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June 2010
06/10/10
NY State Department of Labor - Occupational
Licensing...........The
Commissioner of Labor is promulgating a new
occupational licensing regulation that provides
uniform rules for all occupational licenses and
replaces the separate regulations that existed
for each occupation......Visit
www.labor.ny.gov/go/cr61
for more information.
06/03/10
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Breaks Ground
...........On
April 20th, a ground blasting ceremony was held
at the Missouri University of Science and
Technology's Experimental Mine
facility...........Read
Full Press Release.
06/02/10 Interim Order
Respecting the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Into, Through or Within
Controlled Access Zones
...........Transport
Canada has posted the Interim Order respecting
the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (Into,
Through or Within Controlled Access Zone) for
road for the G-20.
Click here to Read Full Story.
April 2010
04/28/10 Missouri S&T to Offer Master's Degree
in Explosives Engineering...........The
State of Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher
Education (or CBHE) has approved the new master
of science degree in explosives engineering at
Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Missouri S&T, the technological campus of the
University of Missouri system, became the first
university in the nation to offer undergraduate
and post-graduate minors in explosives
engineering in 2005........Read
Full Details.
04/22/10 PHMSA Announces New On-Line Hazardous
Materials Special Permit Application
Process...........WASHINGTON,
D.C.
-
Applications for hazardous
materials special permits will be reviewed in a
more timely and efficient manner as a result of
a new on-line application process being launched
by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
and its Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA). The new system takes
effect May 1st.............Read
Full Details.
4/07/10
US DOT Issues Management Advisory on Weaknesses
in the Safety Oversight of Explosives
Classification Approvals to PHMSA......The
House T&I Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines,
and Hazardous Materials has posted a new
Management Advisory. The advisory specifically
targets weaknesses identified by the DOT Office
of Inspector General in the PHMSA explosives
approvals program.
The report may be viewed at
http://transportation.house.gov/Media/file/Rail/PHMSA%20MA.PDF
PHMSA Response to OIG Approvals Lab
Report and Establishment of Safety Review
Board......Download
the documents below to see PHMSA’s response to
the OIG Lab report, and the announcement
establishing the agency’s safety review board.
PHMSA Response to
OIG Approvals Lab Report.pdf
PHMSA Safety
Review Board.pdf
March 2010
3/10/10
PHMSA Issues Final Ruling on HM-208H.......PHMSA
has amended its Registration and Fee Assessment
Program for Hazardous Materials Transportation.
PHMSA is increasing fees for those that do not
qualify as a small business or not-for-profit
organization. Fees are increasing to $2,600.00
(including a $25 administrative fee) for
registration year 2010-2011 and following years.
This is a $1,000.00 increase from previous
years. This increase is to fund the
national Hazardous Material Emergency
Preparedness (HMEP) grants program.
Effective date of this final rule is April 29,
2010.
Download PDF to Read Full Ruling.
3/10/10
PHMSA Issues Report on Special Permits Program........On
March 4, DOT issued its report on the DOT
Inspector General's findings and recommendations
entitled "New Approaches Needed in Managing
PHMSA's Special Permits and Approvals Program".
Click here to view the
document. The report contains strong
criticism of the PHMSA program such as failure
to "(1) adequately review applicants' safety
histories, (2) ensure applicants will provide an
acceptable level of safety, (3) coordinate with
the affected Operating Administrations, and (4)
conduct regular compliance reviews of individual
and companies that have been granted special
permits and approvals".
3/10/10
PHMSA Publishes HM-232F Final Rule........PHMSA
published its HM-232F final rule in the March 9,
2010 Federal Register. The rule revises the list
of substances that require the preparation of a
security plan. Currently any hazmat shipment
requiring placarding is subject to security plan
requirements described in 172.800. See the
Federal Register for the revised list of
substances requiring a security plan.
Download PDF.
3/05/10
Explosives Inspectorate of Queensland, Australia
Issues Safety Alert on Waste Ammonium Nitrate
Reaction.........This alert is to advise persons involved with the management of ammonium nitrate
of the hazards in relation to contaminated and waste ammonium nitration. This alert provides important important safety information
for all persons involved with the storage, handling transport, manufacture, use,
import and export of ammonium nitrate.
Download PDF to Read Full Alert.
February 2010
2/20/10
TSA Expanding Explosive Trace Detection Measures
at Airports Nationwide.........The
U.S. Transportation Security Administration
announced it will begin randomly swabbing
passengers' hands at U.S. airports to check for
traces of explosive materials in the coming
weeks. Describing the policy as "an additional
layer of security", TSA said it initially went
into effect on a limited basis at five
previously unidentified airports.........Read
Full Story.
January 2010
1/20/10 ATF Announces
Final Rule on Storage of Shock Tube.........WASHINGTON,
Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF) today announced a final rule amending regulations in 27 CFR
Part 555 to allow storage of shock tube with detonators, because these materials
when stored together do not pose a mass detonation hazard. The final rule
appears in today's issue of the Federal Register. The rule can be found
at
http://www.atf.gov/regulations-rulings/rulemakings/final-interim.html.
More information on ATF and
its programs and resources is at
www.atf.gov.
1/08/10 ATF Publishes 2009 List of
Explosive Materials Subject to Law.........The
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF) published a notice in the
Federal Register on January 8, 2010 containing
the list of 237 explosive materials that are
subject to federal law and implementing
regulations..........Read
Press Release.
01/07/10 Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) Issues Permit Revisions -
Effective Date Change.........PHMSA
has issued a revision of special permits
DOT-SP
8554,
DOT-SP 10751,
DOT-SP 11579 and
DOT-SP 12677.
Visit the
Issue Briefs page in the
Grass Roots Center to download the PDF files.
December 2009
12/31/09
ATF Announces Retirement of Explosives
Training Specialist..........The
Explosives Training Branch and the IABTI Region
IV are hosting a retirement luncheon for Don
Andrews on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at IABTI
Headquarters, in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Don has served as an Explosives Training
Specialist with ATF for 10 years, first serving
at FLETC and later, opening the current training
facility at Fort AP Hill, Virginia. Long
before his ATF employment, Don was an integral
part of the ATF Explosives Training staff,
serving as an assistant instructor in the State
and Local Post Blast Investigation course
deliveries at FLETC while serving with the North
Richland Hills, TX Fire Department and Bomb
Squad. Don's long service to ATF and its
explosives programs and training is quickly
coming to a close. Please join us in wishing Don
the very best in his well earned retirement.
Don's last day in the office will be Friday,
January 8, 2010. If you have further questions,
please contact Special Agent, Jeanne L. Sobol,
at (202) 528-9453.
12/11/09 New Blasting Program at Fleming
College a Resounding Success..........The
Blasting Techniques program at Fleming College,
in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada is successfully
finishing up its first semester. Thirty-three
students will be returning to class in January
to finish this one-of-a-kind program. "Blasters,
supervisors and blasting contractors rarely have
time or funding to set aside for blaster
training. Finally, people that wish to explore
the possibility of joining the industry will
have training available to reduce the learning
curve on important blasting issues such as
safety, regulations, documentation, blast
design, execution and overall professionalism, "
said Dale Laframboise, coordinator of the
program.........Read
Full Press Release.
October 2009
10/09/09 Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) Issues Permit Revisions -
Updated October 20,
2009..........PHMSA
has issued a revision of special permits
DOT-SP
8554,
DOT-SP 10751,
DOT-SP 11579 and
DOT-SP 12677 (download PDF's). The
changes incorporated within the revised permits
are effective as of the October 5, 2009 date. If
any of your vehicles are operating under the
listed special permits you need to review to
assure you are in compliance. If you have
any questions, please contact Christopher Howell
or Kelli Cox at (440) 349-4400.
July 2009
07/20/09
ATF Publishes Open Letter to All Federal
Explosives Licensees and Permittees (Rocketry
Related).....WASHINGTON,
DC - The purpose of the letter is to provide
Federal explosives licensees and permittees with
information about the recent district court
decision regarding ammonium perchlorate
composite propellant (APCP)...........Download
Letter (pdf)
07/13/09
Field Practice
Guidelines for Blasting Seismographs - 2009
Edition Just Released.......CLEVELAND,
OH - ISEE announced the release of Field
Practice Guidelines for Blasting Seismographs,
2009 Edition. This booklet was created to
help develop uniform and technically appropriate
standards for the use of blasting seismographs
and to improve accuracy and consistency in
ground and air vibration measurements. Field
Practice Guidelines for Blasting Seismographs
was first published as a standard in 2000 by the
ISEE Blast Vibrations and Seismograph Section.
This section, which now takes on the role of
keeping standards up-to-date, is comprised of
seismograph manufacturers, researchers,
regulatory personnel and seismograph users. The
document can be obtained by contacting the
International Society of Explosives Engineers at
30325 Bainbridge Rd., Cleveland, OH 44139 or
emailing
isee@isee.org
June 2009
06/29/09
Legislative Alert - U.S. HR 2454
Cap & Trade Bill.......With
a margin of just seven votes, the House of
Representatives on Friday evening passed the
American Clean Energy and Security
Act.........Read More
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1907528,00.html
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/martin-feldstein-cap-and-trade-=-protectionism/362252/
06/25/09 ATF Issues Ruling on Storage
of Explosives in Law Enforcement Explosives
Response Vehicles......The
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives (ATF) has issued a ruling
authorizing the storage of a limited amount of
explosive materials within official response
vehicles by State and local bomb technicians and
explosives response teams under specific
conditions........Read
Ruling 2009-3
06/15/09 ATF
Posts
Bi-Annual Explosives Industry Newsletter......The
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF) released the latest issue of
their Explosives Industry Newsletter. This
issue features Explosives Safety and Security;
Securing Storage Sites and Fireworks
Safety.........Read
Full Article
May 2009
05/19/09
Legislative Tracking - A New ISEE Member
Benefit!..... - Now
members can track legislative changes within the
explosives industry through the ISEE website.
ISEE is proud to partner with CQ State Track to
provide our members with alerts of current
legislation and proposed regulations concerning
explosives and blasting in the US at both the
Federal and state level. This new feature
alerts members of legislation occurring in their
area while reducing the time and energy normally
needed to find these changes that can affect you
and your business. Combined with our Grassroots
Legislative Action Center (GLAC), members will
now be able to quickly and easily find
legislation and proposed regulations through our
tracking program that concerns the industry and
be able to contact their Congressman or state
legislator through our GLAC at the click of a
button.
Anyone visiting the ISEE website can access this
feature by following this link:
ISEE Priority Legislation.
Once there, a map at the top, with states
highlighted, will show where legislation is
occurring that deals with the industry. Just
click on the highlighted state or federal area
and you will be taken to those bill(s). These
bills are marked with a priority (high-low).
Especially within the explosives industry, it is
important to stay on top of legislative changes.
This alert system will help you track progress
and combined with the Grassroots program, it
easily provides the information you'll need to
voice your opinion when and where it really
matters.
April 2009
04/27/09
ATF National Explosives Training Center's First
Class....HUNTSVILLE, AL -
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF) will conduct explosives
training and hold a ceremony for the first
graduating class at the National Center for
Explosives Training and Research (NCETR)
facility located at the Redstone Arsenal in
Huntsville.......Read
Full Press Release.
04/27/09
MSHA Urges Public to "Stay Out and Stay Alive"......ARLINGTON,
VA - For the 11th consecutive
year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety
and Health Administration (MSHA) launched its
annual "Stay Out-Stay Alive" public safety
campaign to warn outdoor enthusiasts -
especially children - about the dangers of
playing on mine property.......Read
Full Press Release.
04/2009 The Blaster’s
Leadership Award.......The Blaster’s
Leadership Award is presented each year to an
individual who has distinguished themselves
through outstanding service to their fellow
blasters in the field.The recipient of the 2009
Blaster’s Leadership Award was Michael F.
Barber.
Mike Barber earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in Geography/Geology from the University
of Wisconsin. He learned about explosives while
serving as an officer for three years in the
United States Marine Corp. In 1969, he started
working in the product side of the explosives
business, where he has been providing tech
support for 33 years, with the same company,
living in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Illinois,
Pennsylvania, Texas and Oregon. He has been a
familiar face in the ISEE since 1980 serving on
ISEE committees and on the ISEE Board of
Directors. He was a technical resource for the
17th Edition of the ISEE Blasters’
Handbook, the ISEE Certificate Program, and was
Chairman of the Blasters Training Seminar. He is
a go-to resource for technical information and
explosives product information. Following
retirement in 2002 he has stayed on in the
explosives business in consulting, training and
expert witness work. He has been a valuable
resource for technical information and product
information. He volunteers as a guest speaker
for several elementary and middle schools. He
speaks to kids about rocks, finishing up each
presentation with a gift of rock samples to each
student. He is part of the local GEM group and
volunteers with Gold Pan. He is still a fixture
in the industry participating at regional
conferences and promoting education in the
industry.
March 2009
03/30/09
ISEE Announces Call for Papers for 36th Annual
Conference in Orlando 2010....CLEVELAND,
OH - The International Society
of Explosives Engineers announced it will be
accepting abstracts for the 36th Annual
Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique,
to be held in Orlando, Florida, February 7-10,
2010.......Read
Full Press Release.
03/26/09
ISEE Executive Speaks at Cleveland Engineering
Society Leadership Series
.......CLEVELAND,
OH - The Cleveland Engineering
Society Leadership Series Breakfast today
featured Jeffrey L. Dean, Executive Director and
General Counsel for the International Society of
Explosives Engineers. CES has been providing
this leadership forum for Midwest region’s
leaders for more than 32 years. Mr. Dean, a
former Member of the Ohio House of
representatives and the State Board of Education
of Ohio, presented an overview of the commercial
explosives industry, it’s history, products,
uses, and dynamics and trends within the
industry.
The Cleveland Engineering Society is a
non-profit professional society with more than
500 members representing a wide spectrum of the
region’s engineering and technology community.
The organization serves the educational and
professional development needs of technical
professionals, encourages young people to pursue
careers in science and engineering and fosters
the exchange of information and ideas to advance
development and recognition of the region as a
technology center.
03/20/09 Ohio Drilling and Blasting Conference
Highlights Posted Online.....The
Ohio Drilling & Blasting Conference took place
March 18-19, 2009 at the Concourse Hotel in
Columbus, Ohio. Almost 200 attended this
two-day event co-sponsored by the International
Society of Explosives Engineers, Ohio Aggregates
& Industrial Minerals Association, and Ohio Coal
Association. The program was endorsed by
Ohio Department of Natural Resources....
February 2009
02/26/09
ATF Posts Advisory
Notice to All Explosives Industry Members......The
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF) would like to remind all
Federal explosives licensees and permittees of
the importance of security at their explosives
storage sites.
Read Full Letter.
02/25/09
ISEE Provides
Weekly Update of Industry News.....The
ISEE Explosives Industry News
provides members and other industry
professionals with a weekly update of industry
news. With the ISEE Explosives
Industry News, participating
industry professionals no longer have to hunt
the Internet for industry-related news. Each
weekly issue assembles news from around the
world and delivers quality articles directly to
your inbox. Articles within each issue are
hand-picked by editors familiar with the
industry and reviewed by ISEE staff. This saves
members' valuable time, and further establishes
the ISEE as the "go-to" resource for industry
information.
The ISEE Explosives Industry News
also delivers the ISEE Marketplace
search button with its unique online search
capabilities in every email to give readers
quick access to an extensive directory of
industry-specific products and services.
These two products, working together, provide an
invaluable tool to members, advertisers and the
industry as a whole. If you do not receive
the Explosives Industry News
you can subscribe on ISEE's homepage.
02/18/09
Distinguished Service Award Winner Announced at
ISEE's 35th Annual Conference.......CLEVELAND,
OH - ISEE's 2009
Distinguished Service Award was presented to Mr.
Larry R. Cornelius at the recent 35th Annual
Conference on Explosives & Blasting Technique.
This award is the most prestigious award of
merit given by the Society to an individual who
has made an outstanding contribution to the
field of explosives engineering.....Read
Full Press Release.
02/18/09 UK
Professor co-hosts Discovery Channel's "The
Detonators" .....LEXINGTON, KY -
University of Kentucky mining engineering
professor, and ISEE member is co-host of a new
Discovery Channel series called The
Detonators. The series pairs Lusk
with co-host Paul Worsey, a good friend and his
former professor and mentor at the University of
Missouri-Rolla - now the Missouri University of
Science and Technology.......
Read Full Article.
January 2009
01/02/09 ATF
Publishes Annual List of 238 Explosive Materials .....WASHINGTON,
D.C. - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) published a notice
in the Federal Register on December 31, 2008
containing the list of 238 explosive materials
that are subject to federal law and implementing
regulations.......Download
Press Release
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