NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-029

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-029.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION: DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR SAFETY ANALYSIS FOR THE DESIGN OF LNG FACILITIES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-05-07

Adopted Date: 1980-04-16

Overall Date Closed: 1983-09-29

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 6, 1979, AN EXPLOSION CAUSED BY LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) VAPORS DESTROYED A TRANSFORMER BUILDING AT THE RECEPTION FACILITY OF THE COLUMBIA LNG CORPORATION, COVE POINT, MARYLAND. ODORLESS LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS LEAKED THROUGH AN INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED LNG PUMP SEAL, VAPORIZED, PASSED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 210 FT OF UNDERGOUND ELECTRICAL CONDUIT AND ENTERED THE SUBSTATION BUILDING. ONE PERSON WAS KILLED, AND ONE PERSON WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. DAMAGE TO THE FACILITY WAS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $3 MILLION.

Ntsbnumber: DCA80MP001

Report Number: PAR-80-02

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-09-29

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1981-01-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION LTR: SAFETY ANALYSIS CRITERIA, IN THE FORM OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, FOR THE DESIGN OF LNG FACILITIES ARE EMBODIED THROUGHOUT PART 193. MTB STATES THAT THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REPRESENT SAFETY ANALYSIS FOR DESIGN, SITING, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF LNG FACILITIES. THE CRITERIA ARE BASED ON QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENTS SUPPORTED BY NUMERICAL ANALYSIS. THE CRITERIA ARE LARGELY DETERMINISTIC IN NATURE BUT ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF PROBABILISTIC METHODS AND NUMERICAL TARGETS. SINCE THERE ARE MANY HUNDREDS OF VARIATIONS OF FAULT SEQUENCES WHICH MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN A DESIGN SAFETY ANALYSIS, THE CURRENT CRITERIA SERVE TO MINIMIZE THOSE FAULT SEQUENCES LEADING TO HIGH CONSEQUENCE EVENTS THROUGH SYSTEM REDUNDANCY, DIVERSITY AND SEGREGATION OF CRITICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THERE IS WORK IN PROGRESS TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATIONAL SOURCE FOR MATERIAL SELECTION AND EQUIPMENT/MACHINERY SYSTEM SAFETY CRITERIA THAT WILL HELP INDENTIFY AND CONTROL SYSTEM SAFETY HAZARDS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1983-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WITH RESPECT TO SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS P-80-29 AND P-80-72, THE MTB HAS PROPOSED NEW INCIDENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS (DOCKET PS-49) WHICH WILL REQUIRE OPERATORS OF GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS SERVING LESS THAN 100,000 CUSTOMERS AND OPERATORS OF LNG FACILITIES TO SUBMIT ACCIDENT REPORTS. THIS RULEMAKING HAS BEEN FAVORABLY REVIEWED BY THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (OMB), AND THE FINAL RULE WILL BE PUBLISHED WITHIN 2 WEEKS. THIS RULEMAKING IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATIONAL SOURCE, FOR AMONG OTHER THINGS, MATERIAL SELECTION, AND EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY SYSTEM SAFETY CRITERIA TO HELP IDENTIFY AND CONTROL SYSTEM SAFETY HAZARDS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1981-05-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1983-09-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1989-05-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence