# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-023

**Citation:** P-73-023  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1973-06-18  
**Published:** 1973-06-18

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: DEVELOP GUIDELINES THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED BY GAS PIPELINE OPERATORS DURING DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF PIPING SYSTEMS, WITH EMPHASIS ON PREVENTION OF FUTURE EXCAVATION DAMAGE.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-023.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: DEVELOP GUIDELINES THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED BY GAS PIPELINE OPERATORS DURING DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF PIPING SYSTEMS, WITH EMPHASIS ON PREVENTION OF FUTURE EXCAVATION DAMAGE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-06-18

Adopted Date: 1973-06-07

Overall Date Closed: 1979-02-06

Synopsis: "SPECIAL STUDY - PREVENTION OF DAMAGE TO PIPELINES." THIS SPECIAL STUDY CONCERNS DAMAGE TO GAS AND LIQUID PIPELINES CAUSED BY EXCAVATION AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING BLASTING.

Ntsbnumber: 80571

Report Number: PSS-73-01

Addressee Name: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1979-02-06

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1973-07-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM ASME GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION IS PUTTING TOGETHER A MASSIVE NEW RESEARCH PLANNING PROGRAM TO EARMARK RESEARCH NEEDS FOR THE SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM FUTURE, WITH FOREIGN PARTY DAMAGE TO PIPELINES IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. THE ASME GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE IS PURSUING THIS MATTER. 9/6/78 - ASME LTR: GUIDE MATERIAL FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GUIDE JULY 1977, ADDENDA NO. 6, AS APPENDIX G-14.

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1978-05-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-73-023>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `55f69dd9e681fb17fc4fdf877504342c52a839010b4417da948ccf9a3c91d3df`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T06:27:54.369Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-73-023`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-73-023",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "80571",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1979-02-06",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PSS-73-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/80571.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P73_12_28.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "American Society of Mechanical Engineers",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1979-02-06",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ASME",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1973-07-24",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "LETTER FROM ASME GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE: THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION IS PUTTING TOGETHER A MASSIVE NEW RESEARCH PLANNING PROGRAM TO EARMARK RESEARCH NEEDS FOR THE SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM FUTURE, WITH FOREIGN PARTY DAMAGE TO PIPELINES IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. THE ASME GAS PIPING STANDARDS COMMITTEE IS PURSUING THIS MATTER. 9/6/78 - ASME LTR: GUIDE MATERIAL FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GUIDE JULY 1977, ADDENDA NO. 6, AS APPENDIX G-14."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ASME",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1978-05-01",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```