NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-038

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-038.

REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR CHECKING GAS ODORANT CONCENTRATIONS TO PROVIDE A METHOD THAT WILL DETERMINE THE GAS-IN-AIR RATIO AT WHICH THE ODOR IN GAS IS FIRST DETECTABLE, ESTABLISH TESTS POINT(S) IN EACH PIPING SYSTEM DOWNSTREAM OF PRESSURE REDUCING STATIONS THAT CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ODOR LEVEL IN THAT PIPING SYSTEM, AND PERFORM TESTS AT FREQUENT INTERVALS. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-06-18

Adopted Date: 1976-06-18

Overall Date Closed: 1986-01-14

Synopsis: ON JUNE 9, 1976, A HOUSE AT 1214 OAK STREET IN NILES, MICHIGAN, EXPLODED AND BURNED. THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE HOUSE AND CRITICALLY BURNED THE THREE OCCUPANTS.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76FP020

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Michigan Power Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-01-14

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1976-07-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: MICHIGAN POWER COMPANY LTR: WE ARE REVIEWING OUR OUR PROCEDURE FOR CHECKING ODORANT CONCENTRATIONS TO PROVIDE A METHOD THAT WILL DETERMINE A GAS IN AIR RATIO AT WHICH THE ODOR IN GAS IS FIRST DETECTABLE AND ESTABLISH TEST POINTS THAT CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF ODOR LEVELS IN EACH DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-07-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ACTION BY MICHIGAN POWER COMPANY ON P-76-38: 1) ODOROMETERS WERE PURCHASED AND PUT INTO USE SHORTLY AFTER THE JULY 22, 1976, LETTER BY BRUNO J. MASNARI. 2) THE ODOROMETERS ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED TO MONITOR AND RECORD THE PERCENT GAS TO AIR RATIOS AT PRESELECTED POINTS ON OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS. 3) ADDITIONALLY, OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES ARE CONDUCTING ODORANT SNIFF TESTS AT CUSTOMER HOMES, USING THE ODOROMETER. THE TEST IS CON DUCTED BY THE CUSTOMER AND MICHIGAN POWER CO. REPRESENTATIVE JOINTLY. THIS WE BELIEVE IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO MAKE CUSTOMERS MORE AWARE OF HOW TO DETECT GAS ODORS AS WELL AS TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF P-76-38.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-07-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-01-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence