NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-092

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-092.

COOPERATE AND COORDINATE WITH THOSE GROUPS ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH A "ONE-CALL" NOTIFICATION SYSTEM IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE NONE EXIST, AND WORK WITH SYSTEMS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1977-01-31

Adopted Date: 1976-12-09

Overall Date Closed: 1987-05-14

Synopsis: ON JUNE 16, 1976, A PIECE OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT EXCAVATING FOR A STREET WIDENING PROJECT ON VENICE BOULEVARD IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA STRUCK AND PUNCTURED AN 8-INCH PETROLEUM PRODUCTS PIPELINE OWNED BY THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA. THE ESCAPING GASOLINE SPRAYED ON NEARBY BUILDINGS AND IGNITED. 9 PERSONS WERE KILLED, 14 PERSONS WERE INJURED, 7 BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED, OTHER BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED BY FIRE AND HEAT, AND 15 VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76MP021

Report Number: PAR-76-08

Addressee Name: State of California, Department of Transportation

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1987-05-14

Addressee Acronym: Caltrans

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1987-02-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THIS IS ACTUALLY A FOLLOWUP LETTER DATED 2/26/87. THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE: NTSB'S LETTER OF 8/29/78, INQUIRING AS TO WHY CALTRANS HAS DECIDED NOT TO JOIN THE UNDERGROUND SERVICE ALERT ("ONE-CALL") SYSTEM IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, ATTACHED. CALTRAN'S RESPONSE OF 9/13/78, REGARDING "ONE-CALL" SYSTEM. UNDERGROUND SERVICE ALERT'S 9/29/78, LETTER REGARDING CALTRANS DECISION NOT TO JOIN THE ONE-CALL SYSTEM AND RELATED CORRESPONDENCE.

Addressee Acronym: Caltrans

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1987-04-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SUBSEQUENT TO YOUR RECOMMENDATION NO. P-76-92 AND NO. P-76 -93, THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN 1982 ENACTED SECTIONS 4216 AND 4217 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE FIRST OF WHICH CREATED REGIONAL NOTIFICATION CENTERS AND MANDATED ALL OWNERS OF SUB SURFACE INSTALLATIONS JOIN AND PAY THE COST OF THEIR REGIONAL CENTERS AND CREATE A "ONE CALL" NOTIFICATION SYSTEM. THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WAS EXEMPT FROM THIS CODE BECAUSE WE DO NOT MAINTAIN SUBSURFACE UTILITY STRUCTURES OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN RIGHT OF WAY. ALL EXCAVATION WORK IN THE STATE RIGHT OF WAY IS CONTROLLED BY EITHER A STATE CONTRACT OR ENCROACHMENT PERMIT. COADE 4216 REQUIRES THE EXCAVATOR (CONTRACTOR OR PERMITTEE) TO CALL THE APPROPRIATE NOTIFICATION CENTER WHO IN TURN NOTIFIES ALL SUB STRUCTURE OWNERS OF THE WORK. THE OWNERS ARE THEN REQUIRED TO MARK THEIR FACILITIES ON THE GROUND USING STANDARDIZED MARKING CODE. CODE SECTION 4217 REFERRED TO ABOVE REQUIRES EXCAVATORS TO OBTAIN AN IDENTIFICATION CODE NUMBER FROM THE APPROPRIATE REGIONAL NOTIFICATION CENTER BEFORE THEY CAN OBTAIN A VALID PERMIT TO EXCAVATE. THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT EXEMPT FROM THE USE OF NOTIFICATION CENTERS OR THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE ITS PERMIT APPLICANTS USE THE NOTIFICATION CENTERS. THE EXEMPTION IS ONLY FOR THE REQUIREMENT TO BE A MEMBER AS AN OWNER OF SUBSTRUCTURES AND PAY THE COSTS OF THE NOTIFICATION CENTER. ALL HIGHWAY CONTRACTS, WHERE SUBSUR FACE EXIST, CONTAIN A SPECIAL PROVISION TO THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT REQUIRE THE CONTRACTOR TO CALL THE APPROPRIATE REGIONAL NOTIFICATION CENTER PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF HIS EXCAVATION WORK SO THE UTILITY OWNER CAN LOCATE AND IDENTIFY THEIR FACILITIES. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE COOPERATING WITH THE ONE-CALL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE. IN OUR OPINION, WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN ONE-CALL SYSTEMS THAT SATISFY YOUR RECOM MENDATION. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPOR TUNITY TO CLARIFY ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS CONCERNING OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS. WE ALSO WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE CONSTANTLY REVIEW AND WILL PROMPTLY UPDATE OUR PROCEDURES WHEN NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SAFETY POSSIBLE IN OUR OPERATIONS AT ALL TIMES.

Addressee Acronym: Caltrans

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1987-02-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: Caltrans

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1987-05-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence