NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-079

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-079.

DETERMINE THE DEPTH OF PIPELINES AT ALL OTHER ROAD CROSSINGS WHERE THE COVER OVER THE PIPELINE MAY HAVE BEEN REDUCED BY LATER ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO PREVENT DAMAGE BY DITCHCLEANING OR ROAD-GRADING ACTIVITIES. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-10-27

Adopted Date: 1976-10-06

Overall Date Closed: 1983-03-08

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: United Gas Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-03-08

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1977-04-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 4/14/77 - TELEPHONE CALL TO UNITED GAS PIPE LINE COMPANY CONFIRMS THAT UNITED HAS COMPLIED OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLYING WITH ALL THREE RECOMMENDATIONS. HOWEVER, UNITED HAS A $15 MILLION LAW SUIT IN PROGRESS AND DOES NOT WANT TO DRAFT A LETTER STATING COMPLIANCE WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS TIME. THEY WILL DO SO AFTER THE LAW SUIT IS FINISHED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-01-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: UNITED GAS PIPE LINE COMPANY LETTER: DURING 1977, 1978 AND 1979, UNITED EXAMINED ALL OF ITS ROAD CROSSINGS AND ALL WERE FOUND TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH 49 CFR PART 192 COVERING EXISTING ROAD CROSSINGS. HOWEVER, AFTER THE CARTWRIGHT INCIDENT, UNITED FELT THAT SEVERAL OF THESE CROSSINGS MIGHT BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL PROTECTION. THE ADDITIONAL PROTECTION CONSISTED OF POURING REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS OVER OUR PIPELINES IN THE DITCHLINE AT ROAD CROSSINGS. THIS PROTECTION, WHICH IS IN ADDITION TO UNITED'S STANDARD MARKERS AT ROAD CROSSINGS, WILL FURTHER SAFEGUARD THOSE CONTRACTORS AND ANY POTENTIAL EXCAVATORS WHO MAY OVERLOOK THE TRADITIONAL INDICATORS OF A PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY. ALL OF THIS WORK WAS COMPLETED BY 12-31-79.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-03-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence