NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-010

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-010.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT: THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONDUCT A STUDY, IN COOPERATION WITH SOURCE OF QUALIFIED PIPELINE EXPERTISE, CONCERNING MINIMUM VALVE SPACING STANDARDS AND THE USE OF REMOTELY OPERATED VALVES, AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED VALVES, AND CHECK VALVES ON ALL LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM PIPELINES. AS AN ADJUNCT TO THIS, THE SAFETY BOARD INVITES ATTENTION TO A RECOMMENDATION MADE IN ITS SPECIAL STUDY OF "EFFECTS OF DELAY IN SHUTTING DOWN FAILED PIPELINE SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PROVIDING RAPID SHUTDOWN.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1972-03-01

Adopted Date: 1972-03-01

Overall Date Closed: 1981-03-18

Synopsis: ON DECEMBER 9, 1970, A RUPTURE OCCURRED IN THE PHILLIPS PIPELINE COMPANY SYSTEM IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI, WHICH RELEASED 4,538 BARRELS OF PROPANE. AN EXPLOSION, EQUIVALENT TO 100,000 POUNDS OF TNT, AND A FIRE RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE WITHIN A 2 MILE RADIUS. NO FATALITIES OCCURRED, BUT TEN PERSONS SUSTAINED INJURIES.

Keywords: Remote Operated Valves

Ntsbnumber: PLD71XR001

Report Number: PAR-72-01

Addressee Name: FRA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1981-03-18

Addressee Acronym: FRA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1981-01-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION LTR: RSPA TRANSMITTED NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF MTB DOCKET PS-53 CONCERNING REMOTELY CONTROLLED VALVES AND SPACING OF VALVES ON HVL PIPELINES. ACTUAL NOTICE PUBLISHED IN FEDERAL REGISTER ON JANUARY 8, 1981. THE FR NOTICE DISCUSSES THE PAST NOTICES AND PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE ALONG WITH RELATED COMMENTS. THE NOTICE CLOSED WITH THE STATEMENT: "BECAUSE VALVES ARE NOT AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO REDUCE THE ACCIDENT EFFECTS OF AN HVL SPILL, THE PROPOSAL TO INSTALL VALVES ALONG THE PIPELINE, AND THE PROPOSAL TO INSTALL VALVES AT PUMP STATIONS AND TERMINALS AS CONTAINED IN DOCKET PS-53 ARE HEREBY WITHDRAWN."

Addressee Acronym: FRA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1972-08-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM FRA: THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY IN CONJUNCTION WITH FRA WILL SHORTLY RELEASE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO SOLICIT BIDS FROM QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION CONCERNING: THE RAPID SHUTDOWN OF PIPELINE FACILITIES WHICH HAVE SUSTAINED A FAILURE RESULTING IN PRODUCT ESCAPAGE, AND THE LIMITING OF EXCESS PRESSURE ON PIPELINE FACILITIES TO PREVENT FAILURE. THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WAS RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1972. 4/3/78 - DISCUSSED AT QUARTERLY MEETING. NPRM'S TO BE DEVELOPED TO COVER THESE TOPICS.

Addressee Acronym: FRA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1981-03-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence