A March 17 celebration party hosted by PHMSA was a tribute to the hard work and effort of all PHMSA employees who made the past year one filled with numerous accomplishments for the new agency.

“The PHMSA team can be justifiably proud of its accomplishments during your first year,” said Transportation Secretary Mineta. “Your strong commitment to public service was evident in PHMSA meeting several emergent requirements during the Gulf Coast hurricanes and in advancing the passage of the Hazardous Materials Safety and Security Reauthorization Act.”

February 20 marked the actual one-year anniversary date of the establishment of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The main outcome of the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act, signed into law by President Bush in November 2004, was the creation of PHMSA to further the highest degree of safety in both pipeline and hazardous materials transportation.

Select "From The Acting Administratior"
for more about PHMSA's first year.

[PHOTO: Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (center) helps cut the PHMSA anniversary cake.]

[PHOTO: Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta congratulates PHMSA Acting Administrator Brigham McCown on an outstanding first year as PHMSA Acting Assistant Administrator Stacey Gerard looks on (inset photo). Secretary Mineta thanks PHMSA employees for their many accomplishments (photo above).]

Hearing Highlights Progress in Pipeline Safety

PHMSA Acting Administrator Brigham McCown and Acting Chief Safety Officer and Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety Stacey Gerard appeared on Capitol Hill March 16 before the Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines. The hearing’s focus was on progress reported on over a dozen statutory mandates stipulated by Congress in the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. The overriding message was we are achieving results.

The status of Congressional mandates included actions on establishing integrity management programs for gas pipelines, pipeline operator qualification programs, a one-call notification program, public education compliance, a five-year research and development plan, risk analysis and inspections by direct assessment, and enforcement procedure changes.

McCown said PHMSA is fulfilling its plan to improve the safety, reliability and environmental performance of the nation’s energy transportation pipeline network.

When comparing progress made in the area of pipeline safety during years 20012005 versus the previous five-year period of 1996-2000, the agency reported an 18 percent decrease in the rate of hazardous liquid pipeline incidents. In a previous 10-year average starting from 2005, the volume of significant oil spills decreased and the volume of net spills were reduced.

Also reported was a decrease in pipeline excavation-related accidents over the past 10 years by an astounding 59 percent. This was due largely to the expanded partnerships with State pipeline safety agencies and the more than 900 volunteer members of the Common Ground Alliance with their damage prevention activities.

Third-party damage to pipelines is the leading cause of accidents and incidents and logically would require the lion’s share of concern and effort. Improved public awareness tied to the pipeline safety communications programs of various stakeholders enables shared responsibility in improving safety. "By ‘going local’ we are better able to affect pipeline safety where it matters most–in the neighborhoods where our nation’s citizens work, plan and live," said McCown. The drum beat for PHMSA’s implementation of a pipeline safety plan included sharing responsibility, managing risk, effective stewardship, and responding to the mandates identified by Congress in the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002.

[PHOTO: Acting Administrator, Brigham McCown]

We’ve come a long way in one year, literally and figuratively. Molding together legacy offices normally requires time, yet in PHMSA’s case, this transition has brought out the best in our programs in record time. The promise of Secretary Mineta’s vision for a stand-alone agency dedicated to the safe transportation of hazardous materials by all modes of transportation is now a reality. The contribution by PHMSA in safeguarding our transportation infrastructure, citizens and environment is already significant and lasting. The agency has achieved more in its first year than anyone, including me, would have expected.

As previously reported, PHMSA was no sooner created when it was immediately called upon to respond to several significant and unprecedented national emergencies with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. The agency was also front and center during surface transportation re-authorization and now the agency is busily preparing for reauthorization of its pipeline safety programs.

Today, people largely understand that we safeguard the movement of approximately one million daily shipments of hazardous materials, and people know we are also responsible for overseeing the safe transportation through our pipelines of over 64% of the nation’s energy supplies consumed each year. What people may not realize however is that PHMSA oversees our “energy highways” and the transportation of hazmat with fewer than 400 federal employees. As the second smallest agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, I like to say, “PHMSA is the little agency that can” when it comes to tough challenges. Our ability to plan strategically, and pivot quickly in response to any tasking is a testament to the dedicated employees who make PHMSA what it is. Whether in research, regulations, admin, or out in the field serving on the front lines, we are successful because of our employees. It is often said employees are the heart of any entity, and it is true our employees are also our most valuable commodity. Our human capital plan remains a top priority and as we move forward in planning our future, we must retain the ability to keep and recruit the best and brightest employees who have heard the call to public service.

We had a lot of good ideas surface during the recent senior staff retreat. In the coming months we will be moving forward with taking a closer look at those suggestions and will be forming cooperative teams to consider better ways to operate. Some excellent ideas and suggestions have been raised on many issues and, we will see if there are ways to improve our data, response, and rulemakings. As we enter our second year, we will continue to be flexible, think outside of the box, and view potential problems as challenges to be solved in partnership with all of our stakeholders.

It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve as PHMSA’s first Deputy Administrator and as the agency’s first Acting Administrator and I look forward to working together with you to address the opportunities we will see during the upcoming year.

In an effective relationship, parties listen to understand others’ positions and feelings. The simplest way to understand what is important to another person or to a group is to ask, then listen to the answer. We all know when someone else is really interested in us. The other person is attentive, does not interrupt, does not fidget and does not speak about him or herself. This gives us time to think and feel accepted, rather than be judged. Listening leads to understanding; if you understand someone else fully, then you know what to do to get closer and work better together.

For calendar year 2005, PHMSA closed a total of 392 hazardous materials civil penalty cases and collected $1,807,789 in penalties. It is the task of PHMSA’s inspection and enforcement staff to improve compliance with the safety and training standards of the Hazardous Materials Regulations by inspecting companies and individuals who offer hazardous materials for transportation or who manufacture, maintain, repair, recondition or test packages authorized for transporting hazardous materials. On February 17, PHMSA revised its regulations to reflect revisions to the civil and criminal penalties in the Hazardous Materials Safety and Security Reauthorization Act. Also revised were baseline assessments for violations related to training and security plans. The revised regulations reflect the following statutory changes:

(1) The maximum civil penalty was increased from $32,500 to $50,000 for a knowing violation, and up to $100,000 if the violation results in death, serious illness or severe injury to any person, or substantial destruction of property.

(2) The minimum civil penalty went from $275 to $250, except a minimum civil penalty of $450 applies to a violation related to training.

(3) Criminal penalties now apply to both reckless and willful violations of Federal hazmat transportation law or the regulations, orders, special permits, and approvals issued.

(4) The maximum criminal penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for an individual and $500,000 for a corporation was retained, except the maximum time of imprisonment has been increased to 10 years in any case in which the violation involves the release of a hazmat which results in death or bodily injury to a person.

[PHOTO: Stacey Gerard PHMSA Acting Assistant Administrator and Chief Safety Officer.]

PHMSA’s own Stacey Gerard, acting assistant administrator and chief safety officer, was honored by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) as one of only two “Hall of Fame” recipients during their annual meeting March 14 in Phoenix, Ariz. Gerard was nominated for her contribution to the development of the CGA and ongoing dedication to shared responsibility in damage prevention.

Long a strong proponent of expanding stakeholder partnerships, Gerard continued efforts to improve public awareness of underground utilities like pipelines and reduce third-party damage due to excavations is exemplary

“Many speakers noted with admiration the work of DOT to advance the important work of preventing damage to our nation’s underground lifelines,” said Jeff Wiese, program development director for the Office of Pipeline Safety.

The CGA is an association dedicated to ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of services by promoting effective damage prevention practices and sponsored by DOT/PHMSA.

Hurricane Contracting Information Center (HCIC).

“The [HCIC] website is extremely well organized and full of useful information…. We are extremely pleased with the courteous and rapid response to our inquiries. We were also most impressed with the knowledge and helpfulness of the contracting representatives staffing the phone service. In our opinion, this website and phone service would be outstanding tools for those companies that wish to participate in hurricane related federal contracting opportunities.”

Jason Brady, A-B Computer Solutions

The deadly hurricanes of last year have come and gone, but the call for volunteers to assist those in need still goes on. Robyn Zellars, a PHMSA contract specialist, recently completed a six-week assignment to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s

While there, Zellars performed outreach information services to the states of Alabama and Texas. These services included working with the Minority Business Resource Center, Small Business Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state congressional offices of U.S. Representative Jo Bonner of Alabama and U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas. Her efforts helped to pool Federal resources and assist small businesses identify a wide variety of contracting opportunities for debris and tree removal, trailer hauling, and construction in the affected Gulf Coast region.

“This was a very fulfilling detail for me in that I felt that as a result of my efforts, that I actually made a difference in being able to contribute to the reconstruction efforts in the Gulf Coast,” said Zellars.

The HCIC was established in 2005 by the Department of Commerce in response to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The HCIC provides information to businesses interested in assisting in the recovery process, particularly minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises seeking business opportunities within the Federal government. Since this is a government-wide effort, many Federal agencies support the HCIC in terms of a voluntary detail not to exceed eight weeks. While the HCIC does not award contracts, its mission is to ensure that businesses understand the process and are aware when
opportunities become available.

Jason Brady, President of A-B Computer Solutions wrote a letter to President George W. Bush praising the HCIC website and staff.

Moving towards achieving “Green” status on the President’s Management Agenda scorecard for E-Government, PHMSA is on track to post and receive applications for all of its discretionary grant opportunities on the Grants.Gov web site in fiscal year 2006.

Laura Birkhimer of PHMSA’s Office of Contracts and Procurement manages the grants program that processes 150 total grants annually for both the Office of Pipeline Safety and the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety. Most of PHMSA grants are awarded to State agencies, and Native American Tribes.

Grants.Gov was developed by the Federal Government at the request of grantee organizations such as private and state universities, and state governments as the single access point for over 1,000 grant programs offered by all Federal grant-making agencies.

This web portal includes grants from 26 Federal agencies with an annual value of more than $400 billion. It enables Federal grantors and grant recipients to come together to make grants management easier and more efficient for everyone through a common web site, www.grants.gov.

Within U.S. DOT, the Grants.Gov initiative is co-managed by the Office of the Chief Information Officer and the Office of the Senior Procurement Executive.

[PHOTO: Leak City]

A new pipeline training center owned and operated by the City of Athens, Ala., made its debut the week of March 13 and was host to PHMSA’s General Pipeline Safety Awareness Course. The new training facility known as “Leak City” was specifically designed and developed over a 5-year period to comply with pipeline operator qualification requirements and includes outdoor areas for training on welding and plastic fusion.

Pipeline operators and regulators alike will be trained on safety issues at the new facility. The 5,000 square foot main training building is comprised of two innovative classrooms, a breakout area, an equipment storage area, a kitchen, and
reception area.

The $1M compound provides a testing area for leak surveys and a customer leak complaint facility. An entire system approach recreates everything from a town gas distribution station to customer meter facilities on the site. All tasks and training are in a controlled environment that allows the instructor to evaluate reactions to simulated accidents and incidents, as well as knowledge and skills. Training in covered pipeline tasks includes corrosion control, leak detection, maintenance, damage prevention, emergency response, system dispatch and numerous other topics.

It is planned for the facility to be self-supportive by recouping costs through individual training fees and use by the local Athens Gas Utility. As a result, gas customers will assume no additional costs and they will have access to a premier training site.

Emergency Special Permit Issued to Iditarod Trail Committee

[PHOTO: Iditarod dog team race to finish line.]

Who knew that PHMSA played a supporting role in a dog race? On February 17 PHMSA, with FAA concurrence, issued a hazardous materials special permit to the Iditarod Trail Committee to allow the pre-positioning of heating fuel supplies by air along the route of this year’s Iditarod trail sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. The special permit was necessary because the material was not properly prepared and labeled for air transport.

For those curious sports enthusiasts, the 2006 Iditarod race covered over 1,150 miles of the most extreme and beautiful terrain known to man. The race winner this year crossed the finish line in 9 days, 11 hours, 11 minutes and 36 seconds.

The PHMSA Hazardous Materials Special Permits Program serves a critical role in the transportation of goods and services to, from, and within the United States. The program provides an often necessary alternative to the long standing Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR).

For almost a century, special permits have been granted for numerous requests covering issues including material classification and description, packaging, hazard communication, quantity limitations, and modal restrictions. The program also fosters new and innovative technologies that are not yet addressedby the HMR.

The program has often been called upon to serve as the only transportation option for many high profile events including the transport of the Olympic flame, national recovery and relief support for hurricane and flood disasters, and prevention of severe economic loss.

In recent years the program provided the only method for the emergency transportation of anthrax contaminated objects in the months following September 11, 2001. The program also provided for the rapid deployment of U.S. Armed forces for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

The program also grants regulatory relief for countless requests for alternative safety provisions that permit transportation alternatives providing extensive economic savings. One such permit provides an alternative transportation method of perfume alcohols for more than 200 active grantees. The annual cost benefit for this special permit alone exceeds $500 million.

[PHOTO: Meeting with Japan's Hitachi Research Institute]

On March 23, representatives from several PHMSA hazardous materials offices (right) met with Mr. Takao Mizuno and his interpreter, Ms. Yoko Mizutani (left), of Japan’s Hitachi Research Institute (HRI), a leading Japanese think tank. HRI is working on behalf of the Japanese government to better understand PHMSA’s Hazardous Materials Safety Program, with a particular interest in U.S. Hazardous Materials Regulations versus international standards for the transport of dangerous goods.

Pipeline operators will soon have at their disposal a fast, efficient, and accurate tool for detecting and mapping natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline leaks. With the support of PHMSA and the U.S. Air Force, LaSen Inc. of Las Cruces, New Mexico, has proved its commercial viability through its recent development of an airborne light detection and ranging pipeline inspection system.

LaSen Inc. announced on March 25 that the company successfully completed over 2,000 miles of pipeline inspections proving the ability of ALPIS to detect the smallest natural gas leaks from a helicopter cruising at 250 feet above the ground at up to 70 mph.

AlPIS uses a cutting edge laser technology to detect and quantify the presence of methane and other hydrocarbons in the air. Unlike other airborne and ground-based leak detectors, the laser senses gas from a distance and the sensor itself does not have to pass through the plume in order to detect it.

ALPIS also features a suite of auxiliary sensors such as GPS and a digital imaging camera. This enables ALPIS to provide datasets that can be overlaid on digital alignment sheets, combined with a visual image of the pipeline’s right-of-way.

This new technology is exactly what natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators need to identify where leaks are occurring along their pipelines in order to lower the risks the pipelines pose to people and the environment. Current methods of locating natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline leaks can be cumbersome, expensive, and are not always accurate.

[PHOTO: Jason Williams]

There are interns among us! Be it current interns working special projects part-time, or full-time employees who started out as a summer interns and transitioned to regular government service, PHMSA is reaping the benefits of several intern programs. In fact, PHMSA uses a mix of intern programs to augment its workforce. These programs include the Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Student Summer Internship Program, Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP), Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), Student Volunteers, and the President’s Management Fellows. One PHMSA intern success story is that of Jason Williams. During the summer of his freshman year at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Fla., Williams applied to the MSI intern program.

After a rewarding summer working a hazardous materials cost-incident study for the Hazardous Materials Planning and Analysis Office,Williams was offered the option of continuing on as a SCEP student. As a SCEP student , he worked an average of 15-25 hours a week in the hazmat office while still carrying a full college course load. The co-operative assistant position also offered the added benefit of his work at DOT applying toward college credits in a degree program.

“The intern program helped me get a step in the door into government service,” said Williams.

In February 2004, Williams’ excellent work record as a student Co-Op in the PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Enforcement landed him a job offer as a full-time government employee as a DOT hazardous materials enforcement specialist.

“I always wanted a job where I can travel,” Williams said. “The intern program is an interesting career path to take. It has been an interesting journey so far!”

Current SCEPs and permanently converted SCEPs include: Kelcey White, Jacqueline Herrera, Brian Moore, Belinda Perez, Jose Mondragon, Erika Jones, William Fuentevilla, Iman Watson, Glen Vierk, Eric Hilton, T’mia Vines, Chevella Smith, Emil Pagoaga, and Lamar Porter.

“My view of the PHMSA student program is as a catalyst to transform the culture and management of PHMSA from a ‘fixer’ mentality to that of a ‘grower’,” said PHMSA Human Resource Specialist Lamar Porter.

For more information on the intern programs contact Lamar Porter in the Office of Human Resources Management at telephone extension 6-8990.

Sgt. 1st Class Stollberg

[PHOTO: Sgt. 1st Class Norman Stollberg (right) receives a DOT commemorative coin from Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (left) as Cdr. Joanna Nunan, USCG, Military Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation looks on.]

[PHOTO: Sgt. James Risinger (above) takes a break during his most recent deployment to Iraq.]

On December 12, Sergeant First Class Norman T. Stollberg, USA, became the second of three military members to accept temporary additional duty within PHMSA under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Operation War Fighter program.

Stollberg works part-time in PHMSA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Initiatives and Training as a hazardous materials specialist assisting in the production of training modules for the mobile hazmat training teams.

“The program gives us an opportunity to obtain specialized staff support while providing an opportunity to Norman to enhance his knowledge and learn new ways to use his skills,” said Dave Sargent, director of the PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Initiatives and Training.

On February 17, Stollberg successfully completed the Transportation Safety Institute’s Hazardous Materials Compliance and Enforcement Course offered at DOT, thus adding to his hazmat qualifications.

Operation War Fighter allows convalescing soldiers to work temporarily with other Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area that could use their expertise. Many of these military members have physical therapy or other medical appointments only for small portions of the day or week, leaving lots of free time between treatments.

Born in Michigan and raised in Phenix City, Alabama, Stollberg moved around a lot as the son of an army soldier. His wife, Manuela, maintains their home in Aschaffenberg, Germany, and cares for their two children, Michael, age two, and Megan, age 15.

In 2003, Stollberg’s military unit, the 59th Quartermaster Company of the 68th Combat Service Support Battalion was mobilized to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His unit was part of the forward logistics element that supported the initial invasion of Iraq and built the largest fuel supply depot in army history.

Stollberg is designated as a petroleum supply specialist and was his unit’s fuel operations sergeant while in Iraq. With little warning, he was medically evacuated for thyroid problems in December 2004 and eventually forwarded to Walter Reed Army Hospital for treatment and evaluation. Stollberg was awarded the Bronze Star for outstanding logistics support during his tour of duty in Iraq.

Sgt. Risinger

On February 28, Sgt. James L. Risinger joined PHMSA’s Office of International Standards after being detailed as part of the U.S. Army’s Operation War Fighter Program. While assigned to PHMSA, Risinger will assist with special projects tasked by Duane Pfund in the International Standards Office. With a hazardous materials background, Risinger deployed January 2005 to Camp Cooke, in Taji, Iraq, as a CH-47 “Chinook” helicopter crew chief and explosive ordnance disposal technician. He was injured in October 2005 and sent to Walter Reed Army Hospital to recuperate.

Risinger is no stranger to war. He was deployed to Afghanistan from December 2001 to June 2002 in the global war on terrorism. He followed this up with a second deployment, this time to Iraq, from February to October 2003.

When asked what the highlight of his military career has been so far, Risinger responded that deploying to Afghanistan and meeting both the Secretary and Sergeant Major of the Army were the biggest thrills for him.

Originally from Nacogdoches, Texas, Risinger had aspirations of becoming a professional bull rider out of high school. After realizing how much it hurt riding bulls he changed his mind and joined the Army in 1994 and was off to basic training and airborne school.

“WOW, what a life, being paid to jump from planes, take apart bombs and crew on helicopters,” said Risinger of his career choice.

[PHOTO: NEW DOT Headquarters 2003 Construction]

[PHOTO: NEW DOT Headquarters 2006 Construction]

These pictures show the progress in construction of the new U.S. DOT headquarters building over the last three years. Construction is on schedule. In an effort to support the clean-up of offices, OST will soon provide new yellow trash bins specifically for record and file disposal. Please contact Edward Alexander, PHMSA’s Record Analyst, at extension 6-5573 for additional information about coordinating delivery and pick-up of trash bins. The construction website is a useful source for update information at http://www.jdland.com/dc/dot.cfm.

Quality Step Increase for Outstanding Performance (Supervisory)
Rating Period 9/30/05

Patricia Burke, PHC
Joy Kadnar, PHP
Roger Little, PHP
Joseph Solomey, PHC

Performance Award for Outstanding Performance (Supervisory)
Rating Period 9/30/05

Joseph Ahern, PHC
Jack Albright, PHA
John Gale, PHH
William Gute, PHP

Award for Outstanding Performance (Supervisory)
Rating Period 9/30/05

Billy Hines, PHH
Thomas Kiddy, PHH
Patricia Klinger, PHG
David Lehman, PHH
Edward Mazzullo, PHH
Ryan Posten, PHH
Douglas Reeves, PHH
Linda Rhoads, PHA
Robert Richard, PHH
David Sargent, PHH
Richard Sanders, PHP
Jeffrey Wiese, PHP

Other Performance Awards (Supervisory)
Rating Period 9/30/05

Colleen Abbenhaus, PHH
Delmer Billings, PHH
Kevin Boehne, PHH
Richard Boyle, PHH
Linda Daugherty, PHP
Daniel Derwey, PHH
Richard Hannon, PHH
John Heneghan, PHH
Charles Hochman, PHH
Christopher Hoidal, PHP
Ivan Huntoon, PHP
Charles Ke, PHH
Ray LaMagdelaine, PHH
Hattie Mitchell, PHH

Special Act Awards

Harlotte Bolden, PHP
Benjamin Fred, PHC
Lucian “Buck” Furrow, PHP
Maria Wodraska, PHC

Time Off Awards

Blaine Keener, PHP

CFC Keyworkers:

Bernadyne Williams, PHP
Richard Flint, PHP
Frank Licari, PHP
Kevin Leary, PHH
Fred Ferate, PHH
Marilyn Burke, PHH
Diane Jones, PHH
Ron Strayhorne, PHH
Vincent Lopez, PHC
Blenda Perez, PHA
Charles Turner, PHA
Damon Hill, PHG

Pipeline Safety

Zara Willis, Administrative ProgramSpec.
Alan Mayberry, General Engineer
David Eng, General Engineer (Inspector)

Hazardous Materials Safety

Susan Anderson,Transportation Spec. (Training & Special Initatives)
Wayne Chaney, Transportation Spec. (Enforcement)
Michelle Glode, Operations Research Analyst

Ruby Thompson, Human Resources Spec.

[LOGO PHMSA FOCUS]
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration

Office of Governmental, International
& Public Affairs
400 Seventh Street SW, Suite 8406
Washington, DC 20590
Phone: (202) 366-4831 Fax: (202) 366-7431

PHMSA Acting Administrator
Brigham A. McCown

Editor-in-Chief G. J. Delcambre
gordon.delcambre@dot.gov

Editor/Design Ruben Ingram
ruben.ingram@dot.gov

Reporter Damon Hill
damon.hill@dot.gov

Photographer Jerre Thomas
jerre.thomas@dot.gov

On January 11, Bob Richard was appointed as the new Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety. With over 20 years of experience in the field of hazardous materials safety, Bob transitioned from his position as the Director of the Office of Hazardous Materials International Standards where he worked with government and industry transportation experts throughout the world to develop and implement hazardous materials safety regulations for all modes of transportation.

Research & Development Peer Reviews

From February 7-9, the PHMSA Pipeline Safety Research & Development Program held its first structured peer review of 31 active research projects. The panelists for the peer review consisted of nine government and industry experts. The reviews are in accordance with mandates to establish the relevance, quality, and performance of the PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety R&D Program as required by the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the Secretary of Transportation. Another first for the program was conducting the entire peer review via teleconference and internet access which worked flawlessly and saved PHMSA over $100,000 in travel, per diem, and other related costs.