# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-080

**Citation:** P-80-080  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1981-02-26  
**Published:** 1981-02-26

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC.: INSTRUCT ITS PIPELINE INSPECTORS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF REMAINING AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND CLOSELY MONITORING THE CONTRACTOR'S WORK AS IT APPROACHES THE PIPELINE.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-080.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC.: INSTRUCT ITS PIPELINE INSPECTORS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF REMAINING AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND CLOSELY MONITORING THE CONTRACTOR'S WORK AS IT APPROACHES THE PIPELINE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-02-26

Adopted Date: 1980-12-19

Overall Date Closed: 1983-09-07

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 30, 1980, AN 8-INCH-DIAMETER, REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS PIPELINE OWNED BY THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC., AND OPERATED BY THE SHELL OIL COMPANY (PUERTO RICO) LTD. WAS STRUCK AND RUPTURED BY A BULLDOZER DURING MAINTENANCE WORK ON A NEARBY WATERLINE IN THE SECTOR CANA OF BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO, ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SAN JUAN. GASOLINE FROM THE RUPTURE SPRAYED DOWNHILL AND RAN OFF INTO A SMALL CREEK. ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS LATER, THE GASOLINE VAPORS WERE IGNITED BY AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE AND EXPLODED; THE SUBSEQUENT FIRE KILLED ONE PERSON AND EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED 25 HOUSES AND OTHER PROPERTY.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA80MP008

Report Number: PAR-80-06

Addressee Name: Pipelines of Puerto Rico, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-09-07

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-11-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC., LETTER: RECOMMENDATION NOT IMPLEMENTED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-07-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC. LETTER: INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN IN A MEETING WHERE THEY WERE THROUGHLY DISCUSSED WITH THE PIPELINES INSPECTORS. RECENTLY, SUCH INSTRUCTIONS WERE ALSO GIVEN IN WRITING TO ALL OUR EMPLOYEES (INSPECTORS) AND WERE INCLUDED IN THE UPDATING OF THE CONTINGENCY PLAN, PAGE 2.1, SECTION A (3).

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-05-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-09-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-80-080>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `859f9e7bc3a1556c30b77251ec67938eccff77abeed28fc6e4f7a1ef8217913d`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T17:52:16.829Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-80-080`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-80-080",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA80MP008",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1983-09-07",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-80-06",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA80MP008.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P80_75_80.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "Pipelines of Puerto Rico, Inc.",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1983-09-07",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-11-18",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC., LETTER:  RECOMMENDATION NOT IMPLEMENTED."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1983-07-28",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC. LETTER:  INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN IN A MEETING WHERE THEY WERE THROUGHLY DISCUSSED WITH THE PIPELINES INSPECTORS.  RECENTLY, SUCH INSTRUCTIONS WERE ALSO GIVEN IN WRITING TO ALL OUR EMPLOYEES (INSPECTORS) AND WERE INCLUDED IN THE UPDATING OF THE CONTINGENCY PLAN, PAGE 2.1, SECTION A (3)."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-05-19",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1983-09-07",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-08",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```