NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-040

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-040.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT: THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY AMEND 49 CFR 192 TO REQUIRE ONSITE IDENTIFICATION OF ALL VALVES ON HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS WHICH MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1972-11-22

Adopted Date: 1972-11-22

Overall Date Closed: 1985-08-19

Synopsis: On March 24, 1972, in the Annandale section of Fairfax County, VA, a contractor's backhoe snagged a 2-inch steel gas main, and pulled the main out of a compression coupling 22 feet away. Gas company personnel arrived on the scene about 40 minutes later and started to search for the break. The gas was not shut off and the nearby houses were not checked for the presence of gas. A house, 240 feet away from the point at which the line was snagged, exploded. Two other houses exploded and burned. As a result of the accident, three persons died and one was injured; two houses were destroyed and a third was badly damaged; and $153,000 worth of property was damaged.

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR002

Report Number: PAR-72-04

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-08-19

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1978-04-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 3/7/73-LTR FROM DOT THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS SHOULD APPLY TO ONSITE IDENTIFICATION IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED ALONG WITH OUR EVALUATION OF THE NEED TO FURTHER CLARIFY THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH 192.615(A). 7/5/73 - DOT LETTER - THE OPS IS NOW ENGAGED IN A STUDY OF RAPID SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES. WE AGREE THAT VALVE MARKING FOR EMERGENCY IDENTIFICATION IS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE AS PART OF THIS SUBJECT, AND THE OPS IN THE NEAR FUTURE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO PROPOSE CLARIFYING RULES IN THIS REGARD. 4/3/78 - OPSO LETTER IN RESPONSE TO NTSB 11/4/77 LETTER: SECTION 192.747 OF 49 CFR REQUIRES MINIMUM INSPECTION AND SERVICING OF VALVES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION OF DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF ONE PER YEAR. IF THE VALVES NEED TO BE CHECKED AND SERVICED, THEY MUST FIRST BE LOCATED; TO BE LOCATED THEY MUST BE IDENTIFIED. THIS LOGIC ALONG WITH THE AMENDED 192.615(A)(B), EMERGENCY PLANS, SHOULD ACCOMPLISH INTENT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1977-11-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1985-08-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence