Public Meeting on Operator Qualifications

This notice announces a public meeting on operator qualification programs. The meeting provides an opportunity to discuss progress on operator qualification programs to help PHMSA prepare a Report to Congress and the potential the ASME consensus standard offers for strengthening operator qualification programs.

Operator Qualification Concepts

OQ_Concepts120805.pdf

Other Additional Information

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.

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.

PHMSA will post any additional information or changes on its Web page (http://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: http://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 http://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.