NTSB Safety Recommendation P-74-001

NTSB safety recommendation P-74-001.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT: THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUE REGULATIONS TO REQUIRE THAT PIPELINE OPERATORS HAVE DEFINITE PROCEDURES TO PROTECT THEIR FACILITIES AFFECTED BY BLASTING OPERATIONS. THESE REGULATIONS SHOULD CONSIDER, AT A MINIMUM, THE AGE OF THE PIPELINE, THE OPERATING PRESSURE, THE TYPE OF WELD OR MECHANICAL JOINT, THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE FACILITY, THE TYPE OF SOIL, AND THE AREA GEOGRAPHY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1974-02-07

Adopted Date: 1974-02-07

Overall Date Closed: 1982-09-09

Synopsis: IN COOPERSBURG, PA., ON FEBRUARY 21, 1973, A GAS PIPELINE WAS RUPTURED BY DYNAMITE AND GAS AT 50 PSIG ENTERED AN APARTMENT HOUSE AND EXPLODED. FIVE PERSONS WERE KILLED, 16 PERSONS WERE INJURED, AND 2 BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED.

Ntsbnumber: PLD73XR003

Report Number: PAR-74-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-09-09

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1974-03-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM DOT: RECOMMENDATION IS BEING STUDIED BY THE OPS. THE OPS INTENDS TO PROPOSE IN THE NEAR FUTURE NEW RULES TO CLARIFY THE INTENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE AND EMERGENCY PLANS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1978-11-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: MTB LETTER: DISCUSSES EMERGENCY PLAN REGULATION FOR PROMPT RESPONSE TO AN EMERGENCY. MTB RECOGNIZES THAT THIS IS ONLY PART OF THE INTENT OF THE RECOMMENDATION. AN AMENDMENT TO 192 WILL BE PROPOSED IN 1979 REGULATORY AGENDA FOR REQUIREMENT FOR PROCEDURES TO PROTECT AGAINST BLASTING OPERATIONS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1982-06-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RESEARCH & SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION LTR: WE DO NOT BELIEVE IT FEASIBLE TO ATTEMPT TO MANDATE BY REGULATION A PRECISE SET OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES WHICH PIPELINE OPERATORS MUST TAKE TO ENSURE THEIR FACILITIES FROM THE RISK OF POSSIBLE DAMAGE DUE TO BLASTING IN THE VICINITY. NEVERTHELESS, WE FEEL THE POTENTIAL FOR HARM AND CONSEQUENT DAMAGES CAN BE REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY IF OPERATORS COMMUNICATE IN ADVANCE WITH BLASTERS AND MONITOR THEIR PIPELINES AFTER BLASTING OCCURS. THESE STEPS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH 0PERATOR PARTICIPATION IN A DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAM SUCH AS A "ONE-CALL" SYSTEM. THEREFORE, MTB HAS INCLUDED IN THE FINAL RULE IN DOCKET PS 59, "DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAM," REQUIRED STEPS THAT AN OPERATOR MUST TAKE WHENEVER BLASTING OPERATIONS MIGHT AFFECT THE PIPELINE. WE BELIEVE THIS APPROACH SHOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE ANY FURTHER CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO ADDITIONAL MANDATORY REGULATION OR PIPELINE OPERATORS. CONSEQUENTLY WE HAVE REMOVED THE SCHEDULED RULEMAKING ON BLASTING FROM OUR AGENDA.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1979-01-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1982-09-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence