NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-058

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-058.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC.: REQUIRE IN ITS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES THE TRAINING AND EQUIPPING OF LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES FOR THE CONTROL OF GAS DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE FAILURES IN AREAS WHERE QUALIFIED GAS COMPANY EMPLOYEES CANNOT RESPOND RAPIDLY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-06-23

Adopted Date: 1980-06-10

Overall Date Closed: 1981-12-09

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 24, 1979, AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE GREENE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE BUILDING AND THE ADJOINING GREENE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, GUTTED A CONNECTING BUILDING WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND DAMAGED NEARBY BUILDINGS IN STANARDSVILLE, VIRGINIA. THIRTEEN PERSONS WERE INJURED AND THE PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE.

Probable Cause: None

Keywords: Firefighting, Training and Education

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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: 1980-09-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC. LTR: COLUMBIA HAS CONTINUOUS PROGRAMS TO TRAIN LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES TO HANDLE GAS EMERGENCIES. THESE PROGRAMS ARE UNDER CONSTANT EVALUATION AND REFINEMENT TO MEET CHANGING CONDITIONS. AT THE CURRENT TIME, COLUMBIA, THROUGH ITS GENERAL OFFICE STAFF WORKING WITH ANOTHER STATE'S GAS ASSOCIATION, HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE SLIDE/CASSETTE PRESENTATION WHICH WILL BE UTILIZED IN THIS EDUCATION PROGRAM. THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE UTILIZED IN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS THE OTHER SIX STATES IN WHICH THE COLUMBIA GAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES OPERATE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1981-09-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC., LTR: ENCLOSED WAS A COPY OF THE SCRIPT FOR OUR SLIDE/CASSETTE PACKAGE WHICH IS BEING USED EXTENSIVELY THROUGHOUT COLUMBIA GAS OF VIRGINIA, INC. THIS PROGRAM IS CONDUCTED BY ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND IS FOLLOWED BY A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION.

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