[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 3 (Thursday, January 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 647-648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-78]


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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.

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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 [email protected], 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 (http://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