NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-004

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-004.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Amend 49 CFR 192.181(a) to include requirements which express clearly the intent of OPS concerning the number and the location of emergency valves in high-pressure gas distribution systems and which treat the need for keys in the hands of local authorities.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-05-16

Adopted Date: 1973-05-16

Overall Date Closed: 1978-09-28

Synopsis: On October 30, 1972, a bulldozer struck and snapped a 3/4-inch gas-service line in Lake City, Minn. A department store located near the rupture, but not served by gas, blew up and later caught fire. Six persons died as a result of the explosion and 10 more were injured. The Northern States Power Company (NSP) later unearthed the entire service line and discovered that in addition to being snapped by the bulldozer, the line had been pulled out of a compression coupling next to the main. Gas had permeated the soil, migrated into the department-store basement, accumulated, and exploded.

Ntsbnumber: PLD73XR001

Report Number: PAR-73-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-09-28

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1973-06-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Enclosed is a copy of the National Transportation Safety Board's report of a natural gas distribution pipeline accident which occurred in Lake City, Minnesota, on October 30, 1972. ln this accident 6 people were killed, 10 more were injured, a department store was destroyed and other buildings nearby were damaged. We call your attention to the Safety Board's recommendation issued to prevent similar accidents. The Office of Pipeline Safety's cooperation in assisting the Safety Board during the investigation is appreciated. This document will be released to the public on the date stamped on the cover. No public dissemination of this document should be made prior to that date. The purpose of providing this document in advance of the public release date is to give you an opportunity to be acquainted with its contents prior to release, so that you can be prepared to answer inquiries.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1978-10-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: This is to inform you that the National Transportation Safety Board by formal Board action on September 28, 1978, has closed out the following Safety Recommendations. P-73-4 is “Closed—Unacceptable Action.” If we can be of further assistance, please let us know.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1977-11-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Office of Safety Recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reviewed all safety recommendations addressed to the Office of Pipeline Safety Operations that are currently considered open and active by the Board and which were not discussed at the last Quarterly Safety Recommendations Meeting. We are transmitting at this time a description of the latest correspondence we have on record for the following recommendations: P-71-7 P-72-34 P-72-40 P-72-41 P-72-42 P-72-43 P-72-63 P-73-2 P-73-4 P-73-12 P-73-13 P-73-29 P-73-30 P-73-37 P-73-38 We have included a request for further action or report on status of each of these recommendations, This action will help us to verify our files and properly evaluate the status of the recommendations listed, We will review and comment on those recommendations classified as above for 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 in the near future. Thank you very much for your continued interest in transportation safety. A letter dated July 20, 1973, signed by Benjamin 0. Davis, Jr. has the following statement: "With regard to the recommendations made to the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), we wish to advise that on April 30, 1973, a contract was awarded to the Mechanics Research Institute to conduct a study on the rapid shutdown of failed pipeline facilities and pressure limiting of pipeline systems. Included in the contract work will be a study of fail-safe devices as recommended in the NTSB recommendation P-73-2. This study will also relate to the number and location of emergency valves in high pressure distribution systems as recommended in recommendation No. P-73-4. This contract study is scheduled for completion in December 1973. The OPS will then evaluate the data obtained and take the appropriate action. We will keep you advised of the action taken in this regard." Our records show no further correspondence on these two recommendations. We would appreciate an update of the contract work and OPS action as outlined.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1978-04-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Because of the variety of operating conditions and types of systems in operation throughout the nation, we do not feel that specific requirements in this area could be developed to adequately apply to all operations. However, this recommendation was considered when the requirements for the revised Section 192.615, "Emergency plans," were being developed. The new Section 192.615 (Amendment 192-24) reinforces the requirements of Section 192.181, Distribution line valves, by requiring the operator to establish written procedures for "emergency shutdown and pressure reduction ... to minimize hazards to life or property ... ," to have'' ... adequate means of communication ... ,"to" ... train appropriate operating personnel ... ," and to" ... verify that training is effective. __ ." We do not believe it appropriate to provide for shutdown of emergency valves by other than operator personnel. With the requirements of revised Section 192,615 and the requirements of Section 192.181, we believe that the intent of Safety Recommendation P-73-4 has been accomplished.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1973-07-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: -From Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety, and Consumer Affairs, Office of Pipeline Safety, United States Department of Transportation: We have reviewed your Pipeline Accident Report No. PAR-7 3·-1 on the October 30, 1972, incident at Lake City, Minnesota, and the recommendations included therein. With regard to the recommendations made to the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), we wish to advise that on April 30, 1973, a contract was awarded to the Mechanics Research Institute to conduct a study on the rapid shutdown of failed pipeline facilities and pressure limiting of pipeline systems. Included in the contract work will be a study of fail-safe devices as recommended in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation No. P-73-2. This study will also relate to the number and location of emergency valves in high pressure distribution systems as recommended in recommendation No. P-73-4. This contract study is scheduled for completion in December 1973. The OPS will then evaluate the data obtained and take the appropriate action. We will keep you advised of the action taken in this regard. In addition, NTSB recommendation No. P-73-4 requests consideration for placing valve keys in the hands of local authorities. This portion of the recommendation is being considered in connection with the OPS's plan to clarify the intent of the requirements for operating and maintenance plans and emergency plans as outlined in our letter to you dated July 5, 1973. We agree with NTSB recommendation No. P-73-3 insofar as it recommends a review of the regulations relative to the uncertainty as to the conditions which permit the use of compression couplings. Such a review will shortly be initiated. To the extent that the review shows a need for amending Paragraph 192.367(b), rulemaking will be initiated. The OPS also concurs with the recommendations made by NTSB to the other parties of interest in this Lake City incident. The NTSB's recommendations No. P-73-5 to the Department of Labor and No. P-73-11 to the Department of Public Works of Lake City, Minnesota, will lend support to the OPS program to promote the Model Statute For The Protection of Underground Pipelines and Utilities. The NTSB recommendation No. P-73-·6 to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Gas Piping Standards Committee (ASME) will support the OPS recommendation to that Society to develop guideline material on the location of emergency valves. The OPS has suggested to ASME that they include such guideline material in a supplement to the "ASME Guide For Gas Transmission and Distribution Pipeline Systems -1973." The recommendations Nos. P-73-7 through 10 to the Northern States Power Company all relate to areas that we are emphasizing in the OPS/State agencies pipeline safety seminars that are presently being conducted throughout the country. These areas will also be included in our considerations for clarifying the intent of the requirements for operating and maintenance plans and emergency plans as discussed in our letter of July 5. We greatly appreciate your pipeline accident investigation report and will continue to take the appropriate actions as indicated.