# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-051 **Citation:** P-80-051 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board **Effective:** 1980-06-23 **Published:** 1980-06-23 THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: ENCOURAGE ITS MEMBER COMPANIES TO INSTALL EXCESS FLOW SAFETY VALVES ON ALL NEWLY INSTALLED OR RENEWED HIGH PRESSURE NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINES IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE A HAZARDOUS RELEASE OF NATURAL GAS AFTER A RUPTURE. ## Document text NTSB safety recommendation P-80-051. THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: ENCOURAGE ITS MEMBER COMPANIES TO INSTALL EXCESS FLOW SAFETY VALVES ON ALL NEWLY INSTALLED OR RENEWED HIGH PRESSURE NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINES IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE A HAZARDOUS RELEASE OF NATURAL GAS AFTER A RUPTURE. Priority: CLASS II Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action Issued Date: 1980-06-23 Adopted Date: 1980-06-10 Overall Date Closed: 1987-07-20 Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 24, 1979, AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE GREENE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE BUILDING AND THE ADJOINING GREENE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, GUTTED A CONNECTING BUILDING WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND DAMAGED NEARBY BUILDINGS IN STANARDSVILLE, VIRGINIA. THIRTEEN PERSONS WERE INJURED AND THE PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE. Probable Cause: None Keywords: Excess Flow Valves Ntsbnumber: DCA80MP003 Report Number: PAR-80-03 Addressee Name: American Gas Association Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action Addressee Date Closed: 1987-07-20 Addressee Acronym: AGA Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations Communication Date: 1983-02-01 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Communication Contents: AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION (AGA) LETTER: AGA CORRESPONDENCE DATED APRIL 1, 1982, TO NTSB AND TO THE MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU, RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, CONCERNS RECOMMENDATION P-80-51 AT STANDARDSVILLE, VIRGINIA, ON EXCESS FLOW VALVES. THE SUPPORTING STUDY IS QUITE LENGTHY AND IS OMITTED. I UNDERSTAND THAT ACTIONS INVOLVING THIS RECOMMENDATION ARE CURRENTLY HELD IN ABEYANCE PENDING COMPLETION OF EXCESS FLOW VALVE STUDIES BY THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE. Addressee Acronym: AGA Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations Communication Date: 1987-01-12 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Communication Contents: THIS IS ACTUALLY A FOLLOWUP AND THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF PAST CORRESPONDENCE. NTSB'S FOLLOWUP LETTER OF OCT. 5, 1982, REQUESTING INFORMATION ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE. AGA'S FEBRUARY 1, 1983, LETTER, NTSB'S LETTER OF MAY 4, 1983, AGA'S LETTER OF JULY 22, 1983, AND NTSB'S FOLLOWUP LETTER OF AUGUST 27, 1985. NTSB'S OCTOBER 25, 1982, TO RSPA. AI-70'S OCTOBER 17, 1984, LETTER. AI-70'S MAY 24, 1985, LETTER TO GRI. NTSB'S AUGUST 11, 1986, LETTER TO RSPA, AND RECOMMENDATIONS P-81-38 AND -39. Addressee Acronym: AGA Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations Communication Date: 1987-02-19 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Communication Contents: AGA FIRST RESPONDED TO THIS SAFETY REC. FEB. 1, 1983. THE INFO AVAILABLE TO US AT THAT TIME LED TO CONCLUDE THAT EXCESS FLOW VALVES SHOULD NOT BE MANDATED ON ALL NEW AND RENEWED SERVICES, BUT RATHER THEIR USE SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES. NEVERTHELESS, ON JULY 22, 1983, WE FORWARDED NTSB'S REC. TO OUR MEMBER FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION WITHOUT ENDORSING THE RECOMMENDATION. AS NTSB IS AWARE, SINCE OUR JULY 22ND LETTER, THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (GRI) HAS PUBLISHED THE RESULTS OF ITS STUDY ON EXCESS FLOW VALVES IN GAS DISTRIBUTION LINES. WE BELIEVE THAT GRI'S FINDINGS SUPPORT THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE STUDY PERFORMED BY AGA'S DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE, ON WHICH OUR PREVIOUS RESPONSES WERE BASED. THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT AGA'S ORIGINAL RESPONSE, EMBODIED IN OUR LETTER OF JULY 22ND WAS APPROPRIATE AT THAT TIME AND REMAINS APPROPRIATE. NTSB SHOULD REGARD THIS MATTER AS BEING "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION." Addressee Acronym: AGA Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations Communication Date: 1987-08-12 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Communication Contents: HOWEVER, I DISAGREE WITH NTSB'S DECISION TO CLOSE P-80-51 AS AN UNACCEPTABLE ACTION. A.G.A. HAS ENCOURAGED ITS MEMBERS TO USE EXCESS FLOW VALVES IN THOSE APPLICATIONS WHERE SYSTEM SAFETY CAN BE ENHANCED. A.G.A. IS VERY PROUD OF THE SAFETY RECORD OF THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY, AND OUR RECORD OF RESPONSIVENESS TO NTSB'S REQUESTS. IN THE INTEREST OF CONTINUING THE GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP A.G.A. AND NTSB HAVE ENJOYED TO DATE, WE REQUEST AN OPPORTUNITY TO REEXAMINE THE SUBJECT OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES TO SEE IF AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY CAN BE FOUND. THEREFORE, WE RE SPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE FILE ON THIS SAFETY RECOMMENDATION REMAIN OPEN WHILE WE PURSUE FURTHER ACTIONS. Addressee Acronym: AGA Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations Communication Date: 1983-05-04 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Addressee Acronym: AGA Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations Communication Date: 1982-10-05 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Addressee Acronym: AGA Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations Communication Date: 1987-01-12 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Addressee Acronym: AGA Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations Communication Date: 1987-07-20 Communication Type: Official Correspondence Addressee Acronym: AGA Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations Communication Date: 1987-09-22 Communication Type: Official Correspondence ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline` - SHA-256: `969cf6553930fcdf43a9da43fc6930c41de6d0ff5014e99a2dd4857ea79a9e20` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T20:13:02.609Z - Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-80-051` ### Source metadata ```json { "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation", "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-80-051", "recommendationMode": "Pipeline", "topicMode": "Pipeline", "ntsbNumber": "DCA80MP003", "priority": "CLASS II", "overallStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action", "overallStatusAcronym": "CUA", "overallDateClosed": "1987-07-20", "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15", "reportNumber": "PAR-80-03", "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA80MP003.aspx", "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P80_50_53.pdf", "addressees": [ { "addresseeName": "American Gas Association", "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CUA", "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Unacceptable Action", "addresseeDateClosed": "1987-07-20", "addresseeDetails": [ { "addresseeAcronym": "AGA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations", "isFromNtsb": false, "communicationDate": "1983-02-01", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION (AGA) LETTER: AGA CORRESPONDENCE DATED APRIL 1, 1982, TO NTSB AND TO THE MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU, RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, CONCERNS RECOMMENDATION P-80-51 AT STANDARDSVILLE, VIRGINIA, ON EXCESS FLOW VALVES. THE SUPPORTING STUDY IS QUITE LENGTHY AND IS OMITTED. I UNDERSTAND THAT ACTIONS INVOLVING THIS RECOMMENDATION ARE CURRENTLY HELD IN ABEYANCE PENDING COMPLETION OF EXCESS FLOW VALVE STUDIES BY THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE." }, { "addresseeAcronym": "AGA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations", "isFromNtsb": false, "communicationDate": "1987-01-12", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "THIS IS ACTUALLY A FOLLOWUP AND THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF PAST CORRESPONDENCE. NTSB'S FOLLOWUP LETTER OF OCT. 5, 1982, REQUESTING INFORMATION ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO WHICH THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE. AGA'S FEBRUARY 1, 1983, LETTER, NTSB'S LETTER OF MAY 4, 1983, AGA'S LETTER OF JULY 22, 1983, AND NTSB'S FOLLOWUP LETTER OF AUGUST 27, 1985. NTSB'S OCTOBER 25, 1982, TO RSPA. AI-70'S OCTOBER 17, 1984, LETTER. AI-70'S MAY 24, 1985, LETTER TO GRI. NTSB'S AUGUST 11, 1986, LETTER TO RSPA, AND RECOMMENDATIONS P-81-38 AND -39." }, { "addresseeAcronym": "AGA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations", "isFromNtsb": false, "communicationDate": "1987-02-19", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "AGA FIRST RESPONDED TO THIS SAFETY REC. FEB. 1, 1983. THE INFO AVAILABLE TO US AT THAT TIME LED TO CONCLUDE THAT EXCESS FLOW VALVES SHOULD NOT BE MANDATED ON ALL NEW AND RENEWED SERVICES, BUT RATHER THEIR USE SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES. NEVERTHELESS, ON JULY 22, 1983, WE FORWARDED NTSB'S REC. TO OUR MEMBER FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION WITHOUT ENDORSING THE RECOMMENDATION. AS NTSB IS AWARE, SINCE OUR JULY 22ND LETTER, THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (GRI) HAS PUBLISHED THE RESULTS OF ITS STUDY ON EXCESS FLOW VALVES IN GAS DISTRIBUTION LINES. WE BELIEVE THAT GRI'S FINDINGS SUPPORT THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE STUDY PERFORMED BY AGA'S DISTRIBUTION CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE, ON WHICH OUR PREVIOUS RESPONSES WERE BASED. THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT AGA'S ORIGINAL RESPONSE, EMBODIED IN OUR LETTER OF JULY 22ND WAS APPROPRIATE AT THAT TIME AND REMAINS APPROPRIATE. NTSB SHOULD REGARD THIS MATTER AS BEING \"CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION.\"" }, { "addresseeAcronym": "AGA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations", "isFromNtsb": false, "communicationDate": "1987-08-12", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "HOWEVER, I DISAGREE WITH NTSB'S DECISION TO CLOSE P-80-51 AS AN UNACCEPTABLE ACTION. A.G.A. HAS ENCOURAGED ITS MEMBERS TO USE EXCESS FLOW VALVES IN THOSE APPLICATIONS WHERE SYSTEM SAFETY CAN BE ENHANCED. A.G.A. IS VERY PROUD OF THE SAFETY RECORD OF THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY, AND OUR RECORD OF RESPONSIVENESS TO NTSB'S REQUESTS. IN THE INTEREST OF CONTINUING THE GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP A.G.A. AND NTSB HAVE ENJOYED TO DATE, WE REQUEST AN OPPORTUNITY TO REEXAMINE THE SUBJECT OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES TO SEE IF AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY CAN BE FOUND. THEREFORE, WE RE SPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE FILE ON THIS SAFETY RECOMMENDATION REMAIN OPEN WHILE WE PURSUE FURTHER ACTIONS." }, { "addresseeAcronym": "AGA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations", "isFromNtsb": true, "communicationDate": "1983-05-04", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "" }, { "addresseeAcronym": "AGA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations", "isFromNtsb": true, "communicationDate": "1982-10-05", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "" }, { "addresseeAcronym": "AGA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations", "isFromNtsb": true, "communicationDate": "1987-01-12", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "" }, { "addresseeAcronym": "AGA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations", "isFromNtsb": true, "communicationDate": "1987-07-20", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "" }, { "addresseeAcronym": "AGA", "addresseeOrganizationType": "A-Associations", "isFromNtsb": true, "communicationDate": "1987-09-22", "communicationType": "Official Correspondence", "communicationContents": "" } ] } ], "jurisdiction": "US" } ```