NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-079

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-079.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC.: IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER OPERATORS OF UNDERGROUND FACILITIES, HELP ESTABLISH AN ISLAND-WIDE "ONE-CALL" EXCAVATION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-02-26

Adopted Date: 1980-12-19

Overall Date Closed: 1988-04-13

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 30, 1980, AN 8-INCH-DIAMETER, REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS PIPELINE OWNED BY THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC., AND OPERATED BY THE SHELL OIL COMPANY (PUERTO RICO) LTD. WAS STRUCK AND RUPTURED BY A BULLDOZER DURING MAINTENANCE WORK ON A NEARBY WATERLINE IN THE SECTOR CANA OF BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO, ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SAN JUAN. GASOLINE FROM THE RUPTURE SPRAYED DOWNHILL AND RAN OFF INTO A SMALL CREEK. ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS LATER, THE GASOLINE VAPORS WERE IGNITED BY AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE AND EXPLODED; THE SUBSEQUENT FIRE KILLED ONE PERSON AND EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED 25 HOUSES AND OTHER PROPERTY.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA80MP008

Report Number: PAR-80-06

Addressee Name: Pipelines of Puerto Rico, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-04-13

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-11-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, INC. LETTER: IN ORDER FOR US TO COMPLY WITH RECOMMENDATION NO. 5, A LETTER WAS FORWARDED TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IN WHICH WE REQUESTED THEIR COOPERATION TO IMPLEMENT ABOVE MENTIONED RECOMMENDATION. FOR YOUR INFORMATION WE ARE ENCLOSING A COPY OF OUR LETTER. TO DATE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED RESPONSES TO OUR REQUEST FROM THE COMMISSION.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-07-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO (PLPR) LETTER: WE HAVE ONCE AGAIN REQUESTED THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (LETTER DATED JULY 26, 1983) TO IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS YOU CAN APPRECIATE THE TRIVIALITY OF PLPR TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THEM WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION AND COMMITMENT.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-12-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN REFERENCE TO YOUR LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 7, 1983, WE ARE INCLUDING COPY OF OUR LETTER TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DATED DECEMBER 7, 1983. [THE DECEMBER 7, 1983, LETTER FROM THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION REFERRED BRIEFLY TO A PREVIOUS LETTER DATED JULY 26, 1983. IN THE JULY 26, 1983, LETTER, THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO OUTLINED THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND AGAIN REQUESTED THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE THRUST OF THE 7/26/83 LETTER IS SUMMARIZED IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH: THE PIPELINES OF PUERTO RICO, ALTHOUGH MUCH WILLING, IS UNABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS RECOMMENDATION WHICH REQUIRES ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF SEVERAL PUBLIC INSTRUMENTALITIES AND AGENCIES. ONCE AGAIN WE ARE REQUESTING YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER AND VERY RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT THE PSC CALL A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHICH AT LEAST SHOULD INCLUDE THE P.R. AQUEDUCT AND SEWAGE AUTHORITY, THE PUERTO RICO AUTHORITY OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, THE PUERTO RICO TELEPHONE COMPANY AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-05-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-09-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-04-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence