NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-043

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-043.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT: THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY AMEND 49 CFR 192 TO REQUIRE THAT EACH PIPELINE OPERATOR HAVE ON DUTY A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF DISPATCHING PERSONNEL TO EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, A STUDY MAY BE REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIOUS CONDITIONS AND THE NUMBER OF DISPATCHERS NECESSARY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1972-11-22

Adopted Date: 1972-11-22

Overall Date Closed: 1978-09-28

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 - Acceptable Alternate Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-09-28

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1978-04-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 3/7/73 - DOT LTR: WE DO NOT FEEL THAT SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS IN THIS AREA COULD BE DEVELOPED TO ADEQUATELY APPLY TO ALL OPERATIONS. IT IS OUR OPINION THAT PARTS OF 192 RELATE SPECIFICALLY TO AND ADEQUATELY ACCOMPLISH THE INTENT OF RECOMMENDATION P-72-43. 7/5/73 - DOT LTR: COMPANY PROCEDURES CAN AND ARE BEING IMPROVED AS A RESULT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS AND AS A RESULT OF MONITORING BY OPS AND THE STATE AGENCIES. RELATED STUDIES CONDUCTED BY OPS MAY FURTHER DEMONSTRATE THE ADVISABILITY OF REGULATORY CHANGE IN THESE AREAS. 4/3/78 - OPSO LETTER IN RESPONSE TO NTSB 11/4/77 LETTER REQUESTING A REVIEW OF THEIR POSITION ON THIS RECOMMENDATION: AMENDED 49 CFR 192.615 REQUIRES EACH OPERATOR TO ESTABLISH WRITTEN PROCEDURES THAT PROVIDE FOR PROMPT AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO A NOTICE OF EACH TYPE OF EMERGENCY AND THE AVAILABILITY OF PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS, AS NEEDED AT THE SCENE OF AN EMERGENCY. DUE TO THE VARIETY OF OPERATING CONDITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS IN THIS AREA COULD NOT BE DEVELOPED THAT WOULD ADEQUATELY APPLY TO ALL OPERATORS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1977-11-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence