NTSB Safety Recommendation P-09-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-09-006.

TO ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS (FORMERLY DIXIE PIPELINE COMPANY): Take measures to determine that all residences and businesses within your operating regions are included on your mailing list and receive mailings of safety guidance information.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 2009-10-27

Adopted Date: 2009-10-14

Overall Date Closed: 2014-04-07

Synopsis: On November 1, 2007, at 10:35:02 a.m. central daylight time, a 12-inch-diameter pipeline segment operated by Dixie Pipeline Company (Dixie) was transporting liquid propane at about 1,405 pounds per square inch, gauge (psig), when it ruptured in a rural area near Carmichael, Mississippi. The resulting gas cloud expanded over nearby homes and ignited, creating a large fireball that was heard and seen from miles away. About 10,253 barrels (430,626 gallons) of propane were released. As a result of the ensuing fire, two people were killed and seven people sustained minor injuries. Four houses were destroyed, and several others were damaged. About 71.4 acres of grassland and woodland were burned. Dixie reported that property damage resulting from the accident, including the loss of product, was $3,377,247.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the November 1, 2007, rupture of the liquid propane pipeline operated by Dixie Pipeline Company near Carmichael, Mississippi, was the failure of a weld that caused the pipe to fracture along the longitudinal seam weld, a portion of the upstream girth weld, and portions of the adjacent pipe joints.

Ntsbnumber: DCA08MP001

Report Number: PAR-09-01

Addressee Name: Enterprise Products Partners L.P.

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2014-04-07

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2014-01-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: -From Jeff Morton, Director, Transportation Compliance: In 2009, Enterprise designed and implemented an Address Verification procedure which allows the Company to statistically determine the accuracy of the mail list which is used in the Company's annual mail out program. This is achieved by assessing the results of cross-matching random addresses collected in the field with the address mail list provided by the Company's mail out vendor. We have conducted this Address Verification process annually since its inception in 2009 and over the last four (4) years, the results from our address verification process have consistently shown a success rate between 96.88% - 99.48% of reaching our intended stakeholders. Due to the consistency in success rates, we have determined the best method moving forward is to randomly select a single Enterprise pipeline system totaling 500 miles or greater for analysis each year. This will allow us to examine all Company assets over time through a system-wide sampling process instead of reviewing the same Company asset each year. Effectiveness % 2009- 96.88%, 2010 99.48%, 2011 98.70%, 2012 99.45% As a result of the improvements made as well as the consistency in success rates, we believe this process has addressed all concerns set forth in P-09-6.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2010-01-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 2/2/2010 3:02:50 PM MC# 2100034: - From J.M. Collingsworth, President: Dixie is committed to continuous improvement of its industry-leading outreach program. Dixie recently completed an Address Verification Project to statistically determine the accuracy of the mail list used for the 2009 mail out. The results from the project determined the mail list used was 96.88% effective in having mailing addresses for the residences and businesses that are located within the Dixie Pipeline buffer zone on the mail list. (See 2009 Address Verification Results, attached as Exhibit A). In conjunction with the Address Verification Project, Dixie is actively working with mailing industry experts to continually improve its distribution list. Specifically, Dixie is currently evaluating the following program enhancements: 1. When Dixie prepares its annual mailing list, the first step is to gather the list of mailing addresses that could potentially be located within the one-mile buffer zone. Dixie currently assembles this list by collecting all mailing addresses that are located on U.S. Carrier Routes that intersect Dixie’s one-mile buffer. Dixie is analyzing the effects of expanding this initial list by instead collecting all mailing addresses in any U.S. zip code that intersects Dixie’s one-mile buffer zone. Preliminary analysis suggests that this approach would address the Carrier Route Issues identified in the 2009 Address Verification Project (Exhibit A); 2.Currently, technology used in the geo-coding industry relies primarily upon algorithms to assign a geo-code to each address. The algorithms are complex, and they generally rely upon street addresses when assigning a physical latitude and longitude for the location. Newer technology actually assigns a center point to each physical parcel of land related to an address (Parcel Point). Because Parcel Point locations are generally more reliable than the current mathematically generated locations, Dixie is working with industry experts to identify additional sources of Parcel Point data. As Parcel Point data is identified, the information will be continually incorporated into Dixie’s annual stakeholder communication program; 3.Dixie currently mails pipeline safety information to every mailing address that has a geo-location within Dixie’s one-mile buffer zone. Dixie is analyzing the effect of increasing the coverage area for the mail-out by including all mailing addresses on any street that intersects Dixie’s one-mile buffer zone, regardless of whether the geo-location for each such address on that street is within the one-mile buffer zone. (See example below - the blue lines represent streets that intersect the buffer zone) 4.Dixie will continue to work with direct mail industry experts to improve the geo-data that is provided by TeleAtlas and NavTeq, specifically in rural areas. Moreover, it is important to note that Dixie’s annual pipeline safety mailer to stakeholder groups is only one part of a comprehensive program designed to educate stakeholders on pipeline safety issues. Dixie employs a number of strategies to educate its stakeholders, including the following: 1.Every two years, Dixie conducts a door to door calendar handout to each residence and business that is adjacent to the Dixie pipeline; a. The calendars include a summary of how to recognize and respond to a pipeline emergency, Call Before You Dig information, and contact information for Dixie’s offices. 2.Participate in meetings with Local Emergency Planning Committees; 3.Maintain membership with the various Mutual Aid organizations along the Dixie pipeline; 4.Conduct table-top drills with various fire departments that are in the Dixie operating regions; 5.Annual contributions to local sheriff, fire, and police departments that are in the Dixie operating regions to support safety programs; 6.Participate in annual Liaison meetings with emergency responders and excavators in each county/parish where Dixie has assets; and, 7.Distribute stakeholder communications through the various One-Call centers where Dixie is a member.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2014-04-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: We are pleased that you designed and implemented a procedure to verify the accuracy of your mail list, that you have conducted this process annually since 2009, and that, over the last 4 years, you have reached between 96.88 percent and 99.48 percent of intended stakeholders. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-09-6 is classified CLOSED—ACCEPTABLE ACTION.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2013-11-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: We last received correspondence from Dixie regarding these recommendations in January 2010. At that time, Dixie had initiated action to implement Safety Recommendations P 09-6 though -8, and all three recommendations were classified OPEN—ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE pending completion of the recommended actions. We are interested in knowing whether and how our recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the traveling public is provided the highest level of safety and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. Therefore, please inform us about the status of Dixie/EPP’s actions to implement Safety Recommendations P-09-6 through -8.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2010-04-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The address verification project outlined in Dixie’s letter was described in the NTSB’s accident report and is not new action taken since the adoption of the report. Nevertheless, the NTSB is pleased with the actions that Dixie is taking (analysis of U.S. carrier routes, examination of Parcel Point data, analysis of the effects of increasing the coverage area for sending mailed materials, and continuing work with direct mail industry experts to improve the geo-data) to address this recommendation. The NTSB would appreciate receiving further information about these initiatives, specifically the resulting improvements to Dixie’s mailing list procedures, when it becomes available. Pending receipt of this information, Safety Recommendation P-09-6 is classified OPEN -- ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.