NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-005

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-005.

PROMULGATE REGULATIONS UNDER THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION ACT FOR NATURAL GAS-GATHERING PIPELINES IN RURAL AREAS, SIMILAR TO THE REGULATIONS PROMULGATED FOR NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES IN 49 CFR 192.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-02-29

Adopted Date: 1976-02-04

Overall Date Closed: 1988-09-29

Synopsis: ON MAY 21, 1974, A 6-INCH GAS-GATHERING PIPELINE, OWNED BY THE TEXAS OIL AND GAS CORPORATION, RUPTURED AT THE EDGE OF A RURAL ROAD SOUTH OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI. THREE VEHICLES ENTERED THE AREA WHICH CONTAINED THE ESCAPING GAS AND STALLED NEAR THE RUPTURE. THE GAS IGNITED, AND FIVE PERSONS DIED AS A RESULT. THREE VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED AND 40 ACRES OF WOODLAND WERE BURNED.

Keywords: Hazmat

Ntsbnumber: PLD74XR005

Report Number: PAR-76-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-09-29

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1976-06-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR. FROM MTB: WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO EXTEND OUR REGULATIONS OVER GAS GATHERING LINES AT THE PRESENT TIME. AS A FIRST STEP, WE PROPOSE TO EXTEND THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE GAS GATHERING LINES.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1983-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TO SUMMARIZE: ABOUT 34.7 PERCENT OF THE GAS-GATHERING PIPELINE SYSTEM IS ALREADY SUBJECT TO 49 CFR 192. AND THE SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY OF INCIDENTS ASSOCIATED WITH GAS GATHERING PIPELINES IN NON-RURAL AREAS IS NOT LARGE WHEN COMPARED TO TRANSMISSION PIPELINES (OR, FOR THAT MATTER, DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES--WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DISCUSSED HERE). RATHER THAN EXTENDING THE CURRENT REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS OF 49 CFR 192 TO GAS-GATHERING PIPELINES IN RURAL ONSHORE AREAS, MTB WILL EXTEND ITS INCIDENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO SUCH PIPELINES SO AS TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE, NATURE, AND COST-BENEFICIAL ASPECTS OF THEIR ASSOCIATED SAFETY PROBLEMS. THERE ARE, OF COURSE, SERIOUS OBJECTIONS TO BE OVERCOME BEFORE ONE CAN EXPAND THE SCOPE OF REGULATIONS INTO AN AREA THAT DOES NO HAVE AN ACCIDENT RECORD EXCEEDING A CERTAIN THRESHOLD VALUE, WHICH REFLECTS RANDOM, NON-CATASTROPHIC DISTURBANCES TO A SYSTEM AS VAST AND AS COMLEX AS THE GAS PIPELINE GATHERING SYSTEM. AS PREVIOUSLY POINTED OUT, NO AMOUNT OF REGULATION CAN REDUCE ACCIDENT LEVELS TO ZERO, AND THE COSTS, ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS AND DETAIL OF THE REGULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCING ACCIDENT LEVELS BELOW A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, ONCE IT IS REACHED, RAPIDLY BECOME EXCESSIVE.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1988-09-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1976-07-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1989-05-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence