Governor Christie Acts to Boost Gasoline, Diesel Supplies

TRENTON – In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Governor Christie has acted to boost supplies of gasoline and diesel in New Jersey by directing Treasury officials to waive licensing requirements that affect merchants’ ability to buy fuel from out-of-state suppliers.
Under normal conditions, merchants not licensed to import fuel can’t legally buy gasoline and diesel from out of state and import it. The waiver, which will be in place until Nov. 7, will boost storm-depleted supplies by allowing all merchants temporarily to buy fuel from out of state for their New Jersey customers.
“When shortages threaten after natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy, fuel buyers need to venture farther from state borders to ensure that their customers get the gasoline and diesel they need,” Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff said. “Temporarily suspending licensing is a prudent way of empowering merchants to buy fuel farther from the state line, boosting supplies for New Jersey motorists who need fuel to get to work and do their jobs.”
Fuel merchants who buy fuel from out of state who aren’t currently licensed importers will have to document their purchases and pay required New Jersey taxes. Fuel merchants who import must fill out form MFA-12 available at the following link to register their purchases and calculate taxes: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/other_forms/motorfuel/mfa12.pdf Any questions can be addressed to the New Jersey Division of Taxation at (609) 633-8536.
Gasoline and diesel fuel supplies have tightened across the East Coast as the major pipelines and refineries in the Northeast shut down during Hurricane Sandy. Power outages and hurricane related damage are delaying efforts to restart fuel production equipment.