January 2025 Membership Meeting

LOCATION & HOTEL INFORMATION

Embassy Suites Alexandria Old Town
1900 Diagonal Road | Alexandria, VA 22314

Hotel Phone Number: 1-800-362-2779
Group code “COS”

HOTEL RESERVATION LINK
Cut-off Date: January 7, 2025

Parking Charges - $15 overnight per car, per night

Early Departure Fee: If you check out of the hotel prior to your reserved checkout date, the Hotel will charge an early checkout fee. If you wish to avoid this early checkout fee please advise the Hotel at or before check-in of any change in planned length of stay.

How the January Meetings Work:

• REGISTRATION IS OPEN: Registration required, click here to register.
• These meetings on Tuesday-Wednesday are held onsite only.
• The Membership 101 and Wrap-up/Recap sessions on Friday are held virtually only.
• The agenda is included below and posted on the January Meeting Webpage
• Lunches on Tuesday-Wednesday are on your own.
• Dinners on Tuesday-Wednesday are optional (separate checks), please select dinner(s) on registration. Additional details regarding dinner will be provided in your email confirmation which you will receive one week before to the meeting.

What to Expect Each Day:

• Tuesday, January 28: The Air Carrier Roundtable (ACRT) session is limited to COSTHA ACRT members only. If you have any questions regarding this session, please email lgena@costha.com
• Tuesday, January 28: The Board of Directors Meeting is limited to COSTHA Board members only. If you have any questions regarding this session, please email chris@costha.com
• Tuesday, January 28: Optional Dinner, separate checks, restaurant TBD.
• Wednesday, January 29: The Working Group/Roundtable Briefing session will provide a high-level overview on recent activities and objectives/goals. This session is open to all members and we welcome new participants.
• Wednesday, January 29: Speakers from US DOT PHMSA, FAA, FMCSA, USPS, and USPIS have been invited to participate in this Regulatory Roundtable session. As speakers are confirmed their names will be added to the meeting webpage. This session is open to all members and includes a coffee break. 
• Wednesday, January 29: Optional Dinner, separate checks, restaurant TBD.
• Friday, January 31: The Wrap-Up session will be held virtually only. This session will be recorded. 
• Friday, January 31: And lastly, if you want to learn more about your COSTHA membership or get answers to your membership questions, join us for the COSTHA Membership 101 webinar. Know someone who may be interested in COSTHA membership? Send their contact details to Anne@costha.com for an invitation to this webinar.
• The Embassy Suites offers a complimentary reception for guests each evening from 5:30pm - 7:00pm (ET).

SPEAKER TOPICS
LINKS TO PRESENTATIONS / RECORDINGS

Tuesday,
January 28
10:00am - 12:00pm (ET)

Tuesday,
January 28
12:00pm - 1:00pm (ET)

Lunch on your own

Tuesday,
January 28
1:00pm - 3:00pm (ET)

Air Carrier Roundtable Meeting with Invited Speakers
(limited to COSTHA Air Carrier Members and Invited Speakers / Guests) 

Invited Speakers / *Confirmed Speakers:

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (US DOT PHMSA)

• Duane Pfund, International Program Coordinator, US DOT PHMSA

Federal Aviation Administration (US DOT FAA)

• Paul Serafin, Division Manager for Air Carrier Safety Assurance Division AXH-300
• Jessica Nielson, Branch Manager for Air Carrier Safety Assurance Branch AXH-370
• Veronica Hollaway, Safety Assurance Branch Manager, AXH-350

Speaker Topics: 

PHMSA

• Lithium battery advisory committee and Aviation Consumer Protection presentation – next steps
  • Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee update on activities mandate
• Harmonization rulemaking status / impact of administration change
• Enforcement discretion with delay in HM-215R
• Status of COSTHA ACRT LOI requests and petitions
• 5800.1 update / publication of rulemaking / testing of changes to Hazmatics 

FAA

• AXH Mobility Aid Assessment Outcomes – best practices / top concerns
• Update on PHI Activities / Standardization / Assignments / Enforcement
• 5800.1 process and request for missing information (i.e., location, time of incident, etc.) that is not available thus the requirement for carriers to manually submit 

Wednesday,
January 29
8:30am - 11:30am (ET)

COSTHA Working Group/Roundtables Briefings / Preparation for Regulatory Roundtable

The COSTHA Working Groups/Roundtables will provide a high-level overview on recent activities and objectives/goals.

Wednesday,
January 29
11:30am - 1:00pm (ET)

Lunch on your own

Wednesday,
January 29
1:00pm - 4:00pm (ET)

Regulatory Roundtable with Invited Speakers and Guests
(includes Coffee Break)

Invited Speakers / *Confirmed Speakers:

Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (US DOT PHMSA)

• William Schoonover, Associate Administrator
• Olivia Milline, Senior Director
• William Quade, Deputy Associate Administrator Policy and Programs
• Duane Pfund, International Program Coordinator
• Carey Davis, Deputy Associate Administrator Field Operations
• Marc Nichols, Field Outreach and Engagement Director
• Shane Kelley, Director, Standards and Rulemaking 
• Lad Falat, Director of Sciences and Engineering
• Aaron Mitchell, Director Outreach, Engagement, and Grants
• Yolanda Braxton, Director, Operations System
• Steve Webb, International Standard Specialist
• Kevin Leary, International Standard Specialist
• Joanna Luu, Chief, Outreach and Engagement
• Don Burger, Chief, General Approvals and Permits 

Federal Aviation Administration (US DOT FAA)

• Tonya Coultas, Associate Administrator for Security & Hazardous Materials Safety
• Ben Supko, Director of Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
• Walter J. McBurrows, III, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (AXH) Deputy Director
• Paul Serafin, Division Manager for Air Carrier Safety Assurance Division
• Michael Cameron, Division Manager for Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Division
• Michael D. Givens, Division Manager for Cargo Safety & International Division
• Keith Ranck, Hazmat Aviation Safety Analyst for Cargo Safety & International Division

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

• *Melissa Williams, Transportation Specialist

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Scott Christian
• Steve Donnelly
• William Nicholas
• Kyle Markley
• David Graham

US Postal Service (USPS)

• Jennifer Cox, Hazmat Classification Specialist

US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)

• Charlotte DeJohn, Hazardous Materials Program Specialist
• Gerald Gales, Hazardous Materials Program Specialist

Speaker Topics: 

Each regulatory agency to provide a briefing on applicable topics (20-25 minutes per agency plus Q&A) as listed below:

• Organization and objectives for 2025
• Regulatory Process – current or future rulemakings
• Petitions for Rulemakings – progress
• International updates/efforts
• Current enforcement activities
• EPA to brief on additional topics listed below:
  • lithium battery disposal and recycling.
• PHMSA to brief on the topics listed below:
  • HAZMATICS
  • US DOT PHMSA Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee
  • Enhancing the Image of HazMat Professional / Outreach efforts

Wednesday,
January 29
6:30pm (ET)

Dinner
(optional, separate checks)

VIRTUAL ONLY 

Friday, January 31
10:00am - 11:00am (ET)

VIRTUAL ONLY

Friday, January 31
1:00pm - 2:00pm (ET)