NTSB Safety Recommendation P-79-030

NTSB safety recommendation P-79-030.

TO THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION: Establish minimum performance standards for the prompt detection and rapid isolation of failed sections of highly volatile liquid pipelines. (Superseded by P-84-26)

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Superseded

Issued Date: 1979-10-04

Adopted Date: 1979-09-28

Overall Date Closed: 1985-09-03

Synopsis: SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT, THE SAFETY BOARD HAD BEEN CONCERNED THAT CERTAIN SAFETY PROBLEMS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE, EVEN THOUGH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS WERE KNOWN, FEASIBLE, AND TIMELY. ONE OF THESE SAFETY PROBLEMS IS THE RISK OF CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PIPELINES TRANSPORTING HIGHLY VOLLATILE LIQUIDS. THEREFORE, IN FISCAL YEAR 1979 THE SAFETY BOARD ADOPTED AS A SAFETY OBJECTIVE THE IMPROVEMENT OF SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THOSE PIPELINES.

Ntsbnumber: 80578

Report Number: SR-79-03

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Superseded

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-09-03

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1980-03-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA LTR: THE DOT STUDY "RAPID SHUTDOWN OF FAILED PIPELINE SYSTEMS AND LIMITING OF PRESSURE TO PREVENT PIPELINE FAILURE DUE TO OVERPRESSURE" CONCLUDED THAT RAPID SHUTDOWN SYSTEMS ARE NOT COST-BENEFICIAL. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INSTALLING A LEAK DETECTION AND RAPID SHUTDOWN SYSTEM ON HVL PIPELINES IN POPULATED AREAS WAS 18 TIMES GREATER THAN THE BENEFITS. MTB BELIEVES SUCH SYSTEMS TO BE DESIRABLE BUT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED COST EFFECTIVE. SEVERAL ALTERNATE INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. RSPA BELIEVES THAT THESE MEASURES ARE IN KEEPING WITH CURRENT TECHNOLOGY AND, WHEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED, WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR FAILURES ON EXISTING HVL PIPELINES.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1981-01-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION LTR: RSPA'S LETTER TRANSMITTING NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF MTB DOCKET PS-53 CONCERNING REMOTE CONTROLLED VALVES AND SPACING OF VALVES ON HVL PIPELINES. ACTUAL NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ON JANUARY 8, 1981. THE FR NOTICE CONTAINS INFORMATION ON PAST NOTICES AND PUBLIC HEARING ALONG WITH RELATED COMMENTS. THE NOTICE CLOSED WITH THE STATEMENT: "BECAUSE VALVES ARE NOT AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO REDUCE THE ACCIDENT EFFECTS OF AN HVL SPILL, THE PROPOSAL TO INSTALL VALVES ALONG THE PIPELINE AND THE PROPOSAL TO INSTALL VALVES AT PUMP STATIONS AND TERMINALS AS CONTAINED IN DOCKET PS-53 ARE HEREBY WITHDRAWN."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1983-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA LETTER: DOT HAS ACCOMPLISHED THE SAFETY OBJECTIVES ADDRESSED BY THIS RECOMMENDATION BY PROMULGATING A FINAL RULE IN DECEMBER 1979 IN DOCKET PS-51. THIS AMENDMENT REQUIRES OPERATORS TO ESTABLISH WRITTEN PROCEDURES TO MINIMIZE THE HAZARDS RESULTING FROM A LIQUID PIPELINE EMERGENCY. THE REQUIREMENTS ARE SIMILAR TO 49 CFR 192.615. SECTION 195.402(C)(9) OF DOCKET PS-51 ALSO ESTABLISHES MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR THE PROMPT DETECTION AND LOCATION OF FAILED SECTIONS OF HVL PIPELINES.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1985-09-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1980-05-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1981-03-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence