NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-040

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-040.

REVIEW PERIODICALLY WITH LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER INTERESTED AGENCIES THE PIPELINE LOCATION, BASIC PIPELINE OPERATIONS, MATERIALS TRANSPORTED, HAZARDS ENCOUNTERED AND PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW DURING LEAKS

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-08-20

Adopted Date: 1976-06-30

Overall Date Closed: 1983-02-14

Synopsis: ON MAY 12, 1975, AN 8-INCH PIPELINE, WHICH WAS CLOSED IN UNDER PRESSURE AND WHICH WAS OWNED BY DOW CHEMICAL USA AND OPERATED AS THE BRONCO PIPE LINE COMPANY, RUPTURED NEAR DEVERS, TEXAS. NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS AT 1,425 PSIG PRESSURE ERRUPTED FROM A FRACTURE NEAR THE TOP OF THE PIPE. THE LIQUIDS VAPORIZED MIXED WITH AIR, AND FORMED A CLOUD WHICH DRIFTED TO THE SOUTHWEST OVER U.S. HIGHWAY 90. AN AUTOMOBILE ENTERED THE VAPOR CLOUD AND IGNITED THE ETHANE-PROPANE VAPORS. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRE KILLED THE FOUR PERSONS IN THE AUTOMOBILE, MELTED TELEPHONE AND ELECTRIC POWER LINES, WARPED RAILROAD TRACKS, BURNED AND SCORCHED ADJACENT WOODLANDS, AND INTERRUPTED RAIL AND HIGHWAY TRAFFIC.

Ntsbnumber: PLD75XR001

Report Number: PAR-76-05

Addressee Name: Dow Chemical Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-02-14

Addressee Acronym: TDCC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-12-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. LETTER: BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, DOW HAD INITIATED A PIPELINE PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH VISITS TO LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THIS HAS BEEN FURTHER DEVELOPED WITH THE CREATION OF THE POSITION OF A DOW PIPELINE PUBLIC EDUCATION SPECIALIST. SINCE 1979, DOW HAS MADE OVER 220 FORMAL PRESENTATIONS ON PIPELINE SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO AREA CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS, FIRE, POLICE AND SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES. ATTENDANCE AT THESE FUNCTIONS RANGES FROM 10 TO OVER 300. DURING EACH CALENDAR YEAR, EACH AGENCY IS REVISITED TO MAKE SURE (1) THEY KNOW WHO DOW AND CAYUSE ARE, AND WHAT PIPELINE AND FACILITIES WE HAVE IN THEIR AREA, (2) THEY HAVE A CURRENT COPY OF OUR PIPELINE LOCATION MAP BOOKS FOR THEIR JURISDICTIONAL AREA, AND (3) THEY ARE UPDATED WITH DOW'S PIPELINE SAFETY PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CONTINGENCY PROGRAMS, DOW PERIODICALLY MEETS WITH LOCAL CONTRACTOR ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESENTS A SLIDE/TAPE PROGRAM AIMED AT THE PREVENTION OF PIPELINE DAMAGE DUE TO EXCAVATION ACTIVITY.

Addressee Acronym: TDCC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: TDCC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-02-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence