NTSB Safety Recommendation P-68-001

NTSB safety recommendation P-68-001.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS TO THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION: That the functional statement for the Office of Pipeline Safety be altered by the addition of language along the following lines: "develop procedures which insure adequate investigation of pipeline accidents and incidents subject to safety regulation and accident prevention activities".

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1968-10-31

Adopted Date: 1968-10-31

Overall Date Closed: 1976-07-20

Synopsis: Letter to Secretary of Transportation regarding pipeline accident investigation and reporting.

Ntsbnumber: 80501

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-08-20

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1968-10-31

Communication Type: Transmittal Letter

Communication Contents: -Joseph J. O’Connell, Jr., Chairman: While plans for the administration of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 are still in a formative stage, it seems appropriate that the National Transportation Safety Board should advise you about certain points which are of particular interest to us. In general, we are interested in the accident investigation and the related accident reporting aspects of this industry. In our opinion, the importance of timely and well-developed factual information as to accidents and incidents in this field is evident. The development of adequate safety standards and the current and careful checking of the effectiveness of such standards is essential, and should be based upon the day-to-day experience of the industry. It seems obvious that not only is the Department without a capability to investigate accidents either in number or in depth, but that there is little possibility that adequate funds will soon be available for the development of such a capability, even though it is desirable. On the other hand, the concept of Federal-State cooperation runs throughout the Act, and it is clear that very close working relationships between State Public Service Commissions and the Department are essential and must be developed. Also, the Act clearly contemplates, under Sec. 5 that state agencies will, among other things, continue to investigate accidents, to collect pertinent information, and periodically to report to the Secretary. It seems to us that a cooperative effort in the accident investigating and reporting fields is necessary. Specifically, we recommend: 1. That the fu11ctional statement for the Office of Pipeline Safety be altered by the· addition of language along the following lines: "Develop procedures which insure adequate investigation of pipeline accidents and system-is for the current reporting by state agencies and industries of significant accidents and incidents subject to safety regulation and accident prevention activities." 2. That steps be taken to open up lines of communication with all state regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over natural gas pipelines so that such agencies would: (1) Make available currently to the Department reports of the facts and circumstances surrounding accidents and incidents investigated by them, and (2) Institute procedures for reporting accidents and incidents to the Department on a current basis. We do not know to what extent state agencies are now equipped to make such reports. Be that as it may, we suggest that a reporting system should be established by cooperative arrangements with the state agencies. Nor do we know the effectiveness of existing accident investigative activities of state agencies, although we do know that the function exists and is now being carried out by them with widely varying degrees of depth and breadth of coverage. We recognize, however, that the states have some capability in the field. Such capabilities as exist can, hopefully, be improved and should, in any event, be encouraged, guided and, to the extent required, given financial support. We believe that state agency accident investigations, while limited in scope and depth through lack of adequate resources, afford the only presently available source of information vital to an effective regulatory system such as the Pipeline Act envisages. We should be pleased to explore this subject in more detail if you desire - either through further correspondence or, preferably, through conferences between your staff and ours.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1976-08-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: This is to inform you that the National Transportation Safety Board, by formal Board action, has closed out the following Safety Recommendations: Addressee: DOT Recommendation 68-P-1, Date 10/31/1968, Criteria: Closed—Acceptable Action Attached is an excerpt from our NTSB Order 6800.1 with pertinent definitions of the above categories. If we can be of further assistance, please let us know.