# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-034

**Citation:** P-80-034  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1980-05-07  
**Published:** 1980-05-07

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION: INSTALL AN ADEQUATE MEANS FOR DETECTING LNG VAPORS IN ALL BUILDINGS AND ENCLOSURES AT COVE POINT. IF COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATORS ARE USED, ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY LOCATED, TESTED PERIODICALLY, AND RECALIBRATED.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-034.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION: INSTALL AN ADEQUATE MEANS FOR DETECTING LNG VAPORS IN ALL BUILDINGS AND ENCLOSURES AT COVE POINT. IF COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATORS ARE USED, ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY LOCATED, TESTED PERIODICALLY, AND RECALIBRATED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-05-07

Adopted Date: 1980-04-16

Overall Date Closed: 1981-10-20

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 6, 1979, AN EXPLOSION CAUSED BY LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) VAPERS DESTROYED A TRANSFORMER BUILDING AT THE RECEPTION FACILITY OF THE COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION, COVE POINT, MARYLAND. ODORLESS LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS LEAKED THROUGH AN INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED LNG PUMP SEAL, VAPORIZED, PASSED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 210 FT OF UNDERGOUND ELECTRICAL CONDUIT AND ENTERED THE SUBSTATION BUILDING. ONE PERSON WAS KILLD, AND ONE PERSON WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. DAMAGE TO THE FACILITY WAS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $3 MILLION.

Ntsbnumber: DCA80MP001

Report Number: PAR-80-02

Addressee Name: Columbia LNG Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1981-10-20

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-06-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION LTR: COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATORS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN ALL BUILDINGS AND ENCLOSURES CONNECTED BY PIPING OR CONDUIT TO ANY POSSIBLE SOURCE OF NATURAL GAS OR LNG. EACH COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR IS TESTED, AND RECALIBRATED AS NECESSARY, ON A PERIODIC BASIS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1981-10-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-80-034>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `d659237ee56b2504907c7ce92084bb1600b55ff2e302b440ae8f7172c6fe0249`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T01:28:49.325Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-80-034`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-80-034",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA80MP001",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1981-10-20",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-80-02",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA80MP001.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P80_34_38.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Columbia LNG Corporation",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1981-10-20",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1980-06-16",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION LTR:  COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATORS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN ALL BUILDINGS AND ENCLOSURES CONNECTED BY PIPING OR CONDUIT TO ANY POSSIBLE SOURCE OF NATURAL GAS OR LNG.  EACH COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR IS TESTED, AND RECALIBRATED AS NECESSARY, ON A PERIODIC BASIS."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1981-10-20",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```