NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-011

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-011.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC.: IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER OPERATORS OF UNDER GROUND FACILITIES IN ITS SERVICE AREA, EXTEND THE ESTABLISHED 'ONE-CALL' NOTIFICATION SYSTEM TO GREENE COUNTRY AND OTHER AREAS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA NOT NOW COVERED IN THE SYSTEM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-03-10

Adopted Date: 1980-02-11

Overall Date Closed: 1981-12-09

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 24, 1979, AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE BUILDING AND THE ADJOINING COURT HOUSE BUILDING, GUTTED A CONNECTING BUILDING WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND DAMAGED THE ADJACENT HOUSES IN STANARDSVILLE, VIRGINIA. THIRTEEN PERSONS WERE INJURED AND PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED EXTENSIVELY.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA80MP003

Report Number: PAR-80-03

Addressee Name: NiSource, Inc. (formerly Columbia Gas)

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1981-12-09

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-04-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC. LTR: COLUMBIA BELIEVES THAT A ONE-CALL SYSTEM IN GREENE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT. THE PARTY WHO CONTRACTED THE WORK WAS A COLUMBIA CUSTOMER AND HAD FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAS LINES. COLUMBIA WAS NOT GIVEN A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN ITS POSITION ON EXPANSION OF THE ONE-CALL SYSTEM INTO GREENE COUNTY. COLUMBIA GAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN PROMOTING ONE-CALL SYSTEMS WHEN THEY CAN BE EFFECTIVELY ESTABLISHED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-09-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC. LTR: AS WE INDICATED TO YOU IN OUR LETTER OF APRIL 8, 1980, THE COLUMBIA GAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN PROMOTING 'ONE-CALL' NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS. COLUMBIA'S PROGRESS IN EXPANDING OUR PARTICIPATION IN A ONE-CALL SYSTEM IN VIRGINIA HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN A LETTER TO MR. GARCIA DATED MAY 14, 1980.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1981-09-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC., LTR: COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA HAS COMPLETED THE INSTALLATION OF A TELETYPE AND HAS SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTENDING THE ONE-CALL SYSTEM (MISS UTILITY OF VIRGINIA) INTO GREENE COUNTY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN ACTIVATED IN THIS COUNTY BECAUSE THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS HAVE NOT SIGNED THEIR AGREEMENTS AND THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING IS NOT COMPLETED. COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA HAS DONE EVERYTHING IT CAN TO INSTITUTE THIS SYSTEM, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN STARTED DUE TO CIRCUMSTACES BEYOND OUR CONTROL.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-05-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-12-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1981-12-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence