[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 120 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31548-31549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15554]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Using Third Parties to Certify Training Programs for Lessee and
Contractor Employees Working in Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil, Gas,
and Sulfur Operations
Agency: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
Action: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary: The MMS requires certain people who work on the OCS to
complete training programs certified by MMS. The MMS is considering
having one or more third parties administer the training program
certification process and has proposed a revision of MMS regulations to
provide for this. The MMS, while not yet looking for third parties,
invites questions on or comments about the role a third party might
play in training program certification, should a decision be made to
use them.
Dates: The public is invited to comment on this notice. The MMS will
consider all comments we receive by July 22, 1996.
Addresses: You may mail or hand-carry your written comments on this
notice to the Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service,
Mail Stop 4810; 381 Elden Street; Herndon, Virginia 22070-4817;
Attention: Chief, Information and Training Branch.
For More Information Contact: Mr. Joseph Levine, Chief, Information and
Training Branch, telephone (703) 787-1033 or fax (703) 787-1575.
Supplementary Information: The MMS has two principal objectives for
using third parties--
improving workplace safety, worker training, and
preventing pollution through the innovation third parties could bring
by serving as ``think tanks'' for improved training; and
reducing government costs by shifting them to the
regulated industry.
The MMS has included a provision allowing the use of third parties
in the proposed revisions (Federal Register, vol. 60, p. 55683, 11/2/
95) to its OCS worker training regulations (30 CFR 250, Subpart O,
Training). The MMS decision to use third parties depends, in part, on
whether MMS can identify and secure one or more suitable third parties.
When released, the final rule will reflect whether MMS believes it will
be able to do this. If MMS decides not to use third parties to do
certification work, it would continue its role as certifier, and it
might begin to recover costs from organizations seeking training
program certification. This would not provide all the benefits of using
a third party, but it would shift certification costs away from MMS.
Current Program
Certain OCS oil and gas workers must pass job-specific training as
required by the Subpart O regulations. The organization that provides
the training gives each worker who passes it an MMS training
certificate. Workers must be re-certified from time to time through
additional training. The training organization provides MMS with
information on worker certification within 30 days after a worker
successfully completes training. The MMS monitors worker training and
certification in a database. Each year MMS must update about 20 percent
of the database's approximate 40,000 records.
A training organization that teaches Subpart O training must have
its programs reviewed periodically by MMS to determine whether they
meet all regulatory requirements. If they do, MMS certifies the
training programs conditionally, pending a successful onsite evaluation
by MMS. Certification to teach a Subpart O training program is valid
for 4 years. A training organization may request a 4-year renewal of a
certified program at any time expect during the last 90 days of the
initial certification period. The MMS treats a renewal application the
same as it does an application for a new program.
There are about 60 training organizations teaching MMS-approved
programs in drilling, well-completion, well-workover, and well-
servicing well control operations. The MMS processes an average of 15
requests for training program certification or re-certification each
year.
The MMS conducts unannounced training site evaluations on 10
percent of all certified training programs each year. These
evaluations, which follow standard procedures (i.e., appropriate
entrance and exit interviews with students, instructors, and
administrative staff, and good record checking) ensure that
organization--
adhere to their approved training plans and technical
manuals; and
maintain a proper learning atmosphere with regard to
classroom instruction, hands-on instruction, and testing.
[[Page 31549]]
The MMS also conducts unannounced audits on 25 percent of all
certified training programs each year. These audits emphasize program
record maintenance, classroom layout and function, and classroom or
hands-on instruction. Finally, MMS tests students at the training site
on a random basis to verify that they understand the curriculum.
Duties of a Third Party
If adopted, third parties would continue much of what MMS does
under the current program. They would also report periodically to MMS
on their activities. These reports would include any significant
certification or monitoring issues, ideas for improving training
programs and techniques, and recommendations for enhancing worker
safety and protecting the environment.
Some specifics may include--
reporting to MMS on the certified training programs and
the associated training organizations;
evaluating and reporting to the MMS the relationships
between training program requirements and incidents that occur at
offshore facilities (e.g., analyses of offshore operators' ``near-
miss'' and well ``kick'' data and well blowout prevention equipment);
and
recommending changes to the certification process or MMS
training program requirements.
Qualifications of a Third Party
The MMS will consider several factors in choosing a third party.
Certification fee structure. MMS would not pay third parties to do
certification work. Instead, third parties would charge training
organizations a service fee. The MMS would determine whether a fee is
reasonable and equitable.
Certifier's credentials. Third parties should have knowledge of and
practical experience with oil and gas drilling, well-completion, well-
workover, well-supervising, and/or production activities. They also
should be experienced at assessing teaching credentials and curricula.
Training programs may include traditional instructor/classroom training
as well as other training techniques (e.g., team-based or computer-
based).
Reliability and responsiveness. Third parties would have to
dedicate sufficient staff and resources to handle anticipated
workloads; demonstrate that they can process certification requests
competently and promptly; and install a system to maintain complete,
up-to-date, and accessible records.
Objectively. To avoid conflicts of interest, third parties could
not consider certification requests from training organizations in
which either the third party or the organization held a financial or
business interest in the other. Third parties would honor certification
requests from any other training organization. The MMS would expect
third parties to develop a process for objectively reviewing training
organization appeals.
Training program assessment capabilities. Third parties would have
to demonstrate they can assess training program performance. While MMS
would not insist that third parties use the current monitoring
techniques, MMS would expect a comparable program to be in place. Also,
third parties would have to emphasize ``after-the-school'' workforce
performance appraisals. In particular, MMS is interested in methods
that assess knowledge retention, and how the training is applied in the
workplace. Third parties would provide MMS with feedback on worker
training improvements.
MMS oversight. Third parties would assist MMS in its oversight role
by helping investigate complaints about certification determinations
and cooperating in MMS audits. The MMS also would expect third parties
to grant MMS ex officio status on any of its governing boards or
executive/management committees. Third parties would consult with the
MMS on concerns over whether a proposed program meets MMS requirements.
This might be important when third parties have to certify programs
that involve new, unusual, or alternative techniques.
Dated: June 10, 1996.
Thomas A. Readinger,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Mineral Management.
[FR Doc. 96-15554 Filed 6-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M
