NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-011

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-011.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT: THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNDERTAKE A STUDY, IN COOPERATION WITH SOURCES OF QUALIFIED PIPELINE EXPERTISE, OF THE VARIOUS CURRENT PRACTICES IN THE HANDLING, CONTAINING, AND DISPOSING OF LIQUEFIED PERTOLEUM PRODUCTS RESULTING FROM PIPELINE FAILURES. THIS STUDY SHOULD INCLUDE SUCH EXTERNAL FACTORS AS WEATHER CONDITIONS, LEAK SITE TOPOGRAPHY AND POPULATION DENSITY IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEAK. BASED UPON THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY, THERE SHOULD BE FORMULATED AND ADDED AS AN AMENDENT TO 49 CFR 195, MINIMUM REGULATIONS REGARDING THE HANDLING OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS AS A RESULT OF PIPELINE LEAKS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1972-03-01

Adopted Date: 1972-03-01

Overall Date Closed: 1986-03-27

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: Hazmat

Ntsbnumber: PLD71XR001

Report Number: PAR-72-01

Addressee Name: FRA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-03-27

Addressee Acronym: FRA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1985-11-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN 1974 THE DEPT. COMMISSIONED BATTELLE-COLUMBUS LABS TO STUDY PIPELINE TRANSPORTING HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUIDS. THE REPORT THAT THEY PRODUCED...COVERED A WIDE SPECTRUM OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND OPERATING PRACTICES INVOLVING PIPELINES THAT TRANSPORT LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS. PARTS OF THE REPORT CONCERNED THE HANDLING AND DISPOSAL OF LPG SPILLS. THEREAFTER, THE DEPT. AMENDED 49 CFR PART 195 TO ESTABLISH NEW REGS. GOVERNING THE EARLY DETECTION AND HANDLING OF SPILLS FROM HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES (AMEND. 195-15; 44 FR41197, JULY 16, 1979). UNDER THESE NEW REQUIREMENTS, WHICH ARE SET FORTH IN SECTION 195.402, PIPELINE OPERATORS MUST TAKE PROMPT AND EFFECTIVE ACTION IN RESPONSE TO LPG SPILLS. THESE ACTIONS INCLUDE EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN TO MINIMIZE THE VOLUME SPILLED; CONTROL OF THE SPILL AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, INCLUDING INSTRUMENT DETECTION OF THE EXTENT OF FLAMMABLE VAPOR AND POSSIBLE IGNITION; REDUCTION OF PUBLIC EXPOSURE BY ASSISTING WITH EVACUATION; AND COORDINATION OF EFFORTS WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS. IN ADDITION, AMEND. 195-15 REQUIRED OPERATORS TO TRAIN THEIR PERSONNEL TO PROPERLY RESPOND TO LPG SPILLS (S195.403) AND TO MAINTAIN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM TO CARRY OUT THAT RESPONSE (S195.408). THE BATTELLE REPORT AND AMENDMENT 195 15 FULLY MET THE OBJECTIVES OF RECOMMENDATION P-72-11, AND THERE IS NO APPARENT NEED FOR FURTHER RULEMAKING.

Addressee Acronym: FRA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1972-08-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM FRA: THE MATERIALS WHICH SPILL FROM RUPTURED LIQUID PIPELINES ARE A MATTER OF CONCERN TO THE FRA AS WELL AS CERTAIN OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. THE PROBLEM OF SPILLAGE IS BEING STUDIED BOTH FROM THE LEGAL AND FROM THE PHYSICAL VIEWPOINTS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER AMENDMENT TO OUR REGULATIONS WOULD BE HELPFUL IN DAMAGE CONTROL IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE LEAK SITE AND IN CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS. 3/9/76 - CONTRACT STUDY "TRANSPORTATION OF HIGHLY VOLITILE AND CORROSIVE LIQUIDS BY PIPELINE" COMPLETED 2/9/76. 7/1/77 - ACTION PENDING OPSO REVIEW OF STUDY. 4/3/78 - DISCUSSED AT QUARTERLY MEETING, NPRM BEING DEVELOPED. 8/10/78 - NPRM PUBLISHED.

Addressee Acronym: FRA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1986-01-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: FRA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1985-07-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: FRA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1986-03-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence