# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-021

**Citation:** P-78-021  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-07-06  
**Published:** 1978-07-06

INSTRUCT ITS EMPLOYEES TO RESPOND PRECISELY TO NOTICES OF PLANNED EXCAVATIONS PROVIDED BY ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-021.

INSTRUCT ITS EMPLOYEES TO RESPOND PRECISELY TO NOTICES OF PLANNED EXCAVATIONS PROVIDED BY ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-07-06

Adopted Date: 1978-05-18

Overall Date Closed: 1983-02-28

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 A CONSTRUCTION SITE 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: Atlanta Gas Light Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-02-28

Addressee Acronym: AGL

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-11-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY LETTER: THE ORIGINAL CUT-OFF DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA WHERE THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED WAS REVIEWED AND ACTUALLY DIVIDED INTO FOUR (4) SECTIONS IN ORDER THAT EMERGENCY CUT OFF COULD BE MADE IN A MORE EFFECTIVE MANNER. ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY HAS HAD A LOCATION SERVICE IN ATLANTA SINCE 1950 AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THIS AREA ARE INSTRUCTED TO INQUIRE ABOUT ALL ON-THE-JOB-SITE EXCAVATION TO BE DONE AT THAT LOCATION. IT IS OUR OPERATING POLICY TO REVIEW OUR EMERGENCY CUT-OFF DISTRICTS, KEEPING IN MIND THE NEED TO RE-DISTRICT OUR CONGESTED BUSINESS AREAS IF IT IS PRUDENT TO DO SO.

Addressee Acronym: AGL

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGL

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-02-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-021>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `0b8792179eed82b8cc018953b999ac1550390aa2b8d466169172d00fce20310f`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T20:37:54.727Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-021`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-021",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA78MP003",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-02-28",
  "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_21_22.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Atlanta Gas Light Company",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-02-28",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "AGL",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-11-24",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY LETTER:  THE ORIGINAL CUT-OFF DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA WHERE THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED WAS REVIEWED AND ACTUALLY DIVIDED INTO FOUR (4) SECTIONS IN ORDER THAT EMERGENCY CUT OFF COULD BE MADE IN A MORE EFFECTIVE MANNER.  ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY HAS HAD A LOCATION SERVICE IN ATLANTA SINCE 1950 AND ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THIS AREA ARE INSTRUCTED TO INQUIRE ABOUT ALL ON-THE-JOB-SITE EXCAVATION TO BE DONE AT THAT LOCATION.  IT IS OUR OPERATING POLICY TO REVIEW OUR EMERGENCY CUT-OFF DISTRICTS, KEEPING IN MIND THE NEED TO RE-DISTRICT OUR CONGESTED BUSINESS AREAS IF IT IS PRUDENT TO DO SO."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "AGL",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "AGL",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-02-28",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```