RSPA has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Gas Research Institute (GRI) to co-fund a two year research program to identify and characterizing mechanical damage, the leading cause of reportable accidents in both gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, using the technology of magnetic flux leakage (MFL) oriented in the circumferential direction on an in-line inspection tool. RSPA along with GRI invite the pipeline industry, in-line inspection ("smart pig") vendors, and the general public to a quarterly performance review meeting hosted by RSPA to report on progress with the research "Better Understanding of Mechanical Damage in Pipelines." The quarterly review meeting will be held in room 6244 of the Department of Transportation Headquarters Building, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC. on Thursday, December 7, 2000 beginning at 9 a.m. and ending around 1 p.m. The meeting is open to anyone, and no registration is required.

The meeting will cover a review of the overall project plan, the status of the contract tasks, progress made during the past quarter, and projected activity for the next quarter. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lloyd W. Ulrich, Agreement Officer's Technical Representative, Office of Pipeline Safety, telephone: (202) 366-4556, FAX: (202) 366-4566, e-mail: lloyd.ulrich@rspa.dot.gov. You may also contact Harvey Haines, Principal Investigator, GRI, telephone: (773) 399-8223, FAX: (773) 864-3495, e-mail: harvey.haines@gastechnology.org.

Pending Audits?