# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-020

**Citation:** P-78-020  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-07-06  
**Published:** 1978-07-06

REQUEST THAT A REPRESENTATIVE OF EACH OPERATOR OF AN UNDERGROUND FACILITY ATTEND ALL PRECONSTRUCTION MEETINGS FOR EXCAVATION PROJECTS CONTRACTED BY THE CITY.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-020.

REQUEST THAT A REPRESENTATIVE OF EACH OPERATOR OF AN UNDERGROUND FACILITY ATTEND ALL PRECONSTRUCTION MEETINGS FOR EXCAVATION PROJECTS CONTRACTED BY THE CITY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-07-06

Adopted Date: 1978-05-18

Overall Date Closed: 1983-01-27

Synopsis: ON DECEMBER 1, 1977, A 12-INCH, CAST-IRON, HIGH-PRESSURE GAS MAIN OWNED BY THE ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY WAS RUPTURED BY AN 8-INCH STEEL I-BEAM PILE, WHICH WAS DRIVEN THROUGH THE PIPE AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF A NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. WITHIN MINUTES, NATURAL GAS AT 10-PSIG PRESSURE MIGRATED THROUGH THE GROUND, ENTERED SEWER LINES AND ELECTRIC CONDUIT SYSTEMS, AND SPREAD INTO NEARBY BUILDINGS. THE GAS DID NOT IGNITE, BUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE EVACUATED FROM NEARBY OFFICE BUILDINGS.

Ntsbnumber: DCA78MP003

Report Number: PAR-78-03

Addressee Name: State of Georgia, City of Atlanta

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-01-27

Addressee Acronym: ATL

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1982-11-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, LTR: IN APRIL 1978, THE APPLICABLE GEORGIA LAW WAS AMENDED REMOVING THE NOTIFICATION EXEMPTION FOR ALL EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE EXCEPT CERTAIN PUBLIC ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK. ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES HAVE AGAIN BEEN DIRECTED THAT EACH OPERATOR OF AN UNDERGROUND FACILITY WILL BE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE A REPRESENTATIVE AT ALL PRECONSTRUCTION MEETINGS FOR EXCAVATION PROJECTS CONTRACTED BY THE CITY AND THAT NO CITY DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY WILL INITIATE ANY CONSTRUCTION OR DEMOLITION PROJECTS INVOLVING EXCAVATON UNTIL AFTER REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL OPERATORS OF UNDERGROUND FACILITIES HAVE PHYSICALLY VISITED THE SITE AND APPROPRIATELY MARKED ALL UNDERGROUND FACILITIES.

Addressee Acronym: ATL

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: ATL

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-01-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-020>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `83659a6794fb5518c0d06666cec2daf5dee9a2b52f143798a366edddfbf21981`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T10:25:22.217Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-020`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-020",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA78MP003",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-01-27",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-78-03",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA78MP003.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P78_20.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "State of Georgia, City of Atlanta",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-01-27",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ATL",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-11-02",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, LTR:  IN APRIL 1978, THE APPLICABLE GEORGIA LAW WAS AMENDED REMOVING THE NOTIFICATION EXEMPTION FOR ALL EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE EXCEPT CERTAIN PUBLIC ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK.  ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES HAVE AGAIN BEEN DIRECTED THAT EACH OPERATOR OF AN UNDERGROUND FACILITY WILL BE REQUESTED TO PROVIDE A REPRESENTATIVE AT ALL PRECONSTRUCTION MEETINGS FOR EXCAVATION PROJECTS CONTRACTED BY THE CITY AND THAT NO CITY DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY WILL INITIATE ANY CONSTRUCTION OR DEMOLITION PROJECTS INVOLVING EXCAVATON UNTIL AFTER REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL OPERATORS OF UNDERGROUND FACILITIES HAVE PHYSICALLY VISITED THE SITE AND APPROPRIATELY MARKED ALL UNDERGROUND FACILITIES."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ATL",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-05",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ATL",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-01-27",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```