NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-076

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-076.

CEASE GRADING OPERATIONS ON JURY ROADS UNTIL A PLAN IS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED TO NOTIFY OPERATORS OF BURIED FACILITIES AT LEAST 2 WORKING DAYS BEFORE EXCAVATING NEAR THEIR FACILITIES; THIS WOULD ALLOW TIME FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THE FACILITIES' LOCATIONS AND DEPTH. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-10-27

Adopted Date: 1976-10-06

Overall Date Closed: 1977-07-29

Synopsis: ON AUGUST 9, 1976, A ROAD GRADER RUPTURED A LOOPED, 20-INCH, NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION LINE IN CARTWRIGHT, LOUISIANA. GAS ESCAPED IN SEVERAL DIRECTIONS FROM THE LINE'S TWO STREAMS AND IGNITED WITHIN SECONDS. THE RESULTING FLAME ENGULFED THE AREA, KILLED SIX RESIDENTS, INJURED ONE PERSON, AND INCINERATED TWO HOUSES, A HOUSE TRAILER, AND SEVERAL ACRES OF LAND.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76MP025

Report Number: PAR-77-01

Addressee Name: State of Louisiana, Parish of Jackson, Police Jury

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1977-07-29

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1977-04-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR. FROM POLICE JURY, PARISH OF JACKSON, LA: THE JURY IMMEDIATELY CEASED ALL OPERATIONS AROUND ANY TYPE OF TRANSMISSION LINE. ALL OPERATORS WERE INSTRUCTED NOT TO OPERATE ANY EQUIPMENT ON OR AROUND ANY UTILITY LINES OR TRANSMISSION LINES. EACH OPERATOR WAS PRESENTED WITH A DETAILED MAP SHOWING ALL TRANSMISSION LINES IN THE PARISH AND INSTRUCTED NOT TO OPERATE AROUND THESE LINES. BEFORE ANY WORK IS PERFORMED NEAR ANY UTILITY LINE, COMPANY OFFICIALS ARE NOTIFIED AND AN INSPECTION IS MADE BY COMPANY PERSONNEL. THEN AND ONLY THEN IS ANY WORK PERFORMED NEAR ANY UTILITY LINES.