# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-79-038

**Citation:** P-79-038  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1979-11-14  
**Published:** 1979-11-14

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: COOPERATE WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES SERVING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO ESTABLISH A "ONE-CALL" EXCAVATION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-79-038.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: COOPERATE WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES SERVING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO ESTABLISH A "ONE-CALL" EXCAVATION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1979-11-14

Adopted Date: 1979-11-13

Overall Date Closed: 1981-11-05

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 30, 1979, A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION DEMOLISHED A TOWNHOUSE AT 215 THIRD STREET SE., IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND DAMAGED SEVERAL NEARBY BUILDINGS. NO ONE WAS IN THE TOWNHOUSE AT THE TIME, BUT THREE PERSONS PASSING BY IN A CAR WERE INJURED WHEN DEBRIS FROM THE EXPLOSION SHATTERED GLASS IN THE CAR.

Ntsbnumber: PLD80XR002

Report Number: PAR-80-04

Addressee Name: District of Columbia

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1981-11-05

Addressee Acronym: DC

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1980-01-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LTR: RESPONSE INCLUDED A COPY OF BILL 3-240, THE UNDERGROUND FACILITIES PROTECTION ACT OF 1979. THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED TO THE D.C. CITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 14, 1979. SECTION 3 OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION CONCERNS THE FORMATION AND OPERATION OF A ONE-CALL CENTER FOR THE MUTUAL RECEIPT OF PROPOSED EXCAVATION OR DEMOLITION OPERATIONS IN THE DISTRICT. NOTE: UNDERGROUND FACILITIES PROTECTION ACT OF 1980 APPROVED 1/7/81; NEWS RELEASE ON ONE-CALL-MISS UTILITY SYSTEM 8/17/81: THE FORMATION OF A COMPLETE GAS/WATER/ ELECTRICITY/TELEPHONE ONE-CALL SYSTEM SATISFIES P-79-38.

Addressee Acronym: DC

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1980-02-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: DC

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1981-11-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-79-038>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `22b8d6b5114e2ffdf864f2dc6ec3710e17f3122acbd695d2ffe54073fb80dcd9`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T10:58:13.211Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-79-038`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-79-038",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD80XR002",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1981-11-05",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-80-04",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD80XR002.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P79_38_39.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "District of Columbia",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1981-11-05",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "DC",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1980-01-09",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LTR:  RESPONSE INCLUDED A COPY OF BILL 3-240, THE UNDERGROUND FACILITIES PROTECTION ACT OF 1979.  THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED TO THE D.C. CITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 14, 1979.  SECTION 3 OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION CONCERNS THE FORMATION AND OPERATION OF A ONE-CALL CENTER FOR THE MUTUAL RECEIPT OF PROPOSED EXCAVATION OR DEMOLITION OPERATIONS IN THE DISTRICT. NOTE:  UNDERGROUND FACILITIES PROTECTION ACT OF 1980 APPROVED 1/7/81; NEWS RELEASE ON ONE-CALL-MISS UTILITY SYSTEM 8/17/81:  THE FORMATION OF A COMPLETE GAS/WATER/ ELECTRICITY/TELEPHONE ONE-CALL SYSTEM SATISFIES P-79-38."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "DC",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1980-02-01",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "DC",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "L-Local Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1981-11-05",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```