The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), recently issued a safety advisory informing the traveling public and airline employees about the importance of properly packing and handling batteries, and battery-powered devices, carried aboard aircraft. DOT does not intend to restrict the flying public from carrying their electronic devices with them on aircraft.

The advisory follows a February 10, 2007, fire aboard a passenger aircraft. Preliminary reports indicate the February 10 fire involved batteries placed in a passenger’s carry-on baggage. The bag had been stowed in an overhead compartment and ignited shortly after departure. The cabin crew responded quickly, extinguishing the fire while the pilot made a safe emergency landing at JFK International Airport. PHMSA, FAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are still investigating the root cause of the incident.

“We’re determined to keep America’s airlines the safest in the world,” said PHMSA Chief Safety Officer and Assistant Administrator Stacey L. Gerard. “Airline passengers can help us do that by following simple precautions in packing and handling their batteries and battery-powered equipment.”

It outlines six specific recommendations for the safe handling of battery-powered devices and spare batteries by airline passengers.

[Image: Safe Travel Flyer Brochure]

Passengers are advised to keep spare batteries in their original packaging to prevent short-circuiting. Covering the battery terminals with insulating tape or placing each battery in a sturdy, resealable plastic bag is an effective alternative when the original packaging is not available. Passengers are advised to place all batteries in carry-on baggage rather than checked baggage. Overheating and other conditions that can lead to fire are easier to detect and respond to in the passenger cabin.

The advisory reminds airline passengers and crew they can safely carry electronic devices with installed batteries, such as cellular phones, cameras, portable digital assistants, entertainment devices and medical equipment. The publication of this safety advisory is the first of several actions PHMSA is taking, in consultation with FAA, NHTSA, the NTSB, manufacturers of batteries and consumer products, airlines, and others, to respond to battery-related incidents. For more information, see PHMSA’s Safety Advisory published in the Federal Register or visit the DOT web site link:
http://safetravel.dot.gov.

On February 22, President George W. Bush announced his intent to designate Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett as the Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Admiral Barrett will have the dual responsibility of serving as Acting Deputy Secretary while continuing his duties as PHMSA Administrator. Barrett began his new responsibilities as Acting Deputy Transportation Secretary on March 5.

“I appreciate Admiral Barrett’s willingness to take on this new task. I thank him for his dedication to service, and I congratulate him,” stated Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters.

[PHOTO: Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters and Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation Thomas Barrett during a meeting with PHMSA employees.]

[PHOTO: Secretary Peters, Administrator Barrett, and PHMSA Human Resources Specialist Lisa Kleiner in conference call with teleworkers.]

A lot of good is happening thanks to your efforts.

We have been meeting with and speaking to many stakeholder groups to reinforce our “enterprise” approach for addressing important hazmat and pipeline issues. Enterprise work is foundational to our data-driven, transparent, system risk management. We want every interested party involved early to identify and work issues forward in an effective manner. The “enterprise” term is gaining increasing traction as a way to describe separate interests united for a common purpose with specific outcomes in mind.

In February, we “enterprised” with the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, battery and electronics manufacturers, air carriers, airline labor organizations, and emergency responders to help educate the public on the importance of following simple safety precautions when carrying lithium batteries and lithium battery-powered devices like laptop computers and cell phones onboard aircraft. PHMSA’s Office of Hazardous Materials did an outstanding job to begin addressing this serious safety concern. One positive side benefit is a new web site that may be helpful for issues besides lithium batteries.

On May 1, Secretary Peters and Congressional representatives plan to be on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. with the Common Ground Alliance for the kick off of their 8-1-1 One Call Before You Dig campaign. Third party damage to pipelines is on the rise and is preventable; this is an important initiative to stem the tide. Thanks to the Office of Pipeline Safety for their tireless efforts with the Common Ground Alliance to bring this about.

Alternative Energy and Energy Independence are important issues for us as an Agency and for our Nation. President Bush recently set a goal of reducing America’s gasoline consumption by 20 percent over the next 10 years. Achieving this goal requires progress on multiple fronts: we must reform fuel economy standards for cars, better harness technology to increase safe use of alternative fuels like hydrogen and ethanol and improve battery technology for vehicles. To expand ethanol use and make a hydrogen economy more feasible, PHMSA is collaborating on standards development, including improvements in the design, construction and testing of pipelines and high pressure containers to ensure their fuels can be carried safely. Other PHMSA innovations already underway are producing terrific energy benefits; for example, work done by Pipeline Safety to increase the maximum operating pressure for certain gas transmission pipelines is improving gas supply and reliability for the Northeast and elsewhere across the country. The public gets both improved supply and improved safety.

There are other compelling issues on our scope, from promptly implementing the PIPES Act, continuing to address NTSB recommendations, and improving our use of data to identify and drive down our most serious system risks. It is a tall order but nobody does it better than PHMSA. I am confident we can achieve our goals if every one of us contributes our share.

Finally, in a few weeks we will move to a terrific new DOT Headquarters next to the Washington Navy Yard. PHMSA is the first Operating Administration in DOT to PHMSA Deputy Admininstrator Krista Edwards make the move, and I know we will be an example of seamless efficiency and productivity for DOT as we transition.

The transition is also a great time to expand telecommuting for eligible employees to minimize disruption to important projects. Telecommuting reduces gasoline consumption and traffic congestion, can improve our productivity and quality of life. We are going to champion this initiative in DOT.

It’s an exciting time of change, opportunity and accomplishment here at PHMSA. Thanks for all you do so well to make this happen.

Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters named Krista Edwards as the new PHMSA Deputy Administrator effective February 5. It was just last May that Edwards arrived as PHMSA’s first chief counsel. PHMSA Administrator Barrett enthusiastically noted that Edwards has the depth and leadership needed for the job.

“I encourage your suggestions and comments on ways we can all improve PHMSA’s safety programs,” said new PHMSA Deputy Administrator Edwards during a reception held in her honor.

[PHOTO: Chief Counsel David Kunz]

In mid-March, David Kunz joined the PHMSA staff as the agency’s new Chief Counsel. Kunz most recently was the Director for Environmental and Energy Programs at the American Council of Engineering Companies.

“I am excited and honored to join the outstanding PHMSA team and look forward to calling on my experience in handling a variety of transportation, infrastructure, environmental and regulatory issues,” commented PHMSA Chief Counsel David Kunz. “I am eager to help the Administrator advance the agency’s priorities.”

Focus on Telecommuting Opportunities

“My promise to you is that we are not just going to file these results away. We are going to get to the bottom of the issues that concern you.”
Mary E. Peters
Transportation Secretary

[PHOTO: Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters (third from right) takes time out to meet with PHMSA staff, praise their hard work, and receive feedback on telecommuting and other employee issues.]

In a broadcast message to all U.S. DOT employees, Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters promised to address issues of concern recently highlighted in the 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey.

“My promise to you is that we are not just going to file these results away. We are going to get to the bottom of the issues that concern you,” Peters stated. “During February I will be meeting with some of you as will your administrators and managers. What you tell us will guide our game plan for moving forward.”

Administered last August, 193 PHMSA employees participated, about 58 percent of the agency’s permanent employee population. The survey explored: telecommuting; personal work experiences; recruitment, development and retention; performance culture; leadership; learning/knowledge management; job satisfaction; and satisfaction with benefits.

One area of intense interest among PHMSA employees was the Department’s policy on telecommuting. With the pending move to the new DOT headquarters building, the opportunity and benefits of telecommuting, or teleworking, is being promoted more and more. Long an option within DOT and PHMSA, Secretary Peters commented that more eligible employees need to take advantage of working from home on a routine basis. Besides improving cost-efficiency in government, teleworking helps to reduce employee stress, fuel consumption, and transportation congestion while at the same time enhancing employee family life and morale.

Employees are encouraged to speak to their supervisors about the telework option. Currently, 107 out of 249 eligible PHMSA employees — 43 percent — are registered to telework on a routine basis.

“Your considered opinions are critical to our achieving our goal of building on employee strengths and addressing agency challenges in the human capital area,” commented PHMSA Administrator Thomas Barrett

For further details about the survey and its results go to: http://irm.phmsa.dot.gov/.

There is new action that all Americans can take to live safely with pipelines and other underground utilities. The new 8-1-1 “Call Before You Dig” campaign is being championed by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) and is geared to reducing risk and damage to all underground facilities, including pipelines.

On May 1, 2007, the national campaign will be launched from the National Mall in Washington, DC. DOT Secretary Peters plans to be at the 10:00 a.m. ceremony that will serve as the catalyst for mini-launches all over the country.

In April 2005, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established 8-1-1 as the nationwide phone number for excavators to contact One-Call Centers. Communication between excavators and owners of underground facilities, including pipeline operators, are accomplished through these one-call centers. The FCC order established April 2007 as the imple mentation date for the new 8-1-1 telephone number.

Through a cooperative agreement between the CGA and PHMSA, the CGA has been focusing on implementing the phone number and creating a nationwide public awareness campaign. The Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2006 recognized the importance of PHMSA contributing toward the 8-1-1 campaign. Even before the passage of the PIPES Act, PHMSA contributed over $400,000 toward the planning and development of the 8-1-1 campaign.

In January 2007, CGA announced the official launch of the Call 8-1-1 web site: www.call811.com. The web site serves as the centerpiece of the national 8-1-1 campaign and is the one-stop information solution for CGA members and professional excavators. Logos, ad slicks, and promotional campaign material can be downloaded for free from the web site. Individual CGA member companies can incorporate 8-1-1 campaign materials into their outreach materials to further enhance the clarity of the “Call Before You Dig” message.

PHMSA continues to evaluate and authorize special permits for increases in operating pressure for natural gas and liquid pipelines to allow greater throughput without compromising safety. Energy highways, in certain locations, suffer congestion just like automobile highways.

Thanks to the leadership of Spectra Energy (formerly Duke Energy), Alliance, and other U.S. energy companies, together with public input at several workshops in an enterprise approach, new risk-based decision criteria were defined. The positive result is increased energy throughput from both domestic and Canadian sources to key high-demand markets like New York City and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Sufficient and consistent deliveries of energy commodities to American communities are essential to maintain national economic prosperity.

Important benefits of PHMSA’s special permits include the avoidance of new pipeline construction and any environmental problems associated with construction, in addition to energy reliability. Currently, PHMSA has eight requests for pipeline pressure special permits. In determining its decision to grant special permits, PHMSA performs a thorough review of pipeline operators’ management of risk and safety controls. PHMSA also imposes conditions to invoke newer developments in pipeline integrity management and advancements in in-line inspection techniques which allow the industry to better manage pipeline infrastructure.

For more information on pipeline safety waivers, visit the PHMSA web page at: http://ops.dot.gov/regs/waiver/waiver.htm.

Removed from general public access since 9/11, and after extensive coordination with the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration and the pipeline industry, PHMSA made the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) available for open viewing on April 2.

This U.S. DOT/PHMSA initiative launched a new web-based tool called the NPMS Public Viewer which now allows the public to view pipeline maps in a selected county. The new initiative will help communities manage smart growth and will provide another way for the public to view pipeline data while addressing security concerns.

The NPMS Public Viewer is designed to help the public understand which transmission pipelines exist in their area and to provide a means to contact pipeline operators for additional information. PHMSA is allowing county and local government officials to share county-level previously restricted NPMS data with their local partners and the general public. The Public Viewer is accessible on the NPMS web site: www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov.

[Image: Example of Public Viewer web page.]

The user chooses a county to view and may zoom in as far as the major street level of detail. Only one county’s pipelines may be viewed per session, but a user may relaunch the Public Viewer to see another county’s pipelines. The user may print maps and view information about the pipelines such as operator name, operator contact information, and commodity carried. Liquefied natural gas facilities and breakout storage tanks are also visible. A manual is available on the website that contains detailed instructions for using the Public Viewer.

[PHOTO: Seated (L to R) PHMSA’s representatives to the HMCRP Oversight Panel are Douglas Reeves, Charles Hochman and Bob Richard, along with other government agency, industry stakeholder, and academia representatives, to consider selection of initial projects.]

PHMSA recently participated in the first meeting of the Technical Oversight Panel at the National Academies for the Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program (HMCRP). Earlier this year, PHMSA awarded a contract to the National Academies to initiate a pilot of the HMCRP. The pilot is a four-year project using funding provided under SAFETEA-LU. The Transportation Research Board, part of the National Academies, is managing the program.

The HMCRP Technical Oversight Panel consists of 14 members representing shippers, carriers, emergency response, and state and local stakeholders as well as the government and the academic community. PHMSA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration each have a voting representative on the Panel. Other Federal liaisons attending the meeting include the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security (Science and Technology), and the Department of Energy.

The four initial projects selected under the pilot program are: Hazmat Commodity Flow Guidance to States and Localities, Enhanced Incident Data Quality for Root Cause Analysis; Assessing Hazmat Emergency Response Capabilities; and Emerging Technologies Applicable to Hazmat Transportation Safety and Security.

The next step in the pilot program is establishment of project panels to further define the initial projects, write Requests for Proposals, evaluate contractor submissions, assist in contractor selection, and guide contractor efforts. The designated PHMSA representatives on the project panels are Ron Digregorio, Bob Richard, Tonya Schreiber, and Charles Hochman. Award of contracts for the initial projects is targeted for the end of June, 2007.

[PHOTO: (L to R) PHMSA Assistant Administrator and Chief Safety Officer Stacey Gerard, Shell Pipeline Company LP President Mark Hurley, and PHMSA Administrator Thomas Barrett.]

Shell Pipeline Company LP (Shell Pipeline) is a leader in promoting the efforts of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA). On January 31, Shell Pipeline President Mark Hurley met with PHMSA Administrator Thomas Barrett at U.S. DOT headquarters to discuss Shell’s commitment to addressing excavation damage.

Hurley accepted an award for corporate leadership from Barrett which recognized Shell’s outstanding pipeline safety efforts and leadership in promoting industry and public excavation awareness.

“Shell Pipeline Company is dedicated to protecting the communities and the environment where our assets operate. Preventing damage to our systems is key to meeting this goal and the CGA provides us with an important avenue to achieve our objectives,” said Shell Pipeline President Mark Hurley.

Shell Pipeline is one of only four Platinum — $100,000 — sponsors of the CGA. El Paso Corporation, BP Pipelines America, and PHMSA are the other platinum level CGA top sponsors.

The CGA is an underground utilities industry alliance that facilitates the implementation and awareness of the new national one-call number 8-1-1.

Third party excavation damage is a leading cause of pipeline accidents and incidents.

[PHOTO: Attending the recent Interagency Roundtable on LNG are (L to R) Terry Turpin, FERC; Ken Smith, USCG; Lt.Cdr. Rogers Henderson, USCG; Lt. Ken Kusano, USCG; Cdr. John Cushing, USCG; and Robert Corbin, DOE. Not shown were Kareem Monib, FERC; Andrew Kohout, FERC; Frank Licari, PHMSA; and Chris Zerby, FERC.]

In January, PHMSA hosted the Interagency Roundtable on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at the Pipeline Safety Office in Washington, D.C. At this meeting, members of the LNG Interagency Roundtable discussed technical activities involving research and new technology, safety standards, and applications for onshore and offshore LNG facilities.

These roundtable meetings pool the collective expertise of the Departments of Transportation, Energy and Homeland Security, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to review and provide guidance on LNG issues that have both safety and security implications.

Attendees at the recent meeting of the Interagency Roundtable on LNG discussed new National Fire Protection Association vapor dispersion research; a final report on fire modeling research performed under contract for PHMSA; Sandia Laboratory findings on risk mitigation at onshore LNG facilities; lessons learned from fire testing at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy; and the technical feasibility and regulatory issues concerning cryogenic pipelines.

Happy Birthday. February 20th was PHMSA’s second anniversary.

[Image Poster: America Unites In Remembrance, memorial Date, 3pm]

May 1 is the roll-out date of the Common Ground Alliance’s (CGA) nationwide campaign promoting America’s first three-digit telephone number for One Call and underground damage prevention. Recognition for this effort, and others, was made to CGA with the presentation of PHMSA’s first Enterprise Spirit Award.

In March, PHMSA Administrator Thomas Barrett recognized the CGA, its leadership, and sponsor members during the organization’s annual conference held in Orlando, Fla. PHMSA’s Enterprise Spirit Award depicts a model of the prototype space shuttle Enterprise. In his remarks, Barrett acknowledged the collective efforts of CGA’s members in battling damages to underground facilities including pipelines. Excavation damage is the number one cause of pipeline incidents.

[PHOTO: (L to R) CGA Chairman Paul Preketes, PHMSA Administrator Barrett, and CGA President Bob Kipp.]

“Thirty years ago a team of scientists and engineers came together and developed the space shuttle Enterprise, providing the basis for shuttle operation. The Enterprise required the collaboration, commitment, and vision of many talented people in and outside the orbiter program,” commented PHMSA Administrator Barrett while presenting the award.

The new PHMSA Strategic Plan is in rough draft. The next step in the development process is to share it widely with everyone inside the agency, and “test drive” it by starting to develop an annual business plan. The aim is to make sure the Strategic Plan is complete and useful, and to make sure it drives PHMSA’s activities and initiatives.

PHMSA’s plan supports each of the Secretary’s strategic goals. Safety will remain the top goal. Major strategies are aimed at improving the integrity of the system to reduce risk, being a model agency that is respected and trusted, strengthening the capabilities of others who share in achieving the agency’s national goals, and anticipating future needs for transporting energy products PHMSA Participates in a Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation and other hazardous materials.

PHMSA continues to work actively to improve how it operates as a data-driven organization, and using an enterprise approach in defining issues, building consensus, and mobilizing stakeholders to solve shared problems.

Over the next couple of months, PHMSA will begin sharing the draft Strategic Plan with stakeholders to ensure good alignment.

In March, hazardous materials investigators from PHMSA’s Southwest Region participated in a Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO) with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), United States Coast Guard (USCG), Texas DOT and the Houston Police Department at four inter-modal rail freight yards in the Houston area. The operation included more than 40 investigators from seven different agencies each engaging the inbound and outbound material freight from four major railroad heads.

The MASFO establishes and enhances inter-agency communication networks and connectivity and provided valuable cross training and familiarization of each agency’s individual expertise, including FMCSA’s motor vehicle chassis safety inspections, FRA’s railroad carrier acceptance procedures for inbound and outbound freight, and the USCG physical safety protocols for freight container inspections.

The MASFO included PHMSA investigators leveraging hazmat training with six members of the USCG District 8 Container Inspection Team at the Port of Houston. PHMSA investigators examined 79 inbound and outbound containers and inter-modal portable tanks containing various hazardous materials, including toxic inhalation hazardous poisonous liquids, for compliance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations and International Maritime Dangerous Goods code and also checked 68 hazardous materials registration certificates.

[PHOTOS: DOT headquarters building, Atrium Floor and Office Views, Type E Workstation, DOT Cafeteria-Buffet & Register Station]

PHMSA has the honor of being the first DOT Operating Administration to move to the new DOT headquarters building at the SE Federal Center/Navy Yard site along the Anacostia River.

PHMSA Associate Administrator for Administration Ed Brigham provided an update status on the upcoming move to the members of the PHMSA Employee Quality Council during their March 1 meeting.

“Thursday, April 19-20, is identified as PHMSA’s move dates to the new DOT HQ building,” stated Brigham. Some useful information to all employees:

• A “welcome” packet of information will be distributed at each desk location and will include useful information about check-in, local maps of the area, directions to local eating establishments, etc.
• New DOT identification building passes are currently being issued to PHMSA employees and contractors.
• Shuttle bus service will run April 19-July 1 between the old and new DOT HQ buildings and FAA headquarters. A 24-passenger/2 wheelchair capable bus will run every 30 minutes from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Mon-Fri.
• “Help Desks” will be situated on the first floor of both DOT buildings and staffed with teams to assist with either physical move or telephone/electronics questions.
• Parking in the new building will retain the same criteria currently used for the DOT Nassif Building. The parking fee will be $130.00/month per vehicle, except for motorcycles.

For the latest information about the new DOT headquarters move, see your PHMSA Employee Quality Council member or go online to the following web sites http://irm.phmsa.dot.gov/newbuilding.htm or http://newhq.dot.gov.

Jesse Dobbs
Rick Kowalewski
Damon Hill
Shell Pipeline
Jack Albright
Common Ground Alliance
Amy Nelson

[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 Administrator Thomas J. Barrett

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