Pipeline Safety: Mechanical Damage Technical Workshop, 647-648 [06-78]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 3 / Thursday, January 5, 2006 / Notices
concludes that extending the exemption
for each renewal applicant for a period
of two years is likely to achieve a level
of safety equal to that existing without
the exemption.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Request for Comments
Pipeline Safety: Mechanical Damage
Technical Workshop
cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
FMCSA will review comments
received at any time concerning a
particular driver’s safety record and
determine if the continuation of the
exemption is consistent with the
requirements at 49 U.S.C. 31315 and
31136(e). However, FMCSA requests
that interested parties with specific data
concerning the safety records of these
drivers submit comments by February 6,
2006.
FMCSA believes that the
requirements for a renewal of an
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and
31136(e) can be satisfied by initially
granting the renewal and then
requesting and evaluating, if needed,
subsequently comments submitted by
interested parties. As indicated above,
the agency previously published notices
of final disposition announcing its
decision to exempt these 17 individuals
from the vision requirement in 49 CFR
931.41(b)(10). That final decision to
grant the exemption to each of these
individuals was based on the merits of
each case and only after careful
consideration of the comments received
to its notices of applications. Those
notices of applications stated in detail
the qualifications, experience, and
medical condition of each applicant for
an exemption from the vision
requirements. That information is
available by consulting the above cited
Federal Register publications.
Interested parties or organizations
possessing information that would
otherwise show that any, or all of these
drivers, are not currently achieving the
statutory level of safety should
immediately notify FMCSA. The agency
will evaluate any adverse evidence
submitted and, if safety is being
compromised or if continuation of the
exemption would not be consistent with
the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C.
31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA will take
immediate steps to revoke the
exemption of a driver.
Issued on: December 28, 2005.
Larry W. Minor,
Director, Office of Bus and Truck Standards
and Operations.
[FR Doc. E5–8304 Filed 1–4–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
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17:06 Jan 04, 2006
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Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA–2005–23198]
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of workshop.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: PHMSA and the National
Association of Pipeline Safety
Representatives (NAPSR) are hosting
this workshop to address pipeline safety
issues with mechanical damage. Several
pipeline industry trade associations are
participating in the development of the
workshop agenda. Mechanical damage
from third party intrusion and latent
defects caused during pipeline
construction remains a leading cause of
major incidents. This workshop will
provide a forum to share information on
mechanical damage among pipeline
operators, state agencies, technical
experts, and the public. Participants
will discuss and learn about prevention,
detection, and characterization
technologies for mechanical damage.
This information will aid PHMSA in
coordinating actions to address the
problems mechanical damage poses in
operating natural gas and hazardous
liquid pipelines.
DATES: PHMSA will hold the meeting on
Tuesday, February 28, 2006, from 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, March 1,
2006, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: PHMSA will hold the
meeting at the Houston Marriott
Westchase, 2900 Briar Park Drive,
Houston, Texas 77042. The telephone
number for hotel reservations is (713)
978–7400 or 1–(800) 452–5110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please contact Robert Smith at (202)
366–3814, or robert.w.smith@dot.gov,
regarding the subject matter of this
notice. For information regarding hotel
accommodations for individuals with
disabilities, please contact the hotel staff
at (713) 978–7400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Who Should Attend: PHMSA urges
Federal and State pipeline safety
regulators and operators of natural gas
transmission and distribution, and
hazardous liquid pipelines to attend.
Workshop attendees will discuss and
see existing and future technology used
to prevent, detect and characterize
mechanical damage.
Registration with PHMSA: To
facilitate meeting planning, advance
PO 00000
Frm 00068
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
647
registration is strongly encouraged.
Please visit the Meeting Registration and
Document Commenting webpage
(https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/)
where PHMSA will post details about
the meeting.
Hotel Registration: PHMSA has
reserved a room rate of $92.00 per night
for the first 100 reservations for both
Monday, February 27 and Tuesday,
February 28, 2006. Mention the
Department of Transportation/PHMSA
or the Mechanical Damage Technical
Workshop when speaking with the
hotel. The hotel must receive
reservations by attendees on or before,
February 13, 2006.
Background: PHMSA and NAPSR are
hosting this workshop to address
pipeline safety issues with mechanical
damage. Several pipeline industry trade
associations are participating in the
development of the workshop agenda.
The participating trade associations are
the American Gas Association,
Association of Oil Pipe Lines, American
Public Gas Association, American
Petroleum Institute, Common Ground
Alliance, Interstate Natural Gas
Association of America, In Line
Inspection Association and the Pipeline
Research Council International. The
results of this workshop and the
information shared will further research
on mechanical damage and document
the state of current damage prevention,
detection and characterization
technology.
Mechanical damage from third party
intrusion and latent defects caused
during pipeline construction remains a
leading cause of major pipeline
incidents. Mechanical damage defect
types are commonly identified as
denting, metal loss, metal deformation,
and cracking. Several existing
technologies are in practice to prevent,
detect and characterize damage to
pipelines. Regulators, operators, and
commercial vendors have varying levels
of confidence in these technologies.
Several organizations fund or conduct
research addressing mechanical damage
technology. Organizations developing
mutual technology goals will lead to
aligning resources, better synergy, and
better dissemination of information
about new technologies. This will
promote pipeline safety across the
industry. The workshop aims to identify
confidence levels with existing
technologies, build research synergy,
and gauge the state of our efforts to
address mechanical damage.
E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM
05JAN1
648
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 3 / Thursday, January 5, 2006 / Notices
Issued in Washington, DC, on December
30, 2005.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 06–78 Filed 1–4–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA–2004–19857]
Pipeline Safety: Public Meeting on
Operator Qualifications
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), Department of Transportation
(DOT).
ACTION: Notice of availability of
materials from public meeting; request
for comments.
cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of materials, including a
revised concept paper, presented at the
public meeting on operator qualification
programs on December 15, 2005.
PHMSA is preparing a report to
Congress on the status and results of
these programs to ensure the
qualifications of individuals performing
safety tasks on pipelines. Participants at
the meeting discussed progress on
operator qualification programs to help
PHMSA prepare the report to Congress.
Participants also discussed the potential
for strengthening operator qualification
programs. PHMSA requests public
comment on these matters.
DATES: Submit comments on the
progress on operator qualification
programs by January 20, 2006. Submit
comments on the potential for
strengthening operator qualification
programs by February 10, 2006.
ADDRESSES: 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 PHMSA–2004–19857.
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
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:06 Jan 04, 2006
Jkt 208001
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Betsock at (202) 366–4361 or
Barbara.Betsock@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of
2002 directs PHMSA to file a report to
Congress on the status and results of the
operator qualification programs by
December 17, 2006. To complete this
report on time, PHMSA requests
comments on the progress of these
programs.
In addition, PHMSA is considering
additional action to strengthen operator
qualification programs. PHMSA
announced the December 15, 2005,
public meeting in a Federal Register
notice on October 28, 2005 (70 FR
62161). Before the meeting, PHMSA
posted a concept paper on its Web page
(https://ops.dot.gov). Based on
discussions during the public meeting
and during a meeting of PHMSA’s
pipeline safety advisory committees on
December 13, 2005, PHMSA posted a
revised concept paper. PHMSA requests
comments on the approach to
strengthening operator qualification
programs outlined in this revised
concept paper.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December
29, 2005.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 05–24703 Filed 12–30–05; 11:24
am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Departmental Offices; Interim
Guidance Concerning the Terrorism
Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005
Departmental Offices,
Department of the Treasury.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice provides interim
guidance to insurers, policyholders,
state insurance regulators and the public
concerning recent statutory
amendments to the Terrorism Risk
Insurance Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–297,
116 Stat. 2322). In particular, this notice
provides interim guidance on the types
of commercial property and casualty
insurance covered by the Act, the
requirements to satisfy the Act’s
mandatory availability (‘‘make
PO 00000
Frm 00069
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
available’’) provision and on the
operation of the new ‘‘Program Trigger’’
provision in section 103(e)(1)(B) of the
Act.
DATES: This notice is effective
immediately and will remain in effect
until superceded by regulations or by
subsequent notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Howard Leikin, Deputy Director,
Terrorism Risk Insurance Program or
David J. Brummond, Legal Counsel,
Terrorism Risk Insurance Program (202–
622–6770).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice provides interim guidance to
assist insurers and policyholders in
understanding certain requirements of
the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of
2002 as amended by the Terrorism Risk
Insurance Extension Act of 2005 (Pub.
L. 109–144, 119 Stat. 2660) pending the
issuance of regulations by the
Department of the Treasury. The interim
guidance contained in this notice may
be relied upon by insurers in complying
with these statutory requirements prior
to the issuance of regulations, but is not
the exclusive means of compliance. This
interim guidance remains in effect until
superceded by regulations or
subsequent notice.
I. Background
On November 26, 2002, the President
signed into law the Terrorism Risk
Insurance Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–297)
(TRIA or the Act). The Act became
effective immediately. It established a
temporary Terrorism Risk Insurance
Program (TRIP or the Program) of shared
public and private compensation for
insured commercial property and
casualty losses resulting from an act of
terrorism, as defined in the Act. The Act
was scheduled to expire on December
31, 2005.
On December 22, 2005, the President
signed into law the Terrorism Risk
Insurance Extension Act of 2005
(Extension Act), which extends TRIA
through December 31, 2007. In doing so,
the Extension Act adds Program Year 4
(January 1–December 31, 2006) and
Program Year 5 (January 1–December
31, 2007) to the Program. In addition,
the Extension Act made other
significant changes to TRIA that
include:
• A revised definition of ‘‘Insurer
Deductible’’ that adds new Program
Years 4 and 5 to the definition. The
insurer deductible is set as the value of
an insurer’s direct earned premium for
commercial property and casualty
insurance (as now defined in the Act)
over the immediately preceding
calendar year multiplied by 17.5 percent
E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM
05JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 647-648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-78]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2005-23198]
Pipeline Safety: Mechanical Damage Technical Workshop
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
DOT.
ACTION: Notice of workshop.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: PHMSA and the National Association of Pipeline Safety
Representatives (NAPSR) are hosting this workshop to address pipeline
safety issues with mechanical damage. Several pipeline industry trade
associations are participating in the development of the workshop
agenda. Mechanical damage from third party intrusion and latent defects
caused during pipeline construction remains a leading cause of major
incidents. This workshop will provide a forum to share information on
mechanical damage among pipeline operators, state agencies, technical
experts, and the public. Participants will discuss and learn about
prevention, detection, and characterization technologies for mechanical
damage. This information will aid PHMSA in coordinating actions to
address the problems mechanical damage poses in operating natural gas
and hazardous liquid pipelines.
DATES: PHMSA will hold the meeting on Tuesday, February 28, 2006, from
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, March 1, 2006, from 9 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
ADDRESSES: PHMSA will hold the meeting at the Houston Marriott
Westchase, 2900 Briar Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77042. The telephone
number for hotel reservations is (713) 978-7400 or 1-(800) 452-5110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Robert Smith at (202)
366-3814, or robert.w.smith@dot.gov, regarding the subject matter of
this notice. For information regarding hotel accommodations for
individuals with disabilities, please contact the hotel staff at (713)
978-7400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Who Should Attend: PHMSA urges Federal and State pipeline safety
regulators and operators of natural gas transmission and distribution,
and hazardous liquid pipelines to attend. Workshop attendees will
discuss and see existing and future technology used to prevent, detect
and characterize mechanical damage.
Registration with PHMSA: To facilitate meeting planning, advance
registration is strongly encouraged. Please visit the Meeting
Registration and Document Commenting webpage (https://
primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/) where PHMSA will post details about the
meeting.
Hotel Registration: PHMSA has reserved a room rate of $92.00 per
night for the first 100 reservations for both Monday, February 27 and
Tuesday, February 28, 2006. Mention the Department of Transportation/
PHMSA or the Mechanical Damage Technical Workshop when speaking with
the hotel. The hotel must receive reservations by attendees on or
before, February 13, 2006.
Background: PHMSA and NAPSR are hosting this workshop to address
pipeline safety issues with mechanical damage. Several pipeline
industry trade associations are participating in the development of the
workshop agenda. The participating trade associations are the American
Gas Association, Association of Oil Pipe Lines, American Public Gas
Association, American Petroleum Institute, Common Ground Alliance,
Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, In Line Inspection
Association and the Pipeline Research Council International. The
results of this workshop and the information shared will further
research on mechanical damage and document the state of current damage
prevention, detection and characterization technology.
Mechanical damage from third party intrusion and latent defects
caused during pipeline construction remains a leading cause of major
pipeline incidents. Mechanical damage defect types are commonly
identified as denting, metal loss, metal deformation, and cracking.
Several existing technologies are in practice to prevent, detect and
characterize damage to pipelines. Regulators, operators, and commercial
vendors have varying levels of confidence in these technologies.
Several organizations fund or conduct research addressing mechanical
damage technology. Organizations developing mutual technology goals
will lead to aligning resources, better synergy, and better
dissemination of information about new technologies. This will promote
pipeline safety across the industry. The workshop aims to identify
confidence levels with existing technologies, build research synergy,
and gauge the state of our efforts to address mechanical damage.
[[Page 648]]
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 30, 2005.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 06-78 Filed 1-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
