# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-029 **Citation:** P-73-029 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board **Effective:** 1973-08-10 **Published:** 1973-08-10 THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: REVIEW THE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE HAZARDOUS REGULATIONS BOARD IN DOCKET HM-6, AND REVIEW THE ACCIDENT RECORDS OF UNCOATED, UNPROTECTED, OR PARTIALLY PROTECTED PIPELINES. BASED UPON THE RESULTS OF THAT REVIEW, RULEMAKING SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE FOR EITHER PERIODIC HYDROSTATIC RETESTING OF THESE PIPELINES OR PROGRESSIVE R ## Document text NTSB safety recommendation P-73-029. THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: REVIEW THE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE HAZARDOUS REGULATIONS BOARD IN DOCKET HM-6, AND REVIEW THE ACCIDENT RECORDS OF UNCOATED, UNPROTECTED, OR PARTIALLY PROTECTED PIPELINES. BASED UPON THE RESULTS OF THAT REVIEW, RULEMAKING SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE FOR EITHER PERIODIC HYDROSTATIC RETESTING OF THESE PIPELINES OR PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION IN THEIR OPERATING PRESSURES BASED UPON THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUING CORROSION, OR BOTH. Priority: CLASS II Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action Issued Date: 1973-08-10 Adopted Date: 1973-08-01 Overall Date Closed: 1986-07-01 Synopsis: ON MAY 14, 1972, A SHUTDOWN, CLOSED-IN 8-INCH PIPELINE OWNED BY THE EXXON PIPE LINE COMPANY RUPTURED NEAR HEARNE, TEXAS. THE CRUDE OIL FLOWED ALONG A SMALL STREAM AND WAS DAMMED UP 1 FOOT DEEP IN A STOCK POND 1,800 FEET FROM THE LEAK. VAPORS FROM THE CRUDE OIL, WHICH CONTINUED TO LEAK FROM THE RUPTURE, ENTERED A HOUSE AND WERE IGNITED. THE EXPLOSION KILLED ONE PERSON, SERIOUSLY BURNED TWO OTHERS, DESTROYED THE HOUSE, MELTED NEARBY COMMUNICATION LINES, AND SCORCHED AN 1,800-FOOT-LONG AREA. Keywords: Hazmat Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR003 Report Number: PAR-73-02 Addressee Name: RSPA Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action Addressee Date Closed: 1986-07-01 Addressee Acronym: RSPA Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government Communication Date: 1985-11-13 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Communication Contents: CORROSION ACCIDENT DATA AND RELATED STUDIES BEING REVIEWED TO DETERMINE NEED FOR RULEMAKING. RESPONSE TO NTSB DUE 12/30/85. Addressee Acronym: RSPA Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government Communication Date: 1986-03-11 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Communication Contents: RSPA LTR: SEE LOG FILE P-21 FOR RESPONSE. Addressee Acronym: RSPA Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government Communication Date: 1978-04-03 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Communication Contents: 5/1/74-LTR FROM DOT: THE OPS PLAN TO UPDATE AND REVISE PART 195 WILL INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF THE FACTORS NECESSARY TO A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO PROBLEMS OF PIPE INSTALLED BEFORE APRIL 1, 1970. 4/3/78-OPSO LTR IN RESPONSE TO NTSB 11/4/77 LETTER REQUESTING NOTIFICATION OF ACTION BY OPSO IN REVISION OF PART 195 CFR: OPSO DISCUSSED LACK OF SUBSTANTIAL DATA IN REVIEW OF HM-6. STUDY OF LIQUIDS TRANSPORTED BY PIPELINE USED AS BASIS FOR NPRM DEVELOPMENT FOR QUALIFICATION OF OPERATING PRESSURE THROUGH VARIOUS PARAMETERS,I.E., PRESSURE TEST, TESTING PROCEDURES, OPERATING PROCEDURES, MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, VALVE SPACING, OVERPRESSURE AND REMOTE CONTROL, AND OPERATING STRESS LEVEL. Addressee Acronym: RSPA Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government Communication Date: 1977-11-04 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Addressee Acronym: RSPA Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government Communication Date: 1985-08-19 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Addressee Acronym: RSPA Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government Communication Date: 1986-03-27 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Addressee Acronym: RSPA Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government Communication Date: 1986-07-01 Communication Type: Official Correspondence ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline` - SHA-256: `7073b4cd29b90a3801c7a53822b2c122b17bfef54c02235b853da3f468a47617` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T05:55:43.126Z - Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-73-029` ### Source metadata ```json { "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation", "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-73-029", "recommendationMode": "Pipeline", "topicMode": "Pipeline", "ntsbNumber": "PLD72XR003", "priority": "CLASS II", "overallStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action", "overallStatusAcronym": "CUA", "overallDateClosed": "1986-07-01", "lastModifiedDate": "2023-08-30", "reportNumber": "PAR-73-02", "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD72XR003.aspx", "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P73_29_36.pdf", "addressees": [ { "addresseeName": "RSPA", "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CUA", "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action", "addresseeDateClosed": "1986-07-01", "addresseeDetails": [ { "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government", "isFromNtsb": false, "communicationDate": "1985-11-13", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "CORROSION ACCIDENT DATA AND RELATED STUDIES BEING REVIEWED TO DETERMINE NEED FOR RULEMAKING. RESPONSE TO NTSB DUE 12/30/85." }, { "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government", "isFromNtsb": false, "communicationDate": "1986-03-11", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "RSPA LTR: SEE LOG FILE P-21 FOR RESPONSE." }, { "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government", "isFromNtsb": false, "communicationDate": "1978-04-03", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "5/1/74-LTR FROM DOT: THE OPS PLAN TO UPDATE AND REVISE PART 195 WILL INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF THE FACTORS NECESSARY TO A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO PROBLEMS OF PIPE INSTALLED BEFORE APRIL 1, 1970. 4/3/78-OPSO LTR IN RESPONSE TO NTSB 11/4/77 LETTER REQUESTING NOTIFICATION OF ACTION BY OPSO IN REVISION OF PART 195 CFR: OPSO DISCUSSED LACK OF SUBSTANTIAL DATA IN REVIEW OF HM-6. STUDY OF LIQUIDS TRANSPORTED BY PIPELINE USED AS BASIS FOR NPRM DEVELOPMENT FOR QUALIFICATION OF OPERATING PRESSURE THROUGH VARIOUS PARAMETERS,I.E., PRESSURE TEST, TESTING PROCEDURES, OPERATING PROCEDURES, MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, VALVE SPACING, OVERPRESSURE AND REMOTE CONTROL, AND OPERATING STRESS LEVEL." }, { "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government", "isFromNtsb": true, "communicationDate": "1977-11-04", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "" }, { "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government", "isFromNtsb": true, "communicationDate": "1985-08-19", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "" }, { "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government", "isFromNtsb": true, "communicationDate": "1986-03-27", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "" }, { "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government", "isFromNtsb": true, "communicationDate": "1986-07-01", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "" } ] } ], "jurisdiction": "US" } ```