# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-023

**Citation:** P-78-023  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-07-06  
**Published:** 1978-07-06

DEVELOP AND ISSUE GUIDELINES TO PIPELINE OPERATORS CONCERNING THE NUMBER AND LOCATION OF EMERGENCY VALVES IN HIGH-PRESSURE GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-023.

DEVELOP AND ISSUE GUIDELINES TO PIPELINE OPERATORS CONCERNING THE NUMBER AND LOCATION OF EMERGENCY VALVES IN HIGH-PRESSURE GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-07-06

Adopted Date: 1978-05-18

Overall Date Closed: 1985-07-29

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: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-07-29

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1978-09-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ASME LTR: ASME-GPSC IS REVIEWING THIS RECOMMENDATION.

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-09-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-07-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-023>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `42eeee98d9d87c4aeb5811c9a34ca2fd81504c2a42cb604e440ac5d0deee20ad`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T14:36:13.661Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-023`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-023",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA78MP003",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1985-07-29",
  "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_23.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "American Society of Mechanical Engineers",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CAA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1985-07-29",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ASME",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1978-09-06",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "ASME LTR:  ASME-GPSC IS REVIEWING THIS RECOMMENDATION."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ASME",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1985-09-12",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "ASME",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1985-07-29",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
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        }
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  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```