# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-030

**Citation:** P-78-030  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1978-07-19  
**Published:** 1978-07-19

ISSUE AN EMERGENCY PLAN THAT CONFORMS TO 49 CFR 192.615 AND TRAIN EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, INCLUDING THE EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND THE EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN OF THE SYSTEM.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-030.

ISSUE AN EMERGENCY PLAN THAT CONFORMS TO 49 CFR 192.615 AND TRAIN EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, INCLUDING THE EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND THE EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN OF THE SYSTEM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-07-19

Adopted Date: 1978-07-05

Overall Date Closed: 1982-08-03

Synopsis: ON DECEMBER 15, 1977, A 2-INCH PLASTIC GAS MAIN UNDER AN ALLEY IN DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE, KANSAS, PULLED OUT OF A COMPRESSION COUPLING WHICH JOINED IT TO A STEEL GAS MAIN. NATURAL GAS ESCAPED FROM THE MAIN AND MIGRATED THROUGH THE STONE FOUNDATION WALLS OF TWO NEARBY BUILDINGS. THE ACCUMULATIONS OF GAS IN THE TWO BUILDINGS IGNITED. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED ONE BUILDING, SEVERELY DAMAGED THE OTHER BUILDING, AND BROKE NEARBY WINDOWS. TWO PERSONS WERE KILLED AND THREE PERSONS WERE INJURED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA78MP005

Report Number: PAR-78-04

Addressee Name: Kansas Public Service Company, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-08-03

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-04-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: KANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY LTR: EMERGENCY PLANS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND DISCUSSED WITH COMPANY PERSONEL RELATING TO ANY CONDITION THAT COULD ARISE. MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD WITH LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING PROCEDURES NEEDED DURING ANY EMERGENCY CONDITION, INCLUDING EVACUATION OF AN AREA OR SYSTEM SHUTDOWN; PERIODIC MEETINGS WITH POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND EMERGENCY PRE PAREDNESS STAFF CONTINUE TO BE HELD.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-12-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-08-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-030>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `645c860d33d7799b688998138e9ba5a045e8cc721719ff6ea456f272843f8489`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T19:19:44.540Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-78-030`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-78-030",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA78MP005",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1982-08-03",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-78-04",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA78MP005.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P78_25_32.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Kansas Public Service Company, Inc.",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1982-08-03",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-04-13",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "KANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY LTR:  EMERGENCY PLANS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND DISCUSSED WITH COMPANY PERSONEL RELATING TO ANY CONDITION THAT COULD ARISE.  MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD WITH LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING PROCEDURES NEEDED DURING ANY EMERGENCY CONDITION, INCLUDING EVACUATION OF AN AREA OR SYSTEM SHUTDOWN; PERIODIC MEETINGS WITH POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND EMERGENCY PRE PAREDNESS STAFF CONTINUE TO BE HELD."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1978-12-14",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-08-03",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```