NTSB Safety Recommendation P-79-021

NTSB safety recommendation P-79-021.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MTB: COORDINATE WITH THE APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCIES IN THE MONITORING OF THE 24-INCH TRANSMISSION PIPELINE TO DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM OF COMPRESSION COUPLING PULLOUTS PERSISTS. IN THE EVENT OF A CONTINUING PULLOUT PROBLEM, CONSIDER THE REDUCTION OF PRESSURE OR THE SHUTDOWN, IN SECTIONS OR IN TOTAL, OF THE PIPELINE UNTIL THE PROBLEM CAN BE CORRECTED. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1979-08-08

Adopted Date: 1979-07-19

Overall Date Closed: 1980-03-13

Synopsis: ON APRIL 18, 1979, A 24-INCH NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE OWNED BY THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE COMPANY OF AMERICA (GAS COMPANY) PULLED OUT OF A COMPRESSION COUPLING DURING A LINE-LOWERING PROJECT UNDER IOWA STATE HIGHWAY 181 IN A RURAL AREA NEAR DALLAS, IOWA. WITHIN SECONDS, THE NATURAL GAS IGINITED AND BURNED A 900-FOOT BY 400-FOOT AREA. FIVE OF THE EIGHT INJURED WORKERS WERE HOSPITALIZED. TWO CARS, A PICKUP TRUCK, AND A TRAILER HOUSING CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT WERE DESTROYED. A BACKHOE WAS PARTLY DAMAGED, AND WINDOWS WERE BROKEN IN A NEARBY FARMHOUSE.

Ntsbnumber: DCA79FP013

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1980-03-13

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1979-12-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU (MTB) LTR: THE MTB HAS COORDINATED WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE IOWA STATE COMMERCE COMMISSION IN MONITORING THE EXCAVATION AND RELATED WORK TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PIPELINE. THE STATE OF IOWA ACTS AS AN AGENT FOR THE MTB TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PIPELINE REGULATIONS. THE OPERATOR IS CARRYING OUT A REMEDIAL PROGRAM TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PIPELINE IN THE STATES OF ILLINOIS, IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND NORTHERN KANSAS. IN EACH OF THE STATES, OTHER THAN IOWA, THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSURING COMPLIANCE RESIDES WITH THE MTB AND THE OPERATOR WILL BE MONITORED BY PERSONNEL FROM THE MTB CENTRAL REGION OFFICE. THE MONITORING ACTION INCLUDES CHECKING THE OPERATOR'S REPAIR RESEARCH AND PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS AND VERIFYING THEM BY ON-SITE INSPECTIONS. THE WORK REQUIRED TO ANCHOR THE OVERBENDS AND INSTALL WELDING REINFORCING SLEEVES OVER THE COUPLINGS AT HORIZONTAL BENDS HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN IOWA. MTB BELIEVES THAT THE $12 MILLION CORRECTIVE PROJECT WILL ASSURE THAT A PULLOUT PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST. IF A PULLOUT PROBLEM DOES PERSIST, ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY MTB.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1980-03-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence