# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-74-035

**Citation:** P-74-035  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1974-08-21  
**Published:** 1974-08-21

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT COLUMBIA GAS OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.: INITIATE A MORE INTENSE GENERAL PUBLIC AND GAS CUSTOMER INFORMATION PROGRAM AS TO THE NATURE, CHARACTERISTICS, AND HAZARDS OF NATURAL GAS AND THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN WHEN IT IS ENCOUNTERED.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-74-035.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT COLUMBIA GAS OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.: INITIATE A MORE INTENSE GENERAL PUBLIC AND GAS CUSTOMER INFORMATION PROGRAM AS TO THE NATURE, CHARACTERISTICS, AND HAZARDS OF NATURAL GAS AND THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN WHEN IT IS ENCOUNTERED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1974-08-21

Adopted Date: 1974-08-21

Overall Date Closed: 1976-09-10

Synopsis: On December 2, 1973, an explosion followed by an intense fire killed three persons, injured two others, and destroyed a house on the outskirts of Charleston, W. Va. Fire, fueled by natural gas which had saturated the soil, later rekindled briefly in the ground around the house.

Keywords: Hazmat

Ntsbnumber: PLD74XR008

Report Number: PAR-74-04

Addressee Name: NiSource, Inc. (formerly Columbia Gas)

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-09-10

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1975-02-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM COLUMBIA GAS: THEY WILL USE "GAS SCRATCH CARD" ONCE A YEAR AND NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT REGARDING SAFETY AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. ALSO THEY ARE WORKING ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN WHICH GREATER EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON INSTRUCTING THE CUSTOMER AND GENERAL PUBLIC TO CALL IN EMERGENCIES. 2/23/78 - LTR FROM COLUMBIA GAS SYSTEM SERVICE CORPORATION: A SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE COLUMBIA DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES OVER THE SEVEN STATES IN WHICH CDC OPERATES DURING 1978. THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM DIRECTED AT THE PUBLIC-AT-RISK RATHER THAN JUST GAS CUSTOMERS. CORRESPONDENCE DOCUMENTATION INCOMPLETE.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-74-035>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `e6f8de18fdfeebe2f060554cf1e85ec25772b1ffad342c6ddf2015840ce8a79d`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T02:29:04.432Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-74-035`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-74-035",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD74XR008",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1976-09-10",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2023-08-30",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-74-04",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD74XR008.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P74_29_36.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "NiSource, Inc. (formerly Columbia Gas)",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1976-09-10",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1975-02-14",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "LETTER FROM COLUMBIA GAS: THEY WILL USE \"GAS SCRATCH CARD\" ONCE A YEAR AND NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT REGARDING SAFETY AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. ALSO THEY ARE WORKING ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN WHICH GREATER EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON INSTRUCTING THE CUSTOMER AND GENERAL PUBLIC TO CALL IN EMERGENCIES. 2/23/78 - LTR FROM COLUMBIA GAS SYSTEM SERVICE CORPORATION: A SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE COLUMBIA DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES OVER THE SEVEN STATES IN WHICH CDC OPERATES DURING 1978. THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM DIRECTED AT THE PUBLIC-AT-RISK RATHER THAN JUST GAS CUSTOMERS. CORRESPONDENCE DOCUMENTATION INCOMPLETE."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```