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Project Information
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Project Information


Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car


Project Scope:

An ad hoc committee appointed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will review, per request of Congress, current U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) plans and activities to inform government and industry decisions about the transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail and consider ways to ensure the continued safety of these shipments over the longer-term. The committee's review will be carried out in two phases, each producing a report with findings and recommendations as appropriate.

Phase 1
The committee will review ongoing and planned USDOT efforts, as documented and reported by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), that are intended to inform pending decisions about whether and how bulk shipments of LNG can be safely transported by railroad tank car. The review will focus specifically on the plans and progress of the PHMSA-FRA LNG Task Force, which has developed and begun executing a multi-task program of research, data gathering, analysis, testing, modeling, and risk assessment. Based on the expert judgment of its members, and drawing largely on the Task Force's reports of results, ongoing and planned tasks, and other relevant information, the committee will produce a report with findings on specific tasks and the program overall with regard to quality, completeness, and relevance to the agencies’ near-term decision making needs. The committee may make recommendations in this first report that can be acted upon quickly to strengthen the program. 

Phase 2
The committee will engage in information-gathering and analysis to conduct an in-depth study of topics relevant to ensuring the safe movement of LNG by rail if allowed by special permit or regulatory authorization. At a minimum, the committee will examine:

  • The experience transporting LNG in bulk shipments by other modes, including by water and truck, to identify basic principles applied for safety assurance that can inform measures taken by government and industry to ensure the safe movement of LNG by rail;
  • What is known about the effectiveness of special regulatory and industry measures intended to assure the safe transportation of other relevant bulk rail shipments of hazardous materials, especially any routing, speed, and other operational controls applied to high-hazard flammable trains and accompanying enhanced track inspection regimes; and,
  • The applicability to bulk rail transportation of LNG of current emergency response plans, protocols, and guides for responding to LNG transportation incidents, such as in PHMSA’s Emergency Response Guidebook.

In carrying out its review of these topics, the committee may determine that there are other topics directly relevant to the safe transportation of LNG by rail that warrant examination, and it may elect to do so. Based on findings from the study, the committee will issue a second report containing recommendations as appropriate to Congress, PHMSA, FRA, industry, emergency responders, and other relevant parties on actions, both nearer- and longer-term, that are warranted to improve understanding of the risks associated with transporting LNG by rail, mitigate risks, and prevent and prepare for potential incidents.

Status: Current

PIN: TRB-CAAS-20-02

Project Duration (months): 24 month(s)

RSO: Himmel, Micah
Division(s):

Transportation Research Board

Board(s)/Committee(s):

Transportation Research Board Consensus and Advisory Studies Division

Topic(s):

Transportation and Infrastructure

Geographic Focus:

Committee Membership

Committee Post Date: 06/30/2020
Craig E. Philip - (Chair)
Craig E. Philip (NAE) is Research Professor and Director of the Vanderbilt Center for Transportation and Operational Resiliency (VECTOR). He spent 30 years with Ingram Barge Company, serving as President and CEO from 1993 to 2014. He began his career at Consolidated Rail Corporation and later served with Southern Pacific Railroad where he was Vice President of their Intermodal Division. His research focuses on the application of systems engineering to complex transport network problems, especially those with uncertain and unpredictable production functions, and organizational responses to these problems in the maritime sector and for multimodal logistics. He has been actively engaged in transportation and logistics industry leadership, serving as chairman of the American Waterways Operators, the National Waterways Conference, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He was a member of TRB’s Executive Committee and currently serves on the Marine Board. He served on the TRB Committee for a Study of the Domestic Transportation of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Ethanol, as well as a reviewer for several TRB special reports including “Modernizing Freight Rail Regulation.” He serves on the boards of the ArcBest Corporation, Red Cross of Tennessee, Nashville Civic Design Center, and Seamen’s Church Institute, which presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. In 2010, he was designated a Distinguished Diplomate in the Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port and Navigation Engineers. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2014. He earned a B.S. in civil engineering from Princeton and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
H. Norman Abramson
H. Norman Abramson (NAE) is former Executive Vice President of Southwest Research Institute. He is internationally known in the field of theoretical and applied mechanics. His specific area of expertise is in the dynamics of contained liquids in astronautical, nuclear, and marine systems. He began his career as an Associate Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Texas A&M University and has served as Vice President and Governor of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). As a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), he served on its council from 1984 to 1990. He has been appointed to many other NAE and National Research Council (NRC) committees, including the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Research and Technology Coordinating Committee, and Committee on the Federal Transportation R&D Strategic Planning Process, all of which he served as chair. He served as a member of the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board from 1986 to 1990. He earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. in engineering mechanics from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in engineering mechanics from The University of Texas at Austin.
Nii Attoh-Okine
Nii Attoh-Okine is professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Delaware and interim academic director of the university’s Cybersecurity Initiative. He is an expert in data analytics as applied to railroad safety and engineering. His research areas include railway engineering and safety, machine intelligence in railway condition data, image and signal processing. He has published extensively in cross-disciplinary areas and authored two books of which, Big Data and Differential Privacy in Railway Track Engineering (Wiley, 2017) introduces researchers and railway track engineers to the emerging areas of the book’s title. He holds professional society memberships in the ASCE as the chair of the Committee on Risk and Vulnerability (2011-Present) and on the Committee on Technical Council Computing; as a senior member of the IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; and as a past member of the TRB committees on Artificial Intelligence (A5008) and Application of Emerging Technology (A2F09). He was a founding associate editor for ASCE/ASME’s Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, which he still serves. He earned an MSc. in civil engineering from Rostov State Institute of Civil Engineering, Russia and a Ph.D. in Civil and environmental engineering from the University of Kansas
Amos A. Avidan
Amos A. Avidan (NAE) is a retired senior energy and construction industry executive with 40 years of experience. He served as Senior Vice President and Manager of Engineering and Technology at Bechtel Corporation. He has led people, technology R&D and engineering, large-scale operations, marketing, and large capital projects teams in Mobil Oil and Bechtel. Amos has maintained an interest in a broad range of fields: from leading people and businesses to expand his expertise in all established and emerging energy systems and technologies, sustainability, impacts of economic growth on society, policy, and global climate change mitigation. He has driven people and organizations to think innovatively and consider the broader implications and consequences of energy systems. He earned a B.S. from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, an M.S., and a Ph.D. from the City University of New York in chemical engineering.
Christina M. Baxter
Christina M. Baxter is the CEO of Emergency Response TIPS, LLC that provides practical, evidence-based solutions for emergency response through the development of next-generation tools for enhanced situational awareness and responder safety and instructional design materials for instructor-led and web-based programs in the areas of CBRNE, hazardous materials, and clandestine laboratory response. Prior to forming Emergency Response TIPS, LLC, Dr. Baxter was the program manager over the CBRNE program at the Department of Defense's Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office where she was responsible for managing domestic and international CBRNE research and development programs to combat terrorism on behalf of the U.S. Government, as well as overseeing the international CBRNE agreements with Australia, Canada, Israel, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. She is the chairperson for the National Fire Protection Association standards for CBRNE personal protective equipment and is a committee member for hazardous materials operations arenas with greater than 20 years of experience. She holds B.S. degrees in chemistry and environmental science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Lisa M. Bendixen
Lisa M. Bendixen is an expert in hazardous materials risk and safety and has addressed risk management, risk assessment, security, and resilience challenges across numerous industries, for fixed facilities as well as transportation systems. She is a vice president at ICF, consulting on critical infrastructure security and resilience, mission assurance, and other risk management issues with the Departments of Defense (DOD), Energy (DOE), and Homeland Security (DHS). She served on the Transportation Security Panel for the National Research Council’s (NRC’s) report Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism and was on the NRC committee that produced the report Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities as well as several other national committees focusing on transportation risks, including spent fuel. She was the project manager and primary author of the Guidelines for Chemical Transportation Risk Analysis, published by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Center for Chemical Process Safety, and served on the center’s technical steering committee. Her work with DHS has included long-term support on critical infrastructure security and resilience, including several versions of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, development and implementation of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, and strategic and policy support to the Office of Infrastructure Protection. She has supported DOE on work related to grid security, from natural hazards and adversarial threats. She is also actively supporting DOD on critical energy and communications infrastructure. She has played leading roles in several safety and risk associations. Ms. Bendixen holds a B.S. in applied mathematics and an M.S. in operations research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Jorge A. Carrasco
Jorge A. Carrasco is Director of Operations of Ambipar Response USA and has more than 40 years of experience in emergency management. He has been providing hazmat response services and specialized training worldwide in the areas of industrial emergencies, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and emergency management to clients at the chemical producers, railways, mining companies, ports, governments, and emergency responders in Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Spain, Northern Africa, and the United States. He began his career as a Vessel Engineer in the Chilean Merchant Marine before moving into the railroad industry as Safety Operations Manager at the Chili and Bolivia Railway Company, where he specialized in hazardous materials and tank car safety. Afterward, he became Manager of International Hazmat Operations at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center, which is based at the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. in Pueblo, Colorado. Since 2012, he is a principal on the technical committee for the Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents (NFPA 472), as well as serving on three other National Fire Protection Association technical committees concerned with standards for hazardous materials and WMD response. He earned a diploma in solid-state chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Anay Luketa
Anay Luketa is a Principal Member of the Technical Staff of the Fire Science and Technology Department at Sandia National Laboratories. She is currently conducting an evaluation of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models to predict dispersion and fire hazards for LNG facilities. This evaluation also includes assistance with reviews by PHMSA of hazard modeling software to comply with the 49 CFR 193. She has provided independent review and analysis of explosion hazards from a natural gas pipeline for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in response to safety concerns identified in the report by NRC Inspector General and evaluated LNG models for fire and dispersion. Her studies of LNG include a safety analysis of large LNG carriers and fire and dispersion analyses of LNG over water. She has also published on models for LNG dispersion about large-scale LNG spills. She earned a B.S. in Mathematics and a B.A. in psychology from Seattle University, an M.S. and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington.

Gregory G. Noll
Gregory G. Noll is Senior Planning Specialist for the South Central Task Force, a nine-county, all-hazards emergency preparedness organization in southcentral Pennsylvania. He is also the Principal at GGN Technical Resources LLC, a consulting firm specializing in emergency planning, response, and incident management issues. He is the past chair and current member of both the NFPA Technical Committee on Hazardous Materials Response and the InterAgency Board - Training and Exercises SubGroup. He is the recipient of a number of national-level awards, including the 2011 John M. Eversole Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), which is the highest award given by the IAFC Hazardous Materials Committee. In 2019, he was inducted into the National Fire Heritage Center - Hall of Legends, Leaders and Legacies for his lifetime contributions to the fire service. A Certified Safety Professional and a Certified Emergency Manager, he has been involved in a number of national emergency response initiatives involving hazardous materials and energy products. He earned a B.A. in business administration and management from Kutztown State College and an M.A. in public administration from Iowa State University.
Dimitris Rizos
Dimitris Rizos is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of South Carolina. His areas of research are in structural mechanics with an emphasis on railway and highway infrastructure, structural dynamics and soil-structure interaction. His current research activities focus on railway structures with emphasis on railway infrastructure monitoring and assessment; railway dynamics; analysis and design of freight, passenger, and high-speed railway structures (bridges, tunnels, and track); and high-performance materials for civilian and military applications. He received a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Patras, Greece, and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of South Carolina.
William C. Shust
William (Bill) C. Shust is an engineering consultant, holding the positon of Mechanical Engineer and Owner of Objective Engineers, Inc., where he performs mechanical testing and analysis for clients in the railroad industry. He has more than 30 years of experience in mechanical and structural engineering and dynamics and has taught courses on vehicle crash testing and mechanical testing and analysis. He has published and presented more than three dozen technical papers in refereed journals and at conferences and authored technical reports for the Association of American Railroads and others. He is active in professional societies such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, Society for Experimental Mechanics, and American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association. He is a registered professional engineer in Colorado and Illinois and earned bachelor’ and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University.
Patrick J. Student
Patrick J. Student has more than 40 years of experience with industry regulations governing hazardous materials transportation by rail. Mr. Student currently consults for the Association of American Railroads (AAR) as an editor for the AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices for Interoperable Fuel Tenders for Locomotives, M-1004 Specifications for Fuel Tenders. In 2016, he retired as Director of Hazardous Material and Hazardous Materials Management, Union Pacific Railroad, where he was responsible for interpreting hazardous materials regulations, railroad operating rules for train makeup and powering, and developing systems for compliance with the rules and regulations. While at Union Pacific, he served on the AAR Hazardous Materials Committee, Tank Car Committee, and Electronic Data Interchange Hazardous Materials Technical Advisory Group. He also served on the Next Generation Rail Tank Car Project and Advanced Tank Car Collaborative Research Project. Mr. Student holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Missouri at Rolla.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: William Shust

The conflict of interest policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi) prohibits the appointment of an individual to a committee authoring a Consensus Study Report if the individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the task to be performed. An exception to this prohibition is permitted if the National Academies determines that the conflict is unavoidable and the conflict is publicly disclosed. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual’s actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.
William Shust has a conflict of interest in relation to his service on the Committee on the Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by Railroad Tank Car because he owns Objective Engineers, Inc., which performs mechanical testing and analysis for clients in the railroad industry.
The National Academies has concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include at least one person who has current experience with the design, engineering, and operating dynamics of railroad tank cars. As described in his biographical summary, Mr. Shust has extensive experience and specialized expertise in modeling the mechanical design and integrity of railcars and freight car dynamics.
The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Mr. Shust is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable.
The National Academies believes that Mr. Shust can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Patrick Student

The conflict of interest policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi) prohibits the appointment of an individual to a committee authoring a Consensus Study Report if the individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the task to be performed. An exception to this prohibition is permitted if the National Academies determines that the conflict is unavoidable and the conflict is publicly disclosed. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.
Patrick J. Student has a conflict of interest in relation to his service on the Committee on the Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by Railroad Tank Car because he consults for a railroad industry trade association that represents freight rail carriers.
The National Academies has concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include at least one person who has current experience with hazardous materials (hazmat) regulatory compliance governing railroad operations, LNG packaging, and related industry transportation standards. As described in his biographical summary, Mr. Student has specialized expertise in hazmat train operations, especially in transporting hazmat in railroad tank cars.
The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Mr. Student is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable.
The National Academies believes that Mr. Student can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.

Events


Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

This meeting is a complete closed session, only open to the Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car study committee members and TRB staff.

This meeting will be held remotely.


Registration for Online Attendance :   
NA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Yes

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Event

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event:

Craig E. Philip (Chair)
H. Norman Abramson
Nii Attoh-Okine
Amos A. Avidan
Christina M. Baxter
Lisa M. Bendixen
Jorge A. Carrasco
Anay Luketa
Gregory G. Noll
Dimitris Rizos
William (Bill) C. Shust
Patrick J. Student

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Phase 1 Report discussions
Identify conclusions regarding completeness and quality
Identify recommendations
Phase 1 Report Timeline
Upcoming meetings for Phase II

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

NONE

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:
February 12, 2021
Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

Open Session
Day 1: Monday, January 11, 2021 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm EST (Part 1 of 2)
Day 2: Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 11:00am - 2:30pm EST (Part 2 of 2)

Day Two, Thursday, January 14, 2021

11:00 am – 2:30 pm EST

11:00  
Welcome and Overview                                                                  
Craig Philip, Chair

Review of the study charge, meeting objectives, and agenda
Participant introductions

11:15   
Tasks Relevant to Hazmat Cargo (See participants list for speakers)

The committee has grouped the following tasks from PHMSA’s LNG-FRA Task Force Action Plan as being relevant to the rail transport of any hazardous material cargoes by tank car. Subject matter experts from PHMSA and FRA will discuss the following tasks and engage in discussion with the committee. Approximately 20 minutes per task in this category will be allotted for

Safety/Security Route Risk Assessment,

Train Operational Controls,

Emergency Responder Opinions & Needs, and

LNG Educational & Outreach Plan.

12:30  
Break (25 minutes)

12:55   
Tasks Broadly Relevant to Safe Rail Transport (See participants list for speakers)

The committee has grouped the following tasks from PHMSA’s LNG-FRA Task Force Action Plan as fundamental to any rail movements. Subject matter experts from PHMSA and FRA will discuss the following tasks and engage in discussion with the committee. Approximately 10 minutes per task in this category will be allotted for

International Empirical Review,

Train Energy Dynamics Simulator,

ECP Brakes,

Automated Track Inspection, and

Modal Conversion, Truck & Rail.

2:00    
PHMSA on Significant Task Interdependencies and Plans for Integrating Results from the Action Plan into its Safety Assurance Framework (See participants list for speakers)

The committee will hear from PHMSA about the ways that the tasks in the Action Plan interact with one another and the agency’s plan for using the outcomes from tasks to ensure that the transport of LNG by DOT-113 specification tank cars is safe.

2:30     Adjourn

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

PHMSA:

William Schoonover – Associate Administrator, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
William Quade – Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
Olivia Apple – Special Assistant, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
Yolanda Braxton – Director, Program Management, Data, and Statics Division, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
Robert Starin – Division Chief for Risk, Data, and Program Management, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
Michael Klem – Chemist, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety

FRA:

Mark Maday – Staff Director, Hazardous Materials Division, Office of Technical Oversight, FRA
Phani Raj – Engineer, FRA
Francisco González, III– Hazardous Materials and Tank Car  Project  Manager, FRA


Registration for Online Attendance :   
https://nasem.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8avkMCMaRcW6dOY6tSHPTA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Some sessions are open and some sessions are closed

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Event

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event:

Craig E. Philip (Chair)
H. Norman Abramson
Nii Attoh-Okine
Amos A. Avidan
Christina M. Baxter
Lisa M. Bendixen
Jorge A. Carrasco
Anay Luketa
Gregory G. Noll
Dimitris Rizos
William (Bill) C. Shust
Patrick J. Student

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Reflections on the previous session
Identify findings from the meetings
Discuss tentative conclusions
Phase 1 Report discussions
Phase 1 Report Timeline

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

NONE

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:
January 22, 2021
Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

Open Session
Day 1: Monday, January 11, 2021 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm EST (Part 1 of 2)
Day 2: Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 11:00am - 2:30pm EST (Part 2 of 2)

Day One, Monday, January 11, 2021

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST

1:00
Welcome and Overview       
Craig Philip, Chair

  • Review of the study charge, meeting objectives, and agenda
  • Participant introductions

1:15    
Sponsor’s Remarks on the Study                            
 William Schoonover, Associate Administrator
 Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, PHMSA

LNG-FRA Task Force Action Plan Presentations

1:25    
Tasks Specifically Relevant to LNG Transport by Rail (See participants list for speakers)

The committee has grouped the following tasks from PHMSA’s LNG-FRA Task Force Action Plan as being specifically relevant to the rail transport of LNG by tank car. Subject matter experts from PHMSA and FRA will present information about the following tasks in the action plan and engage in discussion with the committee. Approximately 30 minutes per action plan task will be allotted for

Quantitative Risk Assessment,

Full-Scale Impact Testing,

UN T-75 Portable Tank Fire-Testing, and

Worst Case Scenario.

2:30    
Break (10 minutes)

3:30    
Tasks Relevant to Hazmat Cargo (See participants list for speakers)

The committee has grouped the following tasks from PHMSA’s LNG-FRA Task Force Action Plan as being relevant to the rail transport of any hazardous material cargoes by tank car. Subject matter experts from PHMSA and FRA will discuss the following tasks and engage in discussion with the committee. Approximately 20 minutes per task in this category will be allotted for

Loading/Unloading Safety Assessment and

Evaluate Punctures/Derailment Simulation Model. (Remainder of tasks on Day Two)

4:00     Adjourn

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

PHMSA:

  • William Schoonover – Associate Administrator, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
  • William Quade – Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
  • Olivia Apple – Special Assistant, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
  • Yolanda Braxton – Director, Program Management, Data, and Statics Division, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
  • Robert Starin – Division Chief for Risk, Data, and Program Management, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
  • Michael Klem – Chemist, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety

FRA:

  • Mark Maday – Staff Director, Hazardous Materials Division, Office of Technical Oversight, FRA
  • Phani Raj – Engineer, FRA
  • Francisco González, III– Hazardous Materials and Tank Car  Project  Manager, FRA

 


Registration for Online Attendance :   
https://nasem.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2cv3IEr9QxqY0uVud83iPg

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Some sessions are open and some sessions are closed

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Event

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event:

Craig E. Philip (Chair)
H. Norman Abramson
Nii Attoh-Okine
Amos A. Avidan
Christina M. Baxter
Lisa M. Bendixen
Jorge A. Carrasco
Anay Luketa
Gregory G. Noll
Dimitris Rizos
William (Bill) C. Shust
Patrick J. Student

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Preparation for the upcoming session
Phase 1 Report discussions
Phase 1 Report Timeline

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

NONE

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:
January 22, 2021
Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

This meeting is a complete closed session, only open to the Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car study committee members and TRB staff.

This meeting will be held remotely.


Registration for Online Attendance :   
NA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Yes

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Event

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event:

Craig E. Philip (Chair)
H. Norman Abramson
Nii Attoh-Okine
Amos A. Avidan
Christina M. Baxter
Lisa M. Bendixen
Jorge A. Carrasco
Anay Luketa
Gregory G. Noll
Dimitris Rizos
William (Bill) C. Shust
Patrick J. Student

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Phase 1 Report discussions
Phase 1 Report Timeline
Discuss Task Summaries
Meeting Logistics for January Meeting
a. Agenda mock-up
b. Review Questions for PHMSA
c. Seek committee member input on meeting priorities

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

NONE

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:
November 11, 2020
Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

This meeting is a complete closed session, only open to the Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car study committee members and TRB staff.

This meeting will be held remotely.


Registration for Online Attendance :   
NA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Yes

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Event

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event:

Craig E. Philip (Chair)
H. Norman Abramson
Nii Attoh-Okine
Amos A. Avidan
Christina M. Baxter
Lisa M. Bendixen
Jorge A. Carrasco
Anay Luketa
Gregory G. Noll
Dimitris Rizos
William (Bill) C. Shust
Patrick J. Student

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Task Relevance Rankings
Discussion of approach to assessing completeness and quality
Phase 1 Report discussions

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

NONE

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:
November 02, 2020
Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

This meeting is a complete closed session, only open to the Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car study committee members and TRB staff.

This meeting will be held remotely.


Registration for Online Attendance :   
NA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Yes

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Event

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event:

Craig E. Philip (Chair)
H. Norman Abramson
Nii Attoh-Okine
Amos A. Avidan
Christina M. Baxter
Lisa M. Bendixen
Jorge A. Carrasco
Anay Luketa
Gregory G. Noll
Dimitris Rizos
William (Bill) C. Shust
Patrick J. Student

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Discussions regarding the phase I timeline
Discussions regarding the report outline for Phase I
Discussion regarding LNG Task relevance
Discussions regarding the structure for Meeting 4

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

NONE

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:
October 01, 2020
Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

This meeting has been postponed to a later date. The new date for the meeting will be posted as soon as it is established.


Registration for Online Attendance :   
NA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Yes

Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

This meeting has been postponed to a later date. The new date for the meeting will be posted as soon as it is established.


Registration for Online Attendance :   
NA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Some sessions are open and some sessions are closed

Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

This meeting has been postponed to a later date. The new date for the meeting will be posted as soon as it is established.


Registration for Online Attendance :   
NA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
No

Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

This meeting is a complete closed session, only open to the Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car study committee members and TRB staff.


Registration for Online Attendance :   
NA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Yes

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Event

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event:

Craig E. Philip (Chair)
H. Norman Abramson
Nii Attoh-Okine
Amos A. Avidan
Christina M. Baxter
Lisa M. Bendixen
Jorge A. Carrasco
Anay Luketa
Gregory G. Noll
Dimitris Rizos
William (Bill) C. Shust
Patrick J. Student

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Discussions regarding the phase I timeline
Reviewing and revisiting the LNG study milestones
Discussion regarding postponing of meeting 2 and future dates
Discussions regarding the structure for Meeting 2

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

NONE

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:
September 01, 2020
Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

This meeting is a complete closed session only open to the Safe Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas by Railroad Tank Car study committee members and TRB staff.


Registration for Online Attendance :   
NA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Yes

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Event

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event:

Craig E. Philip (Chair)
H. Norman Abramson
Nii Attoh-Okine
Amos A. Avidan
Lisa M. Bendixen
Jorge A. Carrasco
Anay Luketa
Gregory G. Noll
Dimitris Rizos
William (Bill) C. Shust
Patrick J. Student

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Task Team Comments
Prioritizing of Questions to the Sponsor
Discussion regarding preparation needed for Meeting 2
Discussions regarding the structure for Meeting 2

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

NONE

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:
August 18, 2020
Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Event Type :  
Meeting

Description :   

10:00   Welcome and introductions

            Staff and chair introductions                                                        Craig Philip, Chair

            Cover purpose of the meeting and briefly describe the study process

            Review of the statement of task, meeting objectives, and agenda
 

 PHMSA/FRA present study charge and background

10:30   Howard “Skip” Elliott, Administrator, PHMSA
10:35   William Quade, Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs,
            Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, PHMSA
10:40   Mark Maday, Staff Director, Hazardous Materials Division, Office of Technical
            Oversight, FRA
10:50   Yolanda Braxton, Director, Program Management, Data, and Statics Division,                  Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, PHMSA
11:00   Robert Starin, Division Chief for Risk, Data, and Program Management, Office of
            Hazardous Materials Safety (Michael Klem, PHMSA and Phani Raj, FRA as                        support)               

11:30   Open discussion between committee and PHMSA/FRA

12:30   Adjourn


Registration for Online Attendance :   
https://nasem.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LW9s2-oDTk-lWXz3oWJ_MA

Registration for in Person Attendance :   
NA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this event that are open to the public or need more information please contact

Contact Name:  Anusha Jayasinghe
Contact Email:  Ajayasinghe@nas.edu
Contact Phone:  (202) 334-2401
Supporting File(s)
-
Is it a Closed Session Event?
Some sessions are open and some sessions are closed

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Event

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event:

Craig E. Philip (Chair)
H. Norman Abramson
Nii Attoh-Okine
Amos A. Avidan
Christina M. Baxter
Lisa M. Bendixen
Jorge A. Carrasco
Anay Luketa
Gregory G. Noll
Dimitris Rizos
William (Bill) C. Shust
Patrick J. Student

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

Revisit Statement of Task
Review committee expertise needs
Selection of Dates for Meeting 2
Discussion regarding preparation needed for Meeting 2

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

NONE

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:
July 22, 2020
Publication(s) resulting from the event:
-

Publications

  • Publications having no URL can be seen at the Public Access Records Office
Publications

No data present.