Natural gas industry committed to safety on the roads, communities in which we operate

Canonsburg, PA – At a day-long seminar yesterday in State College, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), hosted the first Marcellus Transportation Safety Day. The seminar’s aim was to “Better educate carriers and truck drivers supporting the natural gas industry of Pennsylvania’s regulations to improve their safe operating practices.”

The seminar included remarks from Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the MSC; Scott Christie, deputy secretary for Highway Administration, PennDOT; and Colonel Frank E. Pawlowski, commissioner, Pennsylvania State Police. Photos from yesterday’s event are available on the MSC’s Facebook page; to view them, click HERE.

“The natural gas industry is committed to working with state regulators and safety officials at every level of government to ensure that the safety and integrity of our roads and infrastructure are maintained as increased truck traffic associated with Marcellus development expands across the Commonwealth,” said Kathryn Klaber. “The safety of our workers and the communities in which we operate is an integral part of our Guiding Principles, and we will continue to work each day with local, state and federal officials to address these important issues. By all accounts, this event was a huge success toward achieving that common goal.”

The seminar, held at The Penn Stater Conference Center, attracted over two hundred transportation experts, truck drivers and safety coordinators that support the development of the Marcellus Shale across Pennsylvania.

Seminar breakout sessions included:

• PA State Police: Pennsylvania State Police motor carrier enforcement personnel discussed the motor carrier safety regulations with particular emphasis placed upon the most common violations found during roadside inspections of trucks supporting gas drilling operations. Following a classroom presentation, attendees participated in an actual walk-around truck inspection performed by experienced field motor carrier inspectors.
• PA Public Utility Commission: The PUC discussed the Commonwealth’s Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) program, along with the requirement for certain carriers to obtain PUC operating authority. Pennsylvania’s New Entrant Audit and Compliance Review programs and their impact on carrier operations were also addressed during this session.
• PA Dept. of Environmental Protection: DEP, Bureau of Waste Management, addressed Pennsylvania’s regulations pertaining to the transportation of environmental waste, with particular emphasis placed on the regulations that govern the transportation of waste water from Marcellus Shale gas drilling operations.
• PA Dept. of Transportation: Special Hauling Permits are required and issued for Oversize and Overweight loads using Pennsylvania’s Interstate Highways, US Routes and State Highways. During this session, PennDOT discussed the process by which these permits can be obtained and the penalties for violating their terms and conditions. This session also addressed PennDOT’s posted and bonded roads program.
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: FMCSA discussed the process by which they determine a carrier’s safety fitness rating and the consequences and intervention taken on carrier’s determined to be unsatisfactory. A new safety fitness system, Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010, will be implemented this year and was discussed in detail.

NOTE: Click HERE to view a recent Lock Haven Express op-ed by Kathryn Klaber, which underscores the MSC’s commitment to road and infrastructure investment and safety.

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