(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Secretary may establish, maintain, and operate in the Northeast a Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. A Reserve established under this part is not a component of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve established under part B of this subchapter. A Reserve established under this part shall contain no more than 2 million barrels of petroleum distillate.

(b) For the purposes of this part—

(1) the term “Northeast” means the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey;

(2) the term “petroleum distillate” includes heating oil and diesel fuel; and

(3) the term “Reserve” means the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve established under this part.