NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-031

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-031.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE U.S. COAST GUARD: PROMULGATE REGULATIONS REQUIRING PERIODIC FIRE AND EMERGENCY DRILLS AT LNG RECEPTION FACILITIES. THESE DRILLS SHOULD PROVIDE REALISTIC TRAINING EXERCISES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-05-07

Adopted Date: 1980-04-16

Overall Date Closed: 1988-05-20

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 6, 1979, AN EXPLOSION CAUSED BY LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (NPG) 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 UNDERGROUND 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.

Keywords: Fire, Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA80MP001

Report Number: PAR-80-02

Addressee Name: USCG

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-05-20

Addressee Acronym: USCG

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1987-04-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE COAST GUARD DOES NOT CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. UNLIKE MOST VESSEL CREWS, WHICH ARE TRANSIENT, LNG WATERFRONT FACILITY EMPLOYEES PERFORM VERY SPECIALIZED AND TECHNICAL WORK, ARE EMPLOYED AT THE SAME FACILITY FOR YEARS, AND ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE FACILITY. FEDERAL REGULATIONS REQUIRING PERIODIC DRILLS ARE NOT NECESSARY. THE LNG WATERFRONT FACILITIES NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING (NPRM), WHICH WAS PUBLISHED ON MAY 16, 1986 AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED, REQUIRES IN SUBPART F BASIC AND ADVANCED LNG FIREFIGHTING TRAINING AND REFRESHER TRAINING. IT ALSO REQUIRES AN EMERGENCY MANUAL, WHICH CONTAINS DESCRIPTIONS OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND WITH WHICH THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF SHORESIDE TRANSFER OPERATIONS MUST BE FAMILIAR. THEREFORE, NO FURTHER ACTION ON THIS RECOMMENDATION IS ANTICIPATED.

Addressee Acronym: USCG

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1980-08-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: USCG LTR: USCG AND MTB ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP IDENTICAL FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LNG RECEPTION FACILITIES. THE MTB NPRM OF FEBRUARY 11, 1980 PROPOSED LNG WRITTEN TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR INITIAL INSTRUCTION OF FACILITY PERSONNEL IN PROPER FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROCEDURES AND A WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR KEEPING PERSONNEL CURRENT ON SUCH TRAINING. USCG WILL REQUIRE THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS TO BE PART OF THE FACILITY OPERATIONS MANUAL AND THAT THE MANUAL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COTP FOR REVIEW. AS PART OF THE REVIEW, THE COTP WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO REVIEW THE FACILITY'S PLANS FOR USE OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY DRILLS FOR CONTINUING TRAINING. USCG CONSIDERS FEDERAL REGULATIONS DETAILING SPECIFIC TYPES OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY DRILLS TO BE PRACTICAL.

Addressee Acronym: USCG

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1980-09-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: USCG

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1988-05-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence