FR Notice Extension of the VISA Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)

srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 24, 2010 / Notices
practices are conforming to API 5L, API
1104, ASME B31.4 or ASME B31.8 and
operator procedures for weld bevel, pipe
alignment, back welding, and
transitions. If any bends are cut, the
operator must have procedures to
ensure that the pipe or bend cut ends
are acceptable for welding in
accordance with the listed
specifications. Procedures, inspection,
and documentation must be in place to
ensure that when pipe, fittings, bends,
and other appurtenances are welded,
the field girth welds are made and nondestructively tested in accordance with
49 CFR §§ 192.241, 192.243, 192.245,
195.228, 195.230, and 195.234. NDT
procedures including film type and
radiation source selection should be
optimized for weld defect detection and
repairs completed in accordance with
established welding procedures. When
there is a variation in wall thickness
between line pipe and a segmented
fitting, bend, or other appurtenance,
consideration should be given to the
installation of a segment of intermediate
wall thickness pipe. Additionally,
efforts should be taken to ensure pipe
girth weld alignment is optimized by
utilizing experienced and trained
welders, suitable pipe and detailed
procedures.
Each material component of a
pipeline such as line pipe, fittings,
bends, and other appurtenances must be
able to withstand operating pressures
and other anticipated external loadings
without impairment of its serviceability
in accordance with 49 CFR §§ 192.143
and 195.110. In order to ensure pipeline
integrity, the operator must take all
practicable steps to protect each
transmission line from abnormal loads
while backfilling and other work
continues along the right-of-way and to
minimize loads in accordance with 49
CFR §§ 192.317, 192.319, 195.246(a),
and 195.252. Operators should give
special attention to girth welds with
variations in wall thickness when
located in pipeline segments where
significant pipe support and backfill
settlement issues after installation may
be present, specifically in hilly terrain
and high stress concentration locations
such as at crossings, streams, and
sloping hill sides with unstable soils.
Even if no girth weld concerns are
identified by reviewing construction
records, if an operator has any
knowledge, findings or operating history
that leads it to believe that its newly
constructed, high material grade, large
diameter, line pipe segments contain
these type girth weld transitions, the
operator should conduct engineering
reviews as described above with those
operating pipelines to ensure that

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material, engineering design, and field
construction procedures were in
compliance with 49 CFR Parts 192 and
195. Failure to conduct engineering
reviews and to remediate findings may
compromise the safe operation of the
pipeline.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. chapter 601 and 49
CFR 1.53.
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 18,
2010.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 2010–6528 Filed 3–23–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
Voluntary Intermodal Sealift
Agreement
Maritime Administration, DOT.
Notice of Voluntary Intermodal
Sealift Agreement (VISA).
AGENCY:
ACTION:

SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration
(MARAD) announces the extension of
the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift
Agreement (VISA) until October 1, 2011,
pursuant to the Defense Production Act
of 1950, as amended. The purpose of the
VISA is to make intermodal shipping
services/systems, including ships, ships’
space, intermodal equipment and
related management services, available
to the Department of Defense as
required to support the emergency
deployment and sustainment of U.S.
military forces. This is to be
accomplished through cooperation
among the maritime industry, the
Department of Transportation and the
Department of Defense.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerome D. Davis, Director, Office of
Sealift Support, Room W25–310,
Maritime Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC
20590, (202) 366–2323, Fax (202) 366–
5904.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
708 of the Defense Production Act of
1950, as amended, (50 U.S.C. App.
2158), as implemented by regulations of
the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (44 CFR Part 332), ‘‘Voluntary
agreements for preparedness programs
and expansion of production capacity
and supply’’, authorizes the President,
upon a finding that conditions exist
which may pose a direct threat to the
national defense or its preparedness
programs, ‘‘* * * to consult with
representatives of industry, business,
financing, agriculture, labor and other
interests * * *’’ in order to provide the

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making of such voluntary agreements. It
further authorizes the President to
delegate that authority to individuals
who are appointed by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate, upon
the condition that such individuals
obtain the prior approval of the
Attorney General after the Attorney
General’s consultation with the Federal
Trade Commission. Section 501 of
Executive Order 12919, as amended,
delegated this authority of the President
to the Secretary of Transportation
(Secretary), among others. By DOT
Order 1900.9, the Secretary delegated to
the Maritime Administrator the
authority under which the VISA is
sponsored. Through advance
arrangements in joint planning, it is
intended that participants in VISA will
provide capacity to support a significant
portion of surge and sustainment
requirements in the deployment of U.S.
military forces during war or other
national emergency.
The text of the VISA was first
published in the Federal Register on
February 13, 1997, to be effective for a
two-year term until February 13, 1999.
The VISA document has been extended
and subsequently published in the
Federal Register every two years. The
last extension was published on
November 7, 2007. The text published
herein will now be implemented.
Copies will be made available to the
public upon request.
Text of the Voluntary Intermodal
Sealift Agreement:
Voluntary Intermodal Sealift
Agreement (VISA)
Table of Contents
Abbreviations
Definitions
Preface
I. Purpose
II. Authorities
A. MARAD
B. USTRANSCOM
III. General
A. Concept
B. Responsibilities
C. Termination of Charter, Leases and
Other Contractual Arrangements
D. Modification/Amendment of This
Agreement
E. Administrative Expenses
F. Record Keeping
G. MARAD Reporting Requirements
IV. Joint Planning Advisory Group
V. Activation of VISA Contingency
Provisions
A. General
B. Notification of Activation
C. Voluntary Capacity
D. Stage I
E. Stage II
F. Stage III
G. Partial Activation
VI. Terms and Conditions

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