Recall: Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives Propane Gas Recall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2000 Release # 01-061

CHS Propane Hotline: (800) 635-3998 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052 CHS Media Contact: Lani Jordan, (651) 451-4946

CPSC, Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives Announce Recall to Inspect Propane Gas

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives (CHS) of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., is voluntarily coordinating the testing of propane gas delivered to dealers in five states. The propane may not have contained enough odorant to allow consumers to smell leaking gas, presenting a fire, explosion or thermal burn hazard to consumers.

CHS learned of two explosions involving propane gas in Montana that resulted in four injuries. CHS is coordinating the testing of propane gas distributed to the following dealers to ensure that the propane produced at the CHS Refinery in Laurel, Montana contained adequate quantities of odorant.

Idaho
Bingham Co-op, Blackfoot
CHS Propane Plant, Challis
Farmers Supply Cooperative, Council
CHS Propane Plant, Jerome

Montana
Farmers Union Oil, Baker
Rocky Mountain Supply, Belgrade
Farmers Union Oil, Chinook
Columbus Propane, Columbus
Mountain View Co-op, Dutton
Farmers Union Oil, Great Falls
Farmers Union Association, Hardin
CHS Country Operations, Havre
CHS Country Operations, Kalispsell
Town and Country Co-op, Laurel
Central Montana Propane, Lewistown
Farmers Union Oil, Lodge Grass
CHS Country Operations, Miles City
CHS Country Operations, Missoula
Farmers Union Oil, Worden

Oregon
CHS Propane Plant, John Day

Washington
Skagit Farmers Supply, Mt. Vernon

Wyoming
Johnson County Co-op, Buffalo
Farmers Cooperative, Gillette
CHS Propane Plant, Gillette
Farmers Co-op Oil, Sheridan
Big Horn Co-op Association, Worland

Consumers who had propane deliveries or purchased propane from these dealers since June 1, 2000, should immediately contact their propane gas suppliers or retail locations where portable cylinders were filled to arrange for testing of the propane. The amount of odorant in the propane can be corrected on-site if the levels are found to be too low to detect by smell. Consumers with questions should call Country Energy, LLC, an affiliate of CHS, 24 hours per day at (800) 635-3998.

CHS is now working with CPSC to supplement CHS's announcement of this testing made earlier this month, to help further disseminate this information to consumers who may have purchased this product.