........
54.1 Expansion— McPherson, Kans...............................................................
8.0 .........................
62.1
Total........................ ..........................................................................................................................
Current total U.S. refinery capacity........................................................................................................................
Actual and projected capacity (million barrels per
day)...... .............. ............................................................................................................................
Note.— The following additions have been announced but not yet confirmed by ERD:

Refiner
Howell Corp.
Kerr-McGee.

Location
Corpus Christi, Tex.
Wynnewood, Okla..

Size (thousand
barrels per day)

20.0
35.0

517/7
14,968.0

7621
15,485.7

403.0
16,248.2

510
16,651.2

15,485.7

16,248.2

16,651.2

17,161.2

2,193.3 ______ ~
........................_

122
TABLE 2.— POSSIBLE NEW U.S. REFINERIES

Company
Ashland Oil Co...................................
Belcher Oil Co...................................
Crown Central....................................
Energy Co. of Alaska....................... .
Energy Corp. of Louisiana......................
Georgia Refining Co.*............................
Hampton Roads Energy C o.....................
JOC Oil.................. ......................... .
New England Petroleum..... ....................
Northern Illinois Gas Co.; Gibbs Oil Co........
Odessa Refining Co..............................
Pacific Resources Inc.............................
Pacific Resources Inc.; San Diego Gas &
Electric.
Pittston Co.........................................
Refining Co. of Louisiana.........................
Shell Oil Co........................................
Steuart Petroleum Co.............................
Total........................................

Location

Size, barrels
per day Type refinery
Full range.
Fuels.
Fuels/SNG.
Full range.
Do.
Fuels.
Do.
Fuels/SNG.
Do.
Do.
Fuels.
Do.
Fuels/SNG.

Ohio River Valley..............
Manatee County, Fla.........
Baltimore.................... .
North Pole, Alaska............
Reserve, La....................
Brunswick, Ga.................
Norfolk, Va._..................
Burlington, N J ......... ......
Oswego, N.Y............ ......
Sanford, Maine................
Mobile, Ala....................
Portland, Ore..................
Carlsbad, Calif.................

100,000
200,000
100,000
15,000
200,000
200,000
180,000
55,000
100,000
250,000
120,000
100,000
100,000

Eastport, Maine................
Coastal parish.................
Logan Township, N.J.........
St. Mary’s County,Md.........

250,000
100,000 Fuels.
200,000 Full range.
100,000 Fuels/SNG.
2,370,000

i Incorporated by Fuels Desulfurization Inc.

Representative F raser. Mr. Chairman, if it is agreeable, could
we submit some additional questions in writing to the witness ?
Chairman H umphrey . Yes. I think we have had the witness here
long enough, he has been very patient with us this morning. I have
a number of questions on the rationing that we will want to ask
you.
Mr. S a w i i i l l . Fine.
Chairman H umphrey. And we would like to build it into the
body of the record and I know Congressman Fraser has a number of
them. lie was in touch with me about this system. I tend to agree
with Congressman Fraser that the necessity of whether we are going
into rationing or not, hopefully not, that, we really try to have talked
it out enough ahead of time so we know what the pitfalls are.
Mr. S a w i i i l l . Yes.
Chairman H umphrey . And not just have it in the Federal Regis­
ter. That alone is not enough. We really need some dialogue about
it with a number of groups in the country as well as the Congress.
Mr. S aw iiill . Yes.
Chairman H umphrey . Is that all right with you, Congressman
Fraser?
Representative F raser. Yes.
Chairman H umphrey . Mr. Sawhill, I do want to thank you. Your
job is an immense one and frankly, you have been doing, I think,
a very credible job. We raise these questions not to be contrary but
because these are matters that are brought to our attention.
We thank you very much, and your associates. I am sorry that we
did not involve them more directly here. We appreciate your being
here.
Mr. S aw h ill . Thank you very much.
Chairman H umphrey . You are free to go, thank you. Please don’t
forget the responses to our questions.
[The following information was subsequently supplied for the
record:]




123
R

esponse

of

H

on.

J o h n C . S a w h i l l t o A d d i t io n a l W
P o se d b y C h a i r m a n H u m p h r e y

g a s o l in e

r a t io n in g

c o n t in g e n c y

r it t e n

Q u e s t io n s

plan

Question 1. There are several cateories of people who might be ill served by
the proposed gasoline rationing plan. For example, the plan calls for coupons
to be picked up in the State in which the driver’s license and authorization
card were issued, is that not correct? What will happen to people who leave
their home States for extended visits to other States? What about the travel­
ing salesmen, the person on a temporary job assignment, and persons who
must live with a relative in another State for a few months? It would be un­
realistic to force these people to return to their homes for each allotment of
gasoline coupons. Will you set up a way for such persons to get their coupons
by mail?
Answer. As a result of public comment received in response to the January
16 Gasoline Rationing Contingency Plan, it became apparent that it was un­
realistic to require all persons to apply for gasoline ration coupons in the
state which issued their driver’s license. Our current plan permits private
users to obtain their coupons at their temporary residence when it is imprac­
tical to return to their home state. Such out-of-state applicants would be
allowed to apply for coupons at the community’s main post office or at other
specially designated post offices (e.g., on or near military installations and
college campuses). Out-of-state applicants would be required to complete an
additional out-of-state applicant’s form to facilitate FEO post audit procedures.
Question 2. The proposed rationing plan calls for coupons to have a useful
life of 60 days. This would prevent accumulation of adequate coupons for
vacation travel. Without a provision to permit coupon accumulation over a
longer period, what will happen to the vacation plans of many Americans?
Answer. We believe that the prudent use of ration coupons will allow motor­
ists to plan for vacation travel. Ration coupons will be issued in Series (A,
B, C, etc.). A new series will become valid during each calendar month of
rationing and will have a life of 60 days. As an example, Series A coupons
could be used to buy gasoline in July and August, Series B coupons could be
used in August and September. Therefore, a licensed driver would have two
months accumulation of valid coupons at any one time for vacation planning.
In addition, an open market for the sale of coupons will be encouraged, and
coupons would be available to private users for vacation purposes. We also
anticipate that resorts and organizations in vacation areas would purchase
coupons on the open market and make them available to vacationers in their
area or using their facilities. In general, a shortage of gasoline will necessitate
curtailment of normal activities. Some vacations would be curtailed and some
individuals would choose alternate locations or modes of travel to their vaca­
tions, with conservation of fuel in mind.
Question 8. The plan does not appear to provide for the needs of foreign
visitors, particularly those being urged to visit the U.S.A. from Mexico and
Canada. Are any plans in the works to take care of their needs?
Answer. FEO is taking care to consider the gasoline needs of our foreign
visitors. Our current plan would utilize the visitor’s passport as the authoriz­
ing document to allow foreign visitors to receive a basic allotment of gasoline
ration coupons from the State set-aside. Foreign visitors w^ould apply for
coupons at a State Gasoline Rationing office and would be granted an allot­
ment (which would be noted on their passport).
Canadian and Mexican visitors present a special problem because of the ex­
tent of non-tourist, cross-border travel between these countries and the United
States, and because passports and visas are not required in all cases. These are
matters which we will continue to explore. However, all foreign visitors will
be allowed to purchase gasoline ration coupons on the open market.
Question 4. If most gasoline were allotted under rationing to basic necessi­
ties of commercial and personal life on a per-driver basis, don’t you foresee
that the price of additional gas coupons in trade would be a very volatile one
and might w7ell go to very high levels?
With more or less uniform coupon allotments for everybody, for instance,
wouldn’t the miners of West Virginia or the migratory farm workers have
trouble getting enough coupons at any price to pursue their livelihoods?
Answer. The price of gasoine ration coupons in the resale market under




124
rationing will be determined in large measure by the severity of the gasoline
shortage. The less severe the shortage the less the need to buy additional
coupons and the greater the market that will be available for sale. However,
at any possible level of shortage we believe that ration coupons will be avail­
able to persons willing to pay the price.
The problem with the resale market is that some persons will not be able
to afford to pay the going price for the coupons. Our current plan makes pro­
visions for categories of drivers with this problem, such as low-income persons
and migrant workers, to apply to the State set-aside for an additional allot­
ment of ration coupons to meet their essential needs.
Question 5. With any rationing system there would be some imbalance, at
least locally, between the number of coupons and the amount of gasoline
available. Wouldn’t this mean that in some areas the value of coupons would
slump suddenly because no more gas was available, while in others gas would
go begging for lack of coupons?
Answer. A retail service outlet selling gasoline would be able to replenish
his gasoline supplies only in the quantities sold to motorists as represented
by coupons. This programmed approach to replenish would preclude a retail
outlet from building inventories without corresponding sales. As a result, gas
would flow to the locations at which coupons were being redeemed. In addi­
tion, the open market sale of coupons helps to balance the system in another
way, by moving coupons from localities short on gasoline to localities short
on coupons.
While the coupon market will tend to reduce discrepancies between gasoline
and coupons, we recognize that supply will not always equal demand on a local
level. FEO will closely monitor any imbalance and take steps to redistribute
gasoline to where it is needed.
R

e s p o n s e of

H

on.

J o h n C. S a w h i l l t o A d d i t io n a l W
P o sed b y R e p r e s e n t a t i v e F r a s e r

r it t e n

Q u e s t io n s

Question 1. Mr. Sawhill, I remain concerned about our contingency plan­
ning for gasoline rationing. Reimposition of an Arab embargo is a real possi­
bility in light of the volatile Mideast situation. Furthermore, it is difficult to
calculate the public reaction to the Federal Government’s apparent relaxation
of conservation measures (for example, the resumption of Sunday gasoline
sales), and the resultant rise in gasoline consumption. I would like to know
whether you are continuing to revise the plan published in the January 16
Federal Register.
During the hearing, I asked what provision was being inade in this con­
tingency planning for workers who have to travel far to work and for whom
car pooling and mass transit are not feasible alternatives. If I recall cor­
rectly, your reply was that this kind of problem pointed up the undesirability
of rationing in general. I agree with you, but feel strongly that we must be
ready in our contingency planning to meet just this kind of situation. I hope
that we will be able to propose better alternatives than a return to the World
War II review-process before local rationing boards, as outlined in your
January 16 plan.
I would appreciate your comments on the following suggestion:
Additional, non-transferable coupons would be issued on the basis of work
requirements and special needs where alternative transportation such as public
transit or car pools is not available. These additional coupons would be Issued
on the basis of a declaration made by the applicant, with provision for subse­
quent audit or verification, civil penalties for excess coupons claimed, and
criminal penalties for fraud. This procedure would allow the additional cou­
pons to be issued by established agencies such as the Post Office with a special
audit staff to be created.
Answer. Gasoline rationing.—Although the lifting of the Arab embargo has
improved the fuel situation and we feel that gasoline rationing should only be
implemented as a last resort, FEO has continued to develop and revise the con­
tingency plan published in the Federal Register on January 16. Revisions have
been based in large measure on public comments received in response to the
January 16 publication.
The basic aim of our efforts has been to develop a plan which is adminis­
tratively workable and offers maximum opportunities for gasoline users. To




125
this end, we developed a plan which applies general allocation rules for all
private and commercial (including governmental) users. Discrepancies between
basic allocations and exceptional gasoline needs (such as those of workers who
travel long distances to work) could be resolved through the purchase of addi­
tional coupons on the open market. We believe that the resale market would
satisfy the additional coupon needs of most gasoline users. Recognizing, how­
ever, that many persons would not have the financial resources available to
purchase additional coupons, we would provide for a state set-aside of cou­
pons to meet these hardship cases and others (such as the handicapped).
Use of additional, non-transferable coupons to alleviate hardships is a con­
cept we have considered. We feel, however, that it would be extremely difficult
to administer and enforce a regulation which would prohibit transfer of these
coupons because of the resole market in which all coupons would be negotiable.
Question 2. At a news conference in Saint Paul on February 22, you ex­
plained that FEO’s February gasoline redistribution program was designed
to alleviate a 20 percent expected nationwide shortfall. In your testimony, you
estimated that if the Arab embargo and production cutback were lifted, that
we could expect supply to fall short of demand by only 2 to 4 percent. Does
this seem a realistic estimate in view of recent relaxation of conservation
measures, such as the resumption of Sunday gasoline sales?
Answer. Summer gasoline supplies.— Supply should not fall much short of
demand this summer because available supplies will be higher due to higher
import levels. In addition, we expect a sustained price increase of 30 percent
over the pre-embargo price level. The consensus of several independent esti­
mates of the impact of this price increase is that an associated decrease in
demand of about 5 percent may be expected. It is difficult to include the im­
pact of other conservation measures in that they may be embodied in the price
effect. As a result, the 2-4 percent may be conservative.
Question S. Could the Federal Energy Office furnish information, for the
record of these hearings, on the status of planning to increase our reserve
capacity in case of future cutoffs of foreign supply like that of last October?
Answer. Security storage.—The United States does not, at this time, have
significant reserve storage capacity that can be classified as security storage.
We have equated our domestic productive capacity to the security storage re­
serves that a number of countries, particularly European countries, maintain.
Stocks that are reported by the Government and the American Petroleum
Institute (API)are working stocks such as refinery and marketing inventories.
These inventories are essential to the smooth operation of our oil industry.
They would, of course, be available in an extreme emergency.
Project Independence will examine the advisability and economic cost of
maintaining security storage. As an order of magnitude estimate, if the United
States were to maintain ninety days security storage to offset an interruption
of our imports of, say, five million barrels per day, the cost of establishing
security storage, including the inventory of oil, would run about five billion
dollars. (Salt dome storage and $9 per barrel oil assumed.) To reach the ulti­
mate objective of Project Independence, it may be necessary to have security
storage as an integral part of our overall energy policy, but at this time it is
not possible to indicate whether or not security storage will indeed be required.
Question 4. At the March 14 hearing, you stated that FEO had established
a special impact office to deal with problems of disadvantaged groups and
groups with special needs like migratory workers. How will this office handle
problems like those of essential volunteer services, which have no priority
under the current allocation system. These volunteers as you know, perform
vital services, particularly in helping the elderly with medical visits and essen­
tial shopping. Volunteers also fill grave gaps in our school system. These people
give their time and their cars for needed services. How will FEO’s special im­
pact office help them in the event of renewed severe shortages?
Answer. Special Impact Office.—The Special Impact Office has a variety of
programs to deal with disadvantaged groups. For instance, the Office is con­
ducting a study in conjunction with the Administration of Aging, Department
of Health, Education and Welfare, to evaluate the impact of the energy short­
age on volunteer workers. The results of this study will serve as the basis for
the development of a contingency plan to alleviate hardships on volunteers in
theevent severe shortages again occur. Also, consideration is being given to a
possible ned to increase funding of programs such as Title III and Title IV
of the Older Americans Act and those funded under ACTION, which provide
34-498— 74------- 9




126
food and social services to the olderly. Such funding might be used to supple­
ment limited resources and to insure the continuing reimbursement of the
volunteer drivers upon whom these critical programs depend.
Question «5. You testified that production has been averaging about 100,000
barrels a day above FEO’s forecast. You attributed the lessened impact of the
embargo in early March to this increase in production as well as to leakages
in the embargo and to the public’s conservation effort. API figures for March
15 show gasoline production down 49,000 barrels a day from the preceding
week and down 237,000 barrels a day from the corresponding week in 1973.
Could you please clarify your reference to an increase over forecast production?
Answer. Crude oil production.—My testimony about higher production re­
ferred to increased production of domestic crude oU. Taking import levels into
account, total crude oil available to refineries is still down over last year. As
a result, refinery output by product is also still down.
Question 6. And finally, I w^ould like to ask about FEO’s January 15 price
regulations, under which gasoline consignees and agents cannot pass on in­
creased non-product costs. This situation, I have been told, is subjecting these
gasoline middlemen to unfair competitive pressures from other jobbers who
do qualify under the regulations. Does FEO plan to remedy this apparent
inequity?
Answer. Consignees and agents.—The Federal Energy Office recently took
action to amend its January 15, 1974 Petroleum Allocation and Price Regula­
tions under which gasoline consignees and agents were not permitted to pass
on increased non-product costs. Effective April 1, 1974, a refiner was allowed
to increase the commission paid to his consignee agents with respect to covered
products, provided that the increase does not exceed 10 % of the commission
that was in effect on May 15, 1973. It is not mandatory that this increase in
commissions be made by all refiners, as several have already increased com­
missions since January 1, 1974.
The amount of the commission is limited with respect to each product and
each consignee agent up to 10 % of the dollar amount of the commission paid
to the consignee agent on that product on May 15, 1973. Thus, if a consignee
agent received a commission of $.02 per gallon on May 15, 1973. he may receive
a commission of $.022 per gallon in April 1974 from his refiner.

Chairman H u m p h r e y . Congressman Fraser, I want to thank you
for your coming over and submitting questions.
Representative F raser . Thank you.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . I have just been informed that our dis­
tinguished Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Schultz, has announced
his plans for resignation effective in the month of May. Secretary
Shultz has been one of our most able public servants in this adminis­
tration. He is a man of more conservative mind than some, a man
that held the confidence of the Members of Congress because he was
a man of complete integrity.
It is my hope now that if the newspaper stories that we read have
any authenticity, namely, that Mr. Simon might be considered as his
replacement, that we will have some continuity of leadership here in
the Federal Energy Office. I have just said privately to Mr. John
Sawhill that I hope he would be the new Director, not that I have
any powers of appointment but the one thing we simply cannot take
is to bring in new faces all the time in these top positions when the
problems are so difficult and to master the structural organization is
such a time-consuming assignment. So apparently, what we have
been reading has come about, that Mr. Shultz is resigning. His loss
to the Government will be very significant.
If Mr. Simon should succeed him, he is an extremely competent
man. The working relationships between the Treasury Department
and the Federal Energy Office could be strengthened if the Deputy,




127
Mr. Sawhill, were elevated to the position of leadership or responsi­
bility.
I just say this as one who has been involved in this energy question
since it became a serious problem for us here.
Now, having said that, we have with us Mr. Herbert Elish.
Senator Javits. Mr. Chairman, before you move on, may I say I
wish to express my confidence in Mr. Sawhill and my confidence in
Mr. Simon. Mr. Sawhill could certainly handle this job and Mr.
Simon could certainly be Secretary of the Treasury. I think the Presi­
dent does have some problems and I would not wish to impair that
freedom of action, but as these men—and there are many other
Americans, I am sure that would be a great Secretary of the Treasury
—but as both these men have uniquely—we are uniquely in a position
to judge them, I think it is only fair that we should say what we have
about them.
Thank you.
Chairman H umphrey . Gentlemen, you have been more patient,
may I say, than even the first witness of the morning. The trouble
with these hearings is that they sometimes become interesting and
sometimes they do not and this was an interesting one today.
We have no way of knowing what participation we will have. Both
Senator Javits and myself have a very heavy schedule today and I
am sure that you also have one.
What I would like to do is to ask Mr. Elish to state very briefly,
and I mean just that, even though we have not been brief here, what
you have to tell us and then, Mr. Allvine, if you likewise would par­
ticularly focus your attention upon some of the marketing practices
that I believe you studied and will share with us, and then Senator
Javits, I know, wants to carry on a dialog or discussion with you,
Mr. Elish, and possibly with Mr. Allvine. So we will go right ahead.
Mr. Elish, you proceed.
Mr. E lisii. Thank you. Senator. I will be very brief.
Chairman H umphrey . Y ou, by the way, are the energy director of
New York City.
Mr. E lish . That is correct.
STATEMENT OF HON. HERBERT ELISH, DIRECTOR,
NEW YORK CITY ENERGY OFFICE

Mr. E lish . We have been living through what has been a crisis.
Hopefully, it has become a problem, and less of a crisis, after the
annuoncement of yesterday. While we understand the burdens of the
Federal Energy Office in trying to develop a program as quickly as
they have, what I would like to do today is to discuss some of the
problems that we have seen develop that are really hurting the city
of New York and the entire Northeast region, and that we think can
be dealt with by the FEO and its regulations.
First, one of our major problems is the lack of information that
we get from the Federal^ Energy Office and from the oil companies.
We know, for example, is the gasoline situation that the Northeast
area of the United States was getting less gasoline than the rest of
the country in terms of its supply as measured against the normal




128
demand. That was for November and December. We do not really
have the numbers for January and February but we know the lines
in New York City and the major urban areas were longer and more
difficult than any other place.
We just know this because we are in the streets all the time seeing
what goes on.
One of the real problems, as Mr. Sawhill said this morning, is that
New York City and the State of New York are going to be all right
in the month of March, even though we are getting less on a daily
basis of gasoline than we did in the month of Februarv. This is a
result of the emergency allocation being delivered in March. The
problem is that we do not know how the suppliers are distributing
that gasoline. There are no lines now in New York and it may just
be that the suppliers are delivering not only the emergency allocation
but the regular allocation on an accelerated basis, and I am very
concerned about what is going to happen in the last 2 weeks of
March.
I think there is a feeling of euphoria now which may be dissipated
verv quickly.
The FEO in New York Citv collects data from the suppliers and
from the refiners as to their distribution practices. How much of the
allocation are they giving to whom ? We want that information be­
cause we have to plan. I f we are going to have a problem at the end
of March, we want to set up our own kind of mini rationing system
for special cases such as doctors, where they would get a special
allocation. We do not know whether to start to do it or not to start
to do it because we cannot ¿ret the information.
We believe that that ought to be made available.
One thin# that to me is disturbing is that the Federal Energy
Office is not auditing* the numbers that they get. Mr. Sawhill talk's
about the beginning of an auditing program and savs it is going to
start. Our information is that in the New York regional area they
do not intend to start auditing until sometime in the summer.
Chairman H um phrey . May I sav that one of the reasons for this
tpptimonv of Mr. Sawhill today is to ^et him on record on these
things pnd w^ are going to check up. This is what we have a staff
around here for, to see whether or not this auditing is taking place,
and T want the staff to note this for the record- that we expect as
members of this subcommittee that all of these disciplines that Mr.
Sawhill mentioned as ways and means of checking into how the
companies are behaving under the allocation program be checked and
we will ask Mr. Cox and others here to look into that.
Mr. E ltstt. Well, just as a matter of information, we have been
told by people in the New York regional office that they are not
going to start to do that until the summertime.
Chairman H um phrey . That is a long time.
Mr. E ltsh. We have not been able to get the information that I
have referred to. There is a question as to whether the Federal
Energy Office people in New York at least believe that the infor­
mation the oil companies give them is confidential information. Well,
I do not understand why that should be the case these days, why
that information should not be made available to the American




129
public and particularly to their representatives in cities such as New
And one particular part of the regulations is really very harmful
to urban centers in general and New York City in particular. The
allocation regulations provide that only agricultural services shall
get 100 percent of their allocation no matter what the supply is.
There is a provision which says that other emergency services, police,
fire, health, and sanitation, should be 100 percent unless the com­
panies have less than the 100 percent of their total supply. Which
means, as I understand the regulations, they could decide to give
us less than 100 percent for our police department, for our fire
department. We use 22 million gallons of gasoline for essential serv­
ices in New York City on an annual basis. In the month of February,
one of the small suppliers decided to give only 80 percent of the
requirements to the policy department of New York City. We had to
go to the State to get a portion of the State set-aside to make that up.
That seems to me not to be a reasonable kind of formula. I think
that police, fire, sanitation and health services should be considered
as important as agricultural services and I would hope that the
committee would urge the Federal Energy Office to change those reg­
ulations, to provide 100 percent allocation for those essential services
as well.
Senator J avits. May I just interrupt, Mr. Elish, to say I am your
Senator and I will urge and I hope very much that our chairman, if
he thinks it is desirable, will also-----Chairman H umphrey . Yes. I mentioned here to Mr. Cox, our
staffman, that this information should be conveyed to the FEO. Is
there somebody here from the FEO that remained ? We will see that
this transcript, by the way, gets to them.
Mr. E lish . Thank you very much.
The next item I would like to mention brieflv is the subject that
Senator Javits questioned Mr. Sawhill about. That is the residual
oil price problem in New York. Residual oil prices have gone up over
300 percent in the last 10 months. That oil heats 60 percent of our
residences. We are now faced with building abandonments and the
possibility of some pass-along of the fuel costs which will really
hurt very low income people in the city.
On the 6th of February we requested the Federal Energy Office to
take action with respect to that problem. We made some suggestions
as to what could be done. I understand that it is a very difficult
problem. It is not one that is easily solved but we have gotten no
response whatsoever. And it seems to me that we should be told
exactly what can be done, and what cannot be done.
We are now pretty much through with this heating season and
the problem is something that New York City is going to have to live
with for this year, but I certainly hope that we get some kind of
help so that we move into the next winter with some kind of different
kind of situation. It is really a lack of responsiveness in this area
which is----Chairman H umphrey . We will see that this information is conveved to the Federal Energy Office and seek some response for you.
Mr. E lish . Thank you very much.




130
Tlie last item that I wish to mention is the impact of all of this on
the environment. It seems to me that in the urban centers of the city
we have made, and particularly in New York, great strides in clean­
ing up the air in the city. There is now an unfortunate use, I think,
of the energy crisis to try to roll back those gains. I think that an
effort, a massive effort is now going on to move the Federal air quality
standards back, to stop enforcing the plans to reduce the use of
automobiles which were originally put into the law to take care of
the quality of the air. But now those plans are useful to save gasoline.
In New York City, if our transportation plan which would reduce
the use of automobiles by one-half, if that was put into effect and if
there was a requirement to put it into effect, we would save 183
million gallons of gasoline a year. So not only is there no reason to
roll back those environmental requirements but now there is an
added reason to enforce them, and I would hope that the Congress
would take that into account in any legislation that would be passed.
In addition, the idea of starting to burn coal again in the middle
of New York City, which is something that Consolidated Edison
now wants to do to reduce prices by about 2 or 3 percent and foul
the air, is something that we very strongly oppose. Mv only point on
this is that this all has to be done with some care. We cannot just
concentrate only on energy but there must be a requirement placed
on the Federal Energy Office and our utilities to insure that air
pollution devices are placed on facilities to insure that while we need
as much energy as we can get in order to take care of minimum
needs, that we cannot pay the price in terms of public health, and I
am afraid that that is the direction in which we have been going
and I would urge that that be looked into very carefully.
That summarizes the thrust of what I wanted to say.
Chairman H um phrey . We will place in the record your entire
prepared statement, Mr. Elish, as you have prepared it for you
testimony here today.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Elish follows:]
P repared S t a t e m e n t

of

H

on.

H

erbert

E l is h

As Director of New York City’s Energy Office, I would like to tliank you for
the opportunity to testify this morning.
The energy crisis has affected all segments of our nation. We have all had
to learn too quickly that wTe can no longer take readily available, cheap energy
for granted. What we have not yet learned is the root causes of this energy
crisis, nor how we can best live with the limitations it imposes upon us.
This energy crisis has meant curtailment of Americans driving habits;
adjustment to lower indoor temperatures in winter; acceptance of exorbitant
prices for heating oil, gasoline, and electricity. Even if shortages of fuels
were miraculously to disappear tomorrow, we would not have solved our energy
problems. Our fuel costs have risen to a price many of us simply cannot afford.
Until we as a nation have access to the information that can tell us what
is at the heart of this crisis, we will be attempting to mend Humpty Dumpty
with a band-aid. We will at best patch up a few pieces. We won’t solve the
problems.
In many ways this energy crisis is a crisis of information. We in New York
City cannot deal effectively with situations affecting millions of people when
our only data come from gut feelings. Until we get data—reliable data—from
those in the energy business, we can only hope: hope for warm weather, hope
for voluntary cut backs of gasoline use, hope we get at least a fair share of
fuel.




131
On the other hand, sound information would allow us to plan to accommo­
date shortages the magnitude of which we could confidently estimate. Much
of the information we seek is already being collected by the Federal Energy
Office. What we need is access.
Figures obtainable for November and December of 1973, when gasoline
shortages were first becoming noticeable, show that in the Northeast supplies
were well below those available elsewhere in the nation. In November, gaso­
line supplies in the Northeast were 9.4 percent below wThat demand was ex­
pected to be; for the entire U.S.; the shortage was 17.0 percent, the U.S. total
shortage only 8.9 percent.
While these figures pre-date FEO’s mandatory allocation program which
wTent into effect in January, observation indicates that gasoline lines in the
New York City area and other urban centers have been much longer than
in other sections of the country. Furthermore, our figures show that in
February, New York City’s gasoline shortage was 15 percent. Unless FEO
makes data available to us listing shortages elsewhere, we cannot be assured
that we are even now receiving an equitable share of national gasoline sup­
plies. If in fact we are not getting a fair allocation, we suggest that emer­
gency supplies be made available from inventories now maintained by the
companies. American Petroleum Institute figures show that throughout Feb­
ruary, the gasoline companies were increasing inventories, presumably to build
up supplies for summer. Being as summer is a period of heavy, non-essential
driving, we would prefer to use small portion of those stocks now to lessen
gas shortages that may curtail essential driving. First off, though, we need
data to show if our local shortage is unfairly acute.
Access to FEO’s Form 22 and 1000 listing individual supplier’s monthly
allocations and distributions would enable us to carefully monitor gasoline
distribution within the City, to judge whether the supplies of gasoline we re­
ceive are proportional to the rest of the country, to ascertain expected gasoline
shortfalls, and to determine how a supplier derived his allocation fraction.
Access to FEO’s weekly refinery reports (Form 1003) would provide continu­
ally up-dated information regarding the gasoline situation.
We have as yet not only been unable to obtain this information from the
gasoline companies and FEO, but we also have been told by members of FEO
that the Office itself does not audit gasoline supplier's forms to ensure that
the companies have objectively set forth their supply situations, accurately
calculated their allocation fractions, and made the proper distributions. This
seems to us to put an inordinate amount of trust in those companies which
have been accused of manufacturing the crisis in the first place.
The information contained in FEO’s forms, if made available to us, natur­
ally wrould be used with discretion, and solely for the purpose of x>lanning
how best to provide the City with the complex services it absolutely needs.
Those services, I might add, are jeopardized by current FEO gasoline regu­
lations defining priority users and setting forth formulas for determining how
much gasoline should be allocated to those users.
Priority users include emergency services, energy production, sanitation
services, telecommunication services, public transportation services, cargo,
freight, and mail hauling, and agricultural production. These users are pro­
vided wTith gasoline allocations based on their current fuel needs. Your local
gas station has its allocation based on its sales in 1972. While for the most
part essential services in New York City have received as much gasoline as
necessary, FEO regulations are ambiguous and could lead to supply reduc­
tions for those services.
The allocation fraction—that percentage of the base amount to be received
—under one interpretation of FEO regulations, could be the same for fire
houses as it is for “Lucky’s Gas and Car Wash” around the corner. If Lucky
gets SO percent of his March ’72 supplies, our fire trucks could also get as little
as 80 percent of their current need. In fact some New York City gasoline
supply was sent this way in February. It was made up by an emergency allo­
cation from the State set-aside. The one exception among priority users is
agricultural production—that gets all it needs.
Of course food production is essential. But we think sanitation services,
ambulances, police cars, and so on are essential too. We would like to see this
discrepancy between agriculture and essential services needed in all communi­
ties corrected. Essential services must receive 100 percent of their needs.




132
The energy crisis has fostered all sorts of discrepancies. A major one we
have attempted to bring before the FEO concerns price of residual fuel oil.
Most of the residual oil used in this country is imported, and therefore un­
regulated in price. In general, the cost of residual oil has tripled since last
year. This is a very grave problem for the Northeast and especially for New
York City. Many of our landlords are faced with fuel costs that were unfore­
seen even six months ago and which in many cases mean the difference be­
tween making a profit or taking a loss. Unprofitable buildings may be abandoned,
with no regard for tenants. Unfortunately fuel cost pass-throughs are not
much of an answer to this problem, since buildings most likely to be aband­
oned are marginal housing stock, generally located in the poorest areas of
the City.
Deputy FEO Administrator John Sawhill is reported to have told a meeting
of Senators from New England on Tuesday that the price of residual oil in
the Northeast is disproportionate to the nation as a whole and that FEO is
conducting a study of price disparities. Sawhill was speaking mainly in terms
of residual used by power plants to generate electricity. We are experiencing
tremendous rises in the cost of our electricity in New York. We are also faced,
however, with using the same fuel, at exorbitant prices, to provide 60 percent
of the space heating in New Rork City. Heating in Philadelphia for example
is only 7 percent residual oil. On this heating price question FEO assured us
in New York as early as the beginning of February that it was studying the
problem. We have had no response as of yet.
The double impact of heating oil cost increases and electricity cost increases
may be devastating to New Yorkers. We have calculated that our heating cost
rises are double the national increase. Consolidated Edison, our power-utility
company for New York City and Westchester County, announced this week
that for the average March bill Con Ed’s 2.9 million electricity customers will
pay more than $20. For that average customer, about $5.50 of his bill will be
for fuel costs above the amount figured into the base rate. Although prices of
residual used in Con Ed’s plants are leveling off, or even dropping slightly,
fuel prices are of great concern to millions of New Yorkers faced with stag­
gering electric bills.
Con Ed has suggested that the solution to high fuel prices is to be allowed
to burn coal at two of its plants. We find the wisdom of this solution to be
highly questionable. On a rough basis, if we assume an average of $12/barrel
for residual oil for 1974, burning coal at both Con Ed’s Arthur Kill and Ravenswood plants, would save 3.7 percent of total 1974 electric costs. If we use a
figure of $15/barrel of residual (the price Con Ed says it is now paying), the
savings for using coal at both plants, or at Arthur Kill alone would be 5.9
percent and 2.0 percent respectively.
These figures do represent substantial savings in the aggregate. Their im­
pact on the individual consumer, however, is not very much. A two percent
savings, for example, would not even reduce the average customer’s bill below
$20.

Furthermore, coal-burning would place a kind of “hidden tax” on New York
City. New York City is already polluted. Even so, our air is much cleaner now
than it was in 1969 when we began a City-wide air pollution monitoring net­
work.
In the vicinity of Con Ed’s Arthur Kill plant, we are currently meeting
national primary air standards for sulfur oxide and particulates. Air quality
in the area of the Ravenswood plant, however, continues to fail to meet primary
standards designed to protect health.
Coal-burning is not the current answer to New York City’s energy problems.
It would endanger our citizens; it wouldn’t do much about sky-rocketing costs
of energy. Solutions must be reached on a nationwide basis. For the good of
us all we must equalize throughout the nation the price of both fuels and of
the loss of convenience. We must not and we need not sacrifice essentials such
as emergency vehicles or agricultural production.
What we need now is to find out about this crisis. If we know why it hap­
pened, we can find solutions; if we know what our supplies are, we can adjust
our plans to account for real shortages. A time of crisis is not a time to panic.
By wTorking together, we believe our problems, however difficult, can be over­
come—by hard work, by compromise, and by reason.




133
Senator J a v i t s . May I just say, Mr. Chairman, I will not ask any
questions but I would like Mr. Elish to let me know whether his
survey finds that the New York area service stations have been
allocated, whether they are being fairly distributed to independent
and franchised dealers, and generally your critique on how the
wholesalers and the integrated companies are handling the supplies
so that they get to them source; that is, to the point where the motor­
ist gets them.
Mr. E u sh . Yes, I will do that.
Senator J a v i t s . Thank you for your testimony and I noted what
you said about coal. I heard you. We will watch it.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Have you seen any pattern at all of the
large majors taking over the independents in your city?
Mr. E lish. No, we really have not.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Mr. Allvine, please proceed.
Mr. A l l v i n e . I will make my comments very brief.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Y ou have a prepared statement?
STATEMENT OF FEED C. ALLVINE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF
MARKETING, COLLEGE OF INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT, GEORGIA
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Mr. A l l v i n e . Yes. I think with the announcement yesterday the
issue of rationing is no longer particularly relevant or all that inter­
esting. I think we may get by our most urgent problems of allocation
of petroleum products generally throughout society.
I would, however, state for the record that I have a considered
feeling and judgment that we may emerge from our petroleum prod­
uct shortages absent a viable independent private brand discount
segment of the gasoline market. I was on an advisory panel to a
commission that is going to report on the mandatory allocation system
to Congress. I think that report is due tomorrow. And following the
advisory meeting, we were discussing what the future of the inde­
pendents seems to be. And it was the opinion, I think, pretty much
of these different scholars and businessmen from different parts of
our society that the future looks terribly bleak.
The mandatory system is not working to preserve competition as
it was intended to do. There were two parts to it. One is the inde­
pendents were to get a fair and equitable supply of the product.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . That includes the franchised dealer, too.
Mr. A l l v i n e . That is correct, Mr. Chairman. And secondly, that
the independent franchised and private brand dealer was to get a
fair and equitable price, and as the record is coming in to me and to
others, the independents, the discounters, the major source of the
price competition, are not getting their fair share of the product and
in essence they are being priced out of existence.
I am afraid as we move from the transitional period back out of
the shortage condition that we will find wholesale closing and failure
of the private brand discount marketers at the same time the major
oil companies are turning in unprecedented profits. The most competi­
tive segment in terms of marketing of gasoline is going to pass into




134
oblivion. I think it is a major concern that you have expressed in the
past, that this segment of the industry survive so that when we get
over our energy crisis there will still be some semblance of competition
in the marketing of gasoline to the public. I would hate to see the
total industry moved to being dominated and controlled by eight to
ten large vertically-integrated oil companies.
I heard your comments earlier about your concern as to what is
taking place and I think there is due reason to be concerned about
the preservation of competition. I think competition is being snuffed
out. It is my judgment after studying the facts, that one of the reasons
for the shortage was to curb competition in the marketplace and I
think they have been very successful in doing that and the mandatory
program does not seem to be helping.
That is just a quick overview of my assessment of what is hap­
pening.
Chairman I I i tm p t t r e y . We had considerable testimony here on
Tuesday from the National Petroleum Retailers Association on the
cancellation of franchises or the independent franchise dealer. One of
the companies, I believe Mobil in Connecticut, has decided to go all
the way on this and have company-owned stations and we are seeing
a lot of it. In my home State 1,200 independent stations have gone
out of business. Now. there is a natural turnoff but these are people
that have actually gone out of business and not a turn-off where
somebody has quite and somebody else has come in and picked up.
And I feel very strongly that there is a pattern that is developing
that is unhealthy for the competitive system; namely, concentration
of vertical organization of the major companies taking more and more
of the market. And there is another problem involved here, as I see
it. too, and I would appreciate your comment. Some of the big sta­
tions are getting what they call gas and go. All you have is just come
in for gasoline and the kind of service that many people have been
accustomed to in the neighborhood, because filling station is gene­
rally—we have had our filling stations or our gasoline stations rather
close. They have been called service stations for a reason, that they
gave more than a product. They gave service. We are going to see a
pattern develop here where the services that the customer was accus­
tomed to receiving; namely, on repair or a new battery or new tires
or all other things that go to help that family—the automobile and
the family are tied together—to make that family a little happier
and make that automobile a more useful vehicle, that those services
are going to be eliminated, particularly as prices go up and as the
prices on gasoline go up the margin of profit on each gallon grows.
That is the interesting arithmetic here on this price situation.
Would you like to make anv comment? Just a brief comment here
then we are going to close off here.
Mr. A i x v t x e . Senator, I have no fear that we are going to have an
ample supply of major brand service stations around when this thing
shakes out. I f you read the statements of the major oil companies
under oath ancí elsewhere, they indicate from time to time, that we
have perhaps two to three times the number of stations which can
economically justified if put to the test of the marketplace. We have




135
far overbuilt our marketing system. It is terribly costly, inefficient,
and archaic. It was in the stage of collapse before the petroleum
product shortages. It was costing the petroleum companies a great
deal of money. They rescued this terribly backward system from
utter disaster through the petroleum shortages.
I predicted in 1972 the way things were going that we would have
half the number of major brand service stations just by the normal
forces of the marketplace finally coming to work in a system that
had not been built in any sort of manner, shape, or form to stand the
test of the marketplace. So I think you will see perhaps if the market
mechanism works massive closing of unneeded stations, but I think
there will be plenty of service stations around. I think that this is
competition, this is the competitive process and it will be quite healthy
in the process.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Well, we would love to keep you here. We
have taken you all the way from Georgia Tech, which is a great
school, brought you up here for a few minutes but we welcome you.
You have a prepared statement and I want to include it as part of
the record at this point.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Allvine follows:]
P r epared S t a t e m e n t

of

F

red

C.

A

l l v in e

Thank you for this invitation to appear before your committee as it considers
The Gasoline Distribution System. Unfortunately, time did not permit me to
prepare a comprehensive statement.
One subject of major interest today is the possibility of having to ration
gasoline. It is my belief that rationing should be adopted as only a last resort.
Perhaps rationing would solve certain types of problems, but it would in turn
establish an entire new set of problems for the driver and against the public
welfare.
One of the reasons presented for rationing is that it would eliminate the
inequitable distribution of gasoline between and within states. It is extremely
unfortunate that drivers in certain states and cities tend to have enough gaso­
line to get along with, while others have to queue at stations and fight for
much more scarce supplies.
A report going to the Federal Trade Commission today on The Petroleum
Allocation Act discusses the inequitable allocation of gasoline through the
United States. This report indicates that the FEO is now coming to grips with
the problem and that this 45 day old program seems to now be getting on
track. As w7ith most new organizations, the FEO had problems getting itself
structured and functioning, but now appears to be better prepared to carry
out its responsibility for more balanced distribution of gasoline throughout
the United States.
Rationing of gasoline won’t be necessary if some of the inequities in dis­
tribution can be worked out by the FEO, and the general level of public de­
mand for gasoline can be retarded enough to keep within the industries con­
strained ability to produce gasoline. In other words, the general public must
continue to conserve gasoline through a variety of techniques that have been
frequently discussed. Perhaps one of the worst things that could happen would
be for the public to conclude that the Energy Crisis is over and accelerate
their use of gasoline.
As summer approaches, the demand for gasoline relative to supply could,
for a period of time, become somewhat tighter. In fact, it will do so if the
public obtains the impression from a government official that the Energy Crisis
has passed. After the Arab embargo on oil is lifted, it will be 45 days before
oil imports can be substantially increased. Furthermore, when the oil embargo
is removed, it does not necessarily mean that, after a period of adjustment,
automobile drivers will be able to purchase all the gasoline they want. Even




136
without the Arab embargo, some shortages were forecasted for peak periods
of gasoline demand in 1974 and 1975 because of an inadequacy of refining
capacity in the United States and presumably throughout the free world. Re­
member, last summer before the Arab embargo, U.S. refineries were unable to
produce enough gasoline to keep up with demand. However, there is a possi­
bility that the rapid increase in the price of gasoline over the past nine months
will bring demand and supply into balance when the embargo ends.
Some of the more obvious problems with gasoline rationing include the cost
of a huge bureaucratic structure required to implement such a program, the
difficulties in designing a fair and equitable rationing system—drivers vary
greatly in terms of their essential needs for gasoline, the organization of a
“white market” where holders of unneeded rationing tickets can sell them, and
finally, the inevitable appearance of an illegal “black market” in rationing
tickets.
What worries me still more about gasoline rationing is its potential for
long-term injury to competition in the selling of gasoline to the public. At the
present time, the private-brand, independent gasoline marketers are fighting
to stay alive, and their situation is growing more and more precarious. Such
independents, until the petroleum product shortage, were the major source of
competition in the marketing of gasoline to the public. They pioneered many
of the new developments in gasoline marketing and, more importantly, sold
gasoline at substantial discounts of 3^ to 54 per gallon less than the major
brand price of gasoline. These independent discounts are one of the major
victims of the gasoline shortage. Supplies of gasoline to independents have, in
many cases, been sharply cut, and what supplies they are receiving are terribly
expensive. This combination of circumstances has put these independents in a
noncompetitive position relative to their major brand competitors.
It is largely because of the tight supply situation that the independents can
sell at higher prices than their major brand competitors, and this is keeping
many of them from going out of business. If rationing was implemented, in
particular the proposal of the Administration, I would predice widespread
failure of the unbranded, independent gasoline marketers The reason for be­
lieving that rationing would be disastrous to this segment of the market is
that rationing would have the effect of balancing supply with demand. Many
more automobile drivers would take what rationing coupons they have and
look for the better price. Due to the ”upside-down economics” of shortage, one­
time customers of the unbranded, independents will find higher prices at many
of their stations and cease to purchase from the independents. With a further
loss of sales, many private-brand, independent gasoline marketers will be forced
into bankruptcy. Government policy during the unusual conditions of shortages
should continue to try to preserve the structure of competition.
The Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 had as one of its objectives:
“Preservation of a sound and competitive petroleum industry with particular
emphasis on protecting the market share and competitive viability of the in­
dependent sector of the industry.”
More specifically, Section ( 4 ) ( b ) ( 1 ) (F) of the Act states that there shall
b e : “equitable distribution of
refined products at equitable prices among
all
sectors of the petroleum industry, including independent refiners, small
refiners, nonbranded independent marketers, branded independent marketers,
and among all users
So far the FEO has failed to achieve “an equitable distribution of refined
products at equitable prices” to the nonbranded independent marketers as re­
quired by the A ct
Many independents have informed me in the past couple of weeks that they
have not received their fair share allocations of gasoline. For example, yes­
terday I received an urgent call from the executive secretary of a trade asso­
ciation with 80 independent, private-brand marketers in California. He stated
that many of his 80 members are getting less than 50 to 60 percent of their
1972 base period supply. In contrast, he reported that Mobil is giving 97 per­
cent allocations to its dealers, Chevron 90 percent, Gulf 90 percent, Exxon 83
percent, Phillips 75 percent, and Texaco 71 percent. There appears in many
cases to be a real reluctance on the part of the FEO to force the major oil
companies to share the shortage as required by law. Frequently, the explana­
tion received by independents from the FEO administration is that it takes




137
time to get things straightened out. Just like the medical patient requiring
oxygen, the independents need supply now and not tomorrow after they have
succumb.
The problem of the independent, private-brand marketer obtaining supply is
complicated by the price that he has to pay for gasoline. Before the petroleum
product shortages, the whole price that independents paid for unbranded gaso­
line was 124 to 14# per gallon less than the normal major brand price of gaso­
line at the pump. Since the petroleum product shortages, many independents
have seen their wholesale buying price narrow to within 64 to 74 of the major
brand retail price. Furthermore, there are many independents that are buying
unbranded gasoline at wholesale that is as expensive as the major brand deal­
ers are selling to their retail customers. It is because of the extremely high
and inequitable cost of product to the independent, private-brand marketer that
so many are being forced to sell at prices considerably above their major brand
competitors. The cost of private-brand marketing is considerably less than
branded marketing, yet many independents are compelled to sell at higher
prices because of the cost of their supplies. The equitable pricing of refined
product called for by the Act is not occurring. The regulations must be rede­
signed to permit the independent, private-brand marketers to purchase their
supplies at equitable prices.
The inequitable pricing of supplies to the independent is a direct consequence
of a decision by the Cost of Living Council in 1973 to de-regulate the price
of oil produced from stripper wells and the price of newly discovered oil. As
a consequence, the uncontrolled price of oil has climbed to over $10 per barrel,
while price-controlled oil sells for around $5.25. Since the independent refineries
purchase a larger proportion of their supplies from stripper production, their
cost of new material has climbed relatively to the major oil companies. In
addition, independent refineries have been compelled to import increasing
quantities of oil after costing $10 or more per barrel.
One way to improve the situation is to have domestic oil all selling at one
price—somewhere between $6-$7 per barrel. The uncontrolled price of stripper
production has increased by approximately 200 percent in a year. The logic of
the Cost of Living Council's decision to de-control the price of stripper well
production can be questioned. It has certainly resulted in a hugh ‘ windfall
profit to the owners of stripper wells, and has driven up to noncompetitive levels
the price of much of the crude oil purchased by independent refineries. The
limited increase in stripper production that is expected does not appear to
warrant the high de-regulated prices.
Releasing the price of new oil can also be questioned. One of the reasons
for the high price of new oil is the bonus bidding procedure employed by the
Federal Government in leasing government land for oil and gas exploration
and production. The administration has only leased 3 percent of the outer con­
tinental shelf. During 1972 and 1973, approximately five billion dollars was
paid to the Federal Government for hunting licenses. Had this money instead
been invested in drilling projects, almost twice the number of wells could
have been drilled in the United States.
Bonus bidding procedures drive up the cost of oil and, in turn, forces the
government into a position of de-controlling the price of new oil. The bonus
bidding procedures might well be replaced by a “performance bidding” pro­
gram similar to that employed by England in leasing the North Seas area it
controlled for oil exploration and production. This practically eliminated the
up-front money and has resulted in rapid development of North Sea oil pro­
duction.
If the Administration abandoned its two-tier pricing structure for crude
oil, then one major factor contributing to the high price of product to the in­
dependents would be eliminated. The other problem affecting the cost of oil
to the independents is the high price of foreign oil. I f this condition persists,
then some program might be developed to even out the proportion of domestic
and imported oil processed by the independent refineries and the major oil
companies.

Chairman H u m ph r e y . Senator Javits and I have a King waiting
for us downstairs.




138
Senator J a v i t s . Mr. Chairman, I would like to tell Professor Allvine, to justify his trip, that as the ranking member of the Select
Committee on Small Business, I am going to see if I can get an
inquiry started into this whole gas station business, both from the
point of view of the independent man and how he fares and from
what Chairman Humphrey has said about service.
Mr. A l l v i n e . Thank you.
Chairman H u m p h r e y . Thank you. The subcommittee stands ad­
journed.
[Whereupon, at 1 p.m., the subcommittee adjourned, subject to the
call of the Chair.]




o