News

IME's Manager of Technical Services, Lon Santis, was invited by the US House of Representatives' Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) to testify at a hearing on oversight of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA).   T&I has concerns over PHMSA issuance of special permits and approvals.

Bulk trucks used to deliver blasting materials had been the focus of investigations by the DOT Office of Inspector General and T&I staff into the SP program and in response, PHMSA has issued "show cause" letters to certain bulk truck SP holders. 

The recent efforts of IME, their members, and in particular, Viking Explosives, to educate T&I and Chairman Oberstar (below in the white shirt) on the safety and efficiency brought by bulk delivery have clearly paid off.  As can be seen from the video of the hearing, except for repeating some of the misinformation about bulk explosives provided to T&I, the explosives industry was complimented on its attention to safety.