Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Research And Special Programs Administration News

17 May 2013

Emergency Personnel Participate in Oil Spill Response Program

Nearly 250 first responders participated in a National Preparedness Response Exercise Program in Los Angeles including U.S. Coast Guard, Chevron, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Spill Prevention and Response, NOAA, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Los Angeles County Fire Department, El Segundo Fire Department, Oiled Wildlife Care Network, Marine Spill Response Corporation, National Response Corporation, The Response Group, CardnoEntrix, Clean Harbors, Environmental Science Services and Gallagher Marine. Several other local first responders attended the exercise as observers, May 14, 2013. The National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) is designed to test oil spill response plans of certain vessels and facilities.

12 Feb 2004

LNG Safety Agreement Established

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Coast Guard and Department of Transportation announced an interagency agreement to provide for the comprehensive and coordinated review of land and marine safety and security issues at the nation’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals. The agreement was signed by FERC Chairman Pat Wood III, Samuel Bonasso, Deputy Administrator of the Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), and Admiral Thomas Collins, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

22 Jun 2004

HazMat Tranport Regs: Harmonization Internationally

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued an amendment to a prior rule on harmonization of its hazardous materials (HazMat) transportation regulations with international standards, including the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. The amendment responds to comments received on the earlier rule and corrects various errors. The rule is effective immediately, but compliance is delayed until October 1, 2004. 69 Fed. Reg. 34604 (June 22, 2004). The agency also published a lengthy proposal to further amend its regulations in order to keep up with continually changing international provisions. Comments on this latest proposal should be submitted by August 23, 2004. 69 Fed. Reg. 34723 (HK Law).

28 Dec 2001

International Standards on Transport of Dangerous Goods

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation will conduct a public meeting in Washington, DC on January 16, 2002. The meeting is for the purpose of discussing the outcome of the 20th session of the United Nation’s Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. 66 Fed. Reg. 66753 Source: HK Law

02 May 2002

RSPA Proposes Security Requirements HAZMAT Shipments

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing new requirements to enhance security of hazardous material (HAZMAT) transported in commerce. Shipping papers would be required to include the name and address of the consignor and consignee and the shipper's DOT HAZMAT Registration Number, if applicable. Shippers and carriers of certain highly hazardous materials would be required to develop and implement security plans. Shippers and carriers of HAZMAT would be required to include a security component in their employee training programs. Source: HK Law

01 Aug 2002

GOVERNMENT: Terrorism Threat and the Immediate Reaction

by Dennis L. When the federal government began examining United States vulnerabilities in the days following the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it quickly became apparent that significant weakness existed on the U.S. maritime borders. Many, but not all, of these weaknesses were systemic and derived from both the U.S. open society and the procedures underlying modern maritime commerce. The goal quickly became to reduce the risk of maritime terrorism while not fundamentally altering the efficiencies of the commercial system. It was quickly realized that the threat to the maritime sector consisted of two distinct types: explosives and other contraband being shipped as cargo (particularly in a container) and the ship being used as a weapon…

20 Dec 2004

New HazMat Rules Coming

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) is making a lengthy (145 page) amendment to hazardous materials (HazMat) transportation regulations in order to maintain alignment with recent changes to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and other international requirements. The amendments come into effect on January 1, 2005, with required compliance generally delayed until January 1, 2006. 69 Fed. Reg. 76043 (HK Law).

18 Dec 2002

Conference to DiscussTransport of Radioactive Materials

The U.S. Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued a Notice stating that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Maritime Organization (IMO), and Universal Postal Union are co-sponsoring an international conference on the safe transport of radioactive materials. The conference will be held in Vienna, Austria on July 7-11, 2003. Source: HK Law

05 May 2003

Enhancing Hazardous Materials Transportation Security

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued an interim rule requiring, among other things, that each owner, operator, master, agent, person in charge, and charterer of a vessel transporting hazardous materials ensure that vessel personnel required to have a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document by 46 CFR parts 10 and 12 possess a license, certificate or document, as appropriate. Compliance is required as of June 4, 2003. Comments on the interim rule are to be submitted by June 4, 2003. Source: HK Law

02 Mar 2000

DOT Proposes Revised Drug and Alcohol Testing Procedures

In a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed to reorganize and revise its procedures for transportation workplace drug and alcohol testing programs. The DOT requires transportation employers, including those in the maritime industry, to perform drug and alcohol tests on employees performing safety-sensitive functions. As part of this requirement, the DOT requires employers to comply with detailed testing procedures established more than 10 years ago. The DOT proposes to amend its drug testing procedures to address changes in technology and the drug-testing industry, and incorporate guidance and interpretations issued since the testing procedures rule was published.

25 Aug 1999

Proposed & Interim Rules

This Customs Service document proposes to amend the Customs Regulations to provide for the temporary landing in the U.S. of vessel equipment in need of repair, without requiring entry of that equipment under a Temporary Importation Bond (TIB). It is proposed such equipment be permitted to be landed for repair and relading aboard the same vessel, subject to Customs issuance of a special permit or license for the landed equipment, under an International Carrier Bond. Uncertainty exists whether the relading of repaired equipment on vessels departing the U.S. would satisfy the TIB requirement that such merchandise be exported. The proposed amendments will eliminate this uncertainty while still allowing Customs adequate control over such unladings and ladings.

30 May 2003

Meeting Scheduled for Dangerous Goods Carriers

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) will conduct public meetings in Washington, DC on June 18 and July 16, 2003. The first meeting is to prepare for the 23rd session of the United Nations' Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The second meeting is to report on the results of the UN session. 68 Fed. Reg. 32579 (May 30, 2003). (Source: Haight Gardner Holland & Knight, May 2003)