WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Americans should conserve gasoline as supplies shrink in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but there is no need for the federal government to ration fuel at this point, a major U.S. oil industry trade group said on Wednesday.
Nine major oil refineries accounting for about 11 percent of total U.S refining capacity were shut by the powerful storm. Several pipelines are unable to ship gasoline from Gulf Coast refiners to markets
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To help get through the supply problems, Cavaney urged American motorists "to take seriously common-sense energy conservation recommendations" and reduce driving.
The API asked the Bush administration to make promoting gasoline-saving a key part of the government's hurricane recovery plan, he said. "We hope with presidential leadership it will get that kind of attention," Cavaney said.
But Bush did not ask Americans to reduce gasoline use in a televised speech from the Rose Garden on Wednesday during which he talked about government efforts to help storm victims.
If there's anything that would piss people off more than a draft would it's gas shortages.