NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-038

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-038.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: IN COOPERATION WITH THE VARIOUS STATE REGULATORY AGENCIES, DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF NATIONWIDE COMPLIANCE WITH 49 CFR 192.615, WRITTEN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, AND TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTION ACCORDINGLY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-08-24

Adopted Date: 1973-08-16

Overall Date Closed: 1979-04-26

Synopsis: A GAS EXPLOSION OCCURRED ON AUGUST 31, 1972 IN THE ANNEX BUILDING OF AN ATLANTA, GA., HIGH SCHOOL. GAS HAD LEAKED INTO THE BUILDING FROM A CRACKED CAST-IRON MAIN LOCATED BENEATH THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE ANNEX. ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY (AGL) PERSONNEL ARRIVED AT THE LEAK SITE APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AFTER AGL WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THE LEAK AND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR BEFORE THE EXPLOSION. ONE PERSON DIED AND SEVEN OTHERS WERE INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR005

Report Number: PAR-73-03

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1979-04-26

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1978-04-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 10/16/73-LTR FROM DOT: WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRESS TO THE STATE AGENCIES THE IMPORTANCE OF A CLOSE SURVEILLANCE OF THE EMERGENCY PLANS DURING THEIR MONITORING OPERATIONS. THE OPS IS ALSO PUTTING EMPHASIS IN THIS AREA OF ITS MONITORING ACTIVITIES. APPROPRIATE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN. WHEN THE NEW RULES IN THIS AREA ARE DEVELOPED AND PUT INTO EFFECT, WE WILL THEN PERFORM A SYSTEMATIC NATIONWIDE PROGRAM OF EDUCATION, MONITORING, AND COMPLIANCE. 12/8/77 - FEDERAL REGISTER VOL. 41, NO. 63, PAGE 13586, DATED WEDNESDAY MARCH 31, 1976, GIVES A REVISED VERSION OF 49 CFR 192.615 TO TAKE EFFECT ON 10/1/76. NO ENFORCEMENT ACTION SPECIFIED OR PUNISHMENT DEFINED. 4/3/78 - OPSO LTR IN RESPONSE TO NTSB 11/4/77 LETTER REQUESTING AN INDICATION OF THE STATUS OF THE OPSO PLAN TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT NEW RULES IN THE AREA OF EMERGENCY PLANS: THE AMENDED 49 CFR 192.615 HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE ONLY SINCE OCTOBER 1, 1976. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH TIME TO DETERMINE EXTENT OF NATIONWIDE COMPLIANCE. 9/14/78 - MTB LTR: MTB HAS AMENDED 615 TO CLARIFY AND EXPAND EMERGENCY PLAN REQUIREMENTS. DURING OPERATOR INSPECTIONS BY MTB, PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS PAID TO 615 COMPLIANCE. A RECORD OF INSEPCTION SINCE APRIL 1976 SHOWS THAT 70 CASES ARE BEING PROCESSED AGAINST OPERATORS FOUND NOT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH 49 CFR 192.675. MTB HAS ISSUED WRITTEN GUIDELINES FOR 615 AND HAS MEETINGS WITH STATE ENFOREMENT PERSONNEL TO EMPHASIZE COMPLIANCE WITH 615. THERE IS NO QUANTITATIVE RECORD OF THE RESULTS OF MTB EMPHASIS ON WRITTEN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. CLOSE COMPLIANCE SURVEILLANCE WILL BE MAINTAINED.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1979-04-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence