NTSB Safety Recommendation P-04-007

NTSB safety recommendation P-04-007.

The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following safety recommendations to the Research and Special Programs Administration: Revise the emergency response planning requirements in the pipeline safety regulations to include coordination with electric and other utilities that may need to respond to a pipeline emergency.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 2004-11-04

Adopted Date: 2004-10-13

Overall Date Closed: 2006-05-03

Synopsis: On April 7, 2003, about 8:55 p.m., central daylight time, an 80,000-barrel storage tank at the ConocoPhillips Company’s (ConocoPhillips) Glenpool South tank farm in Glenpool, Oklahoma, exploded and burned as it was being filled with diesel. The tank, designated tank 11, had previously contained gasoline, which had been removed from the tank earlier in the day. The tank contained between 7,397 and 7,600 barrels of diesel at the time of the explosion. The resulting fire burned for about 21 hours and damaged two other storage tanks in the area. The cost of the accident, including emergency response, environmental remediation, evacuation, lost product, property damage, and claims, was $2,357,483. There were no injuries or fatalities. Nearby residents were evacuated, and schools were closed for 2 days.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the April 7, 2003, storage tank explosion and fire in Glenpool, Oklahoma, was ignition of a flammable fuel-air mixture within the tank by a static electricity discharge due to the improper manner in which ConocoPhillips Company conducted tank operations. Contributing to the extent of the property damage and the magnitude of the impact on the local community was the failure of American Electric Power employees to recognize the risk the tank fire posed to the nearby power lines and take effective emergency action.

Ntsbnumber: DCA03MP001

Report Number: PAR-04-02

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2006-05-03

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2005-05-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board notes that PHMSA established an action plan to change the emergency response planning requirements in the pipeline safety regulations to include coordination with electric and other utilities that may need to respond to a pipeline emergency. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-04-7 is classified "Open--Acceptable Response," pending completion of this regulatory change.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2006-05-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board notes that on May 23, 2005, PHMSA issued Advisory Bulletin ADB 05 3, which provides guidance to pipeline operators in complying with the emergency procedure requirements at 49 Code of Federal Regulation 192.615 and 195.402(e). In addition, PHMSA worked with the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) to prepare a guidance bulletin for fire and emergency response personnel to reinforce the importance of including all utilities in the Incident Command System. With the NASFM, PHMSA selected 10 sites to provide State workshops on emergency response; the workshops began in the fall of 2005. PHMSA also added consideration of a best practice on emergency response to the agenda at the recent semiannual meeting of the 34 regional alliances of the CGA and stressed the importance of the practice. These actions satisfy the recommendation; accordingly, Safety Recommendation P 04-7 is classified "Closed-Acceptable Alternate Action."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2005-02-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 2/17/2005 10:49:44 AM MC# 2050068 This letter is the Research and Special Programs Administration's (RSPA) initial response to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Safety Recommendations P-04-07 and P-04-08, resulting from the accident at the Glenpool Tank Farm. RSPA agrees with the NTSB on both of these important safety recommendations and will begin working to implement them immediately. In P-04-07, NTSB recommends that RSPA revise the emergency response planning requirements in the pipeline safety regulations to include coordination with electric and other utilities that may need to respond to a pipeline emergency. An action plan is being established to change the regulations. RSPA requests that these recommendations be classified as "OPEN--Acceptable Response" while we complete the actions above. If we can be of further assistance, please contact me or James Wiggins, Director of Policy and Program Support, at (202) 366-4831.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2005-08-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 8/30/2005 8:56:30 AM MC# 2050395 This recommendation resulted from an explosion of a storage tank in Glenpool, Oklahoma. The NTSB found that ineffective emergency action by the electric utility contributed to the extent of the property damage and impact on the community. PHMSA issued advisory bulletin ADB-05-03 (70 FR 29557; May 23,2005) to clarify its regulations that require both gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators to have emergency procedures to address pipeline emergencies. The advisory bulletin alerts pipeline operators of the need to preplan for emergency response with all utility companies whose proximity to the pipeline may impact the response. A copy of the advisory bulletin is enclosed. PHMSA also asked the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) to prepare a guidance bulletin to reinforce for fire and emergency response personnel the importance of including all utilities in the Incident Command System. PHMSA has worked with the NASFM to select ten sites for state workshops on emergency response to begin this fall. Also, PHMSA added consideration of a best practice on emergency response to the agenda at the recent semiannual meeting of the 34 regional alliances of the CGA and stressed the importance of the practice.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2006-04-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: In its 4/14/2006 report to Congress, "National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and DOT Office of Inspector General (OIG): Open Safety Recommendations on Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety," the DOT wrote:PHMSA published an advisory bulletin ADB-05-03 (70 FR 29557) on May 23,2005, to alert pipeline operators about the need to preplan for emergency response with utilities whose proximity to the pipeline may impact a response. Af PHMSA's request the Common Ground Alliance's (CGA) Best Practices Committee is developing best practices to provide additional guidance. These best practices will be finalized by spring 2006.