Pipeline Safety: Public Meetings on Operator Qualifications, 62162-62163 [05-21499]
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62162
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 208 / Friday, October 28, 2005 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Applications for Certificates
of Public Convenience and Necessity
and Foreign Air Carrier Permits Filed
Under Subpart B (Formerly Subpart Q)
During the Week Ending October 7,
2005
The following Applications for
Certificates of Public Convenience and
Necessity and Foreign Air Carrier
Permits were filed under Subpart B
(formerly Subpart Q) of the Department
of Transportation’s Procedural
Regulations (See 14 CFR 301.201 et.
seq.). The due date for Answers,
Conforming Applications, or Motions to
Modify Scope are set forth below for
each application. Following the Answer
period DOT may process the application
by expedited procedures. Such
procedures may consist of the adoption
of a show-cause order, a tentative order,
or in appropriate cases a final order
without further proceedings.
Docket Number: OST–2000–8445.
Date Filed: October 4, 2005.
Due Date for Answers, Conforming
Applications, or Motion to Modify
Scope: October 25, 2005.
Description: Application Polar Air
Cargo, Inc., requesting renewal of its
experimental certificate of public
convenience and necessity for Route
626, authorizing it to provide scheduled
foreign air transportation of property
and mail between the coterminal points
Miami, FL and Los Angeles, CA; the
intermediate points Curacao,
Netherlands Antilles; Santiago, Chile,
Barranquilla, Colombia; and Panama
City, Panama; and the coterminal points
Manaus, Rio je Janeiro and Sao Paulo,
Brazil.
Renee V. Wright,
Program Manager, Docket Operations,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 05–21536 Filed 10–27–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–62–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
[Docket No. RSPA–04–19857]
Pipeline Safety: Public Meetings on
Operator Qualifications
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:15 Oct 27, 2005
Jkt 208001
SUMMARY: This notice announces a
public meeting on operator qualification
programs. PHMSA is preparing a Report
to Congress on the status and results of
programs to ensure the qualifications of
individuals performing safety tasks on
pipelines. The American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has
almost completed developing a
consensus standard qualifying
individuals performing safety tasks on
pipelines. The meeting provides an
opportunity to discuss progress on
operator qualification programs to help
PHMSA prepare the Report to Congress
and the potential the ASME standard
offers for strengthening operator
qualification programs.
DATES: The meeting will take place on
December 15, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington,
DC, 480 L’Enfant Plaza, SW.,
Washington, DC 20024. The phone
number for reservations at the hotel is
202–484–1000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
more information about the subject
matter of this meeting contact Barbara
Betsock at (202) 366–4361 or
Barbara.Betsock@dot.gov. For
information about the logistics of this
meeting contact: William Fuentevilla at
(202) 366–6199,
William.Fuentevilla@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Meeting Details
PHMSA will post any additional
information or changes on its Web page
(https://ops.dot.gov) 15 days prior to the
meeting date.
Members of the public may attend the
meetings and may make short
statements on the topics under
discussion. Anyone wishing to make an
oral statement should notify Mr.
Fuentevilla, before November 21, of the
topic and the time needed for the
presentation. The presiding officer at
each meeting may deny any request to
present an oral statement and may limit
the time of any presentation.
You may file written comments by
mail or deliver them to the Dockets
Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Room PL–401, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC
20590–0001. The Dockets Facility is
open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
You also may file written comments to
the docket electronically by logging onto
the following Internet Web address:
https://dms.dot.gov. Click on ‘‘Help &
Information’’ for instructions on how to
file a document electronically. All
PO 00000
Frm 00073
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
written comments should reference
docket number RSPA–04–19857.
Anyone who would like confirmation of
mailed comments must include a selfaddressed stamped postcard.
Privacy Act Statement
Anyone may search the electronic
form of all comments received for any
of our dockets. You may review DOT’s
complete Privacy Act Statement in the
Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages
19477–78) or you may visit https://
dms.dot.gov.
Information on Services for Individuals
With Disabilities
For information on facilities or
services for individuals with
disabilities, or to request special support
at the meeting, please contact William
Fuentevilla at (202) 366–6199 by
November 21, 2005.
Background
Pipeline safety regulations issued in
1999 require operators to have programs
to ensure the qualifications of
individuals performing safety tasks on
pipelines. The regulations address
operation and maintenance tasks and
the ability of individuals to react to
abnormal operating conditions to
protect life and property. The Pipeline
Safety Improvement Act of 2002
amended the pipeline safety law by
adding section 49 U.S.C 60131. Section
60131 provides standards and criteria
for operator qualification programs,
directs PHMSA to ensure their inclusion
in programs, and directs PHMSA to
report to Congress on the status and
results of operator qualification
programs. In a final rule published in
the Federal Register on March 3, 2005,
PHMSA changed the operator
qualification regulations to conform to
section 60131. Among the changes was
the required inclusion of training ‘‘as
appropriate.’’ (70 FR 10332.)
Because of the differences between
the performance-based operator
qualification regulations and the
standards and criteria in section 60131,
PHMSA developed protocols and
‘‘Frequently Asked Questions.’’ PHMSA
and State inspectors use these when
auditing operator qualification programs
to find out the extent of compliance
with the regulations. PHMSA and State
inspectors are completing their first
audits and collecting information on
those audits for the Report to Congress.
The report on the status and results of
the operator qualification programs is
due December 17, 2006. PHMSA
discussed a proposed outline for this
report and the early information about
E:\FR\FM\28OCN1.SGM
28OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 208 / Friday, October 28, 2005 / Notices
the audits at a meeting on operator
qualifications on December 17, 2004.
You can read the transcript of that
meeting in the docket, RSPA–04–19857,
at https://dms.dot.gov/. While PHMSA
continues to gather data on compliance
audits for the report, we believe that we
should also include in the report
information about safety improvements
that go beyond the regulations.
The pipeline industry and PHMSA
recognized soon after the protocols were
developed that a national consensus
standard could provide greater certainty
that operator qualification programs are
high quality. A public meeting in
Houston in 2003 produced a list of 13
areas in which there were perceived
gaps between operator qualification
programs that conform to the
regulations and ‘‘ideal’’ programs. The
pipeline industry approached ASME
International about developing a
consensus standard. The result was the
B31Q Project Team on Qualification of
Pipeline Operators with members drawn
from both the regulated pipeline
community and the regulators. The
ASME committee voted to approve the
consensus standard developed and to
present it for a 60-day public comment
period.
PHMSA believes the considerable
work done to qualify pipeline personnel
has resulted in improved safety by
producing a workforce better able to
perform safety tasks on pipelines.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:15 Oct 27, 2005
Jkt 208001
PHMSA believes that much of the work
has exceeded the requirements of the
current regulations. PHMSA also
believes the B31Q consensus standard
offers an opportunity to further
strengthen operator qualification
programs. The two purposes of this
public meeting are to gather information
about improvements in operator
qualification programs for the Report to
Congress and to identify how we can
best use B31Q to strengthen the
programs.
Preliminary Agenda
The agenda includes discussion of the
following issues:
• Why do we have more confidence
today in the qualifications of pipeline
personnel?
• What are the primary contributions
made during the past four years in
improving safety through better
qualification programs for pipeline
personnel? To what extent have these
exceeded regulatory compliance?
• What is the best way to use the
B31Q standard to improve programs?
• Are there any elements of the B31Q
standard that PHMSA should
incorporate into the regulations? If so,
which ones would be the best to
incorporate?
• Are there any aspects of operator
qualification that require greater
flexibility to avoid cost impacts with
minimal safety benefit?
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
62163
• Can operators develop performance
metrics that could assure equivalent
safety through a more flexible
performance-based approach?
• How do we continue to improve
operator qualification programs without
the uncertainty of continual change?
• Are protocols and ‘‘Frequently
Asked Questions’’ the best way to
provide necessary prescription, clarity,
and consistency to performance
regulations?
• When is training appropriate?
• How does an operator provide
enough objectivity in evaluating an
employee’s knowledge and skills?
• Should the regulations go beyond
operation and maintenance and include
additional tasks that affect the safety
and integrity of the pipeline as covered
tasks?
• How do we best foster the
portability of qualifications?
• Should emergencies such as Katrina
trigger exceptions?
• Would mechanisms for operators to
share success stories about operator
qualification benefit overall safety?
Issued in Washington, DC on October 24,
2005.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05–21499 Filed 10–27–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
E:\FR\FM\28OCN1.SGM
28OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 208 (Friday, October 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62162-62163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21499]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. RSPA-04-19857]
Pipeline Safety: Public Meetings on Operator Qualifications
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting on operator
qualification programs. PHMSA is preparing a Report to Congress on the
status and results of programs to ensure the qualifications of
individuals performing safety tasks on pipelines. The American Society
of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has almost completed developing a
consensus standard qualifying individuals performing safety tasks on
pipelines. The meeting provides an opportunity to discuss progress on
operator qualification programs to help PHMSA prepare the Report to
Congress and the potential the ASME standard offers for strengthening
operator qualification programs.
DATES: The meeting will take place on December 15, 2005, from 8:30 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in
Washington, DC, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20024. The
phone number for reservations at the hotel is 202-484-1000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information about the subject
matter of this meeting contact Barbara Betsock at (202) 366-4361 or
Barbara.Betsock@dot.gov. For information about the logistics of this
meeting contact: William Fuentevilla at (202) 366-6199,
William.Fuentevilla@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Meeting Details
PHMSA will post any additional information or changes on its Web
page (https://ops.dot.gov) 15 days prior to the meeting date.
Members of the public may attend the meetings and may make short
statements on the topics under discussion. Anyone wishing to make an
oral statement should notify Mr. Fuentevilla, before November 21, of
the topic and the time needed for the presentation. The presiding
officer at each meeting may deny any request to present an oral
statement and may limit the time of any presentation.
You may file written comments by mail or deliver them to the
Dockets Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room PL-401, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. The Dockets Facility is
open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. You also may file written comments to the docket
electronically by logging onto the following Internet Web address:
https://dms.dot.gov. Click on ``Help & Information'' for instructions on
how to file a document electronically. All written comments should
reference docket number RSPA-04-19857. Anyone who would like
confirmation of mailed comments must include a self-addressed stamped
postcard.
Privacy Act Statement
Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments received for
any of our dockets. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement
in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number
70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov.
Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities
For information on facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities, or to request special support at the meeting, please
contact William Fuentevilla at (202) 366-6199 by November 21, 2005.
Background
Pipeline safety regulations issued in 1999 require operators to
have programs to ensure the qualifications of individuals performing
safety tasks on pipelines. The regulations address operation and
maintenance tasks and the ability of individuals to react to abnormal
operating conditions to protect life and property. The Pipeline Safety
Improvement Act of 2002 amended the pipeline safety law by adding
section 49 U.S.C 60131. Section 60131 provides standards and criteria
for operator qualification programs, directs PHMSA to ensure their
inclusion in programs, and directs PHMSA to report to Congress on the
status and results of operator qualification programs. In a final rule
published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2005, PHMSA changed the
operator qualification regulations to conform to section 60131. Among
the changes was the required inclusion of training ``as appropriate.''
(70 FR 10332.)
Because of the differences between the performance-based operator
qualification regulations and the standards and criteria in section
60131, PHMSA developed protocols and ``Frequently Asked Questions.''
PHMSA and State inspectors use these when auditing operator
qualification programs to find out the extent of compliance with the
regulations. PHMSA and State inspectors are completing their first
audits and collecting information on those audits for the Report to
Congress.
The report on the status and results of the operator qualification
programs is due December 17, 2006. PHMSA discussed a proposed outline
for this report and the early information about
[[Page 62163]]
the audits at a meeting on operator qualifications on December 17,
2004. You can read the transcript of that meeting in the docket, RSPA-
04-19857, at https://dms.dot.gov/. While PHMSA continues to gather data
on compliance audits for the report, we believe that we should also
include in the report information about safety improvements that go
beyond the regulations.
The pipeline industry and PHMSA recognized soon after the protocols
were developed that a national consensus standard could provide greater
certainty that operator qualification programs are high quality. A
public meeting in Houston in 2003 produced a list of 13 areas in which
there were perceived gaps between operator qualification programs that
conform to the regulations and ``ideal'' programs. The pipeline
industry approached ASME International about developing a consensus
standard. The result was the B31Q Project Team on Qualification of
Pipeline Operators with members drawn from both the regulated pipeline
community and the regulators. The ASME committee voted to approve the
consensus standard developed and to present it for a 60-day public
comment period.
PHMSA believes the considerable work done to qualify pipeline
personnel has resulted in improved safety by producing a workforce
better able to perform safety tasks on pipelines. PHMSA believes that
much of the work has exceeded the requirements of the current
regulations. PHMSA also believes the B31Q consensus standard offers an
opportunity to further strengthen operator qualification programs. The
two purposes of this public meeting are to gather information about
improvements in operator qualification programs for the Report to
Congress and to identify how we can best use B31Q to strengthen the
programs.
Preliminary Agenda
The agenda includes discussion of the following issues:
Why do we have more confidence today in the qualifications
of pipeline personnel?
What are the primary contributions made during the past
four years in improving safety through better qualification programs
for pipeline personnel? To what extent have these exceeded regulatory
compliance?
What is the best way to use the B31Q standard to improve
programs?
Are there any elements of the B31Q standard that PHMSA
should incorporate into the regulations? If so, which ones would be the
best to incorporate?
Are there any aspects of operator qualification that
require greater flexibility to avoid cost impacts with minimal safety
benefit?
Can operators develop performance metrics that could
assure equivalent safety through a more flexible performance-based
approach?
How do we continue to improve operator qualification
programs without the uncertainty of continual change?
Are protocols and ``Frequently Asked Questions'' the best
way to provide necessary prescription, clarity, and consistency to
performance regulations?
When is training appropriate?
How does an operator provide enough objectivity in
evaluating an employee's knowledge and skills?
Should the regulations go beyond operation and maintenance
and include additional tasks that affect the safety and integrity of
the pipeline as covered tasks?
How do we best foster the portability of qualifications?
Should emergencies such as Katrina trigger exceptions?
Would mechanisms for operators to share success stories
about operator qualification benefit overall safety?
Issued in Washington, DC on October 24, 2005.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-21499 Filed 10-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P