NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-085

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-085.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO: ASSIGN AT LEAST ONE FULL-TIME QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL TO THE DUTIES OF PIPELINE SAFETY SO THAT THE TASKS OF INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS CAN BE CARRIED OUT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-02-26

Adopted Date: 1980-12-19

Overall Date Closed: 1988-07-25

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 UNDERTERMINED 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: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Public Service Commission

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-07-25

Addressee Acronym: CSP

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1982-11-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: PUERTO RICO PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION LETTER: AS A RESULT OF THE CLOSING OF THE COMMONWEALTH OIL REFINING COMPANY COMPLEX AT TALLABOA, THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER USED AND ITS OWNER REQUESTED PERMISSION FOR TEMPORARY SUSPENDING OPERATIONS DURING A THREE MONTH PERIOD STARTING JULY 1, 1982. PERMISSION WAS GRANTED IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1982. RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN DEFERRED PENDING THE FINAL DECISION ON THE PIPELINE.

Addressee Acronym: CSP

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-06-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SAID INSPECTORS PRIORITY DUTY ON NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY PROGRAMS, IS TO ASSURE THAT THE TASKS OF INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATION IN THE SAN JUAN GAS COMPANY PIPELINE NETWORK, ARE CARRIED OUT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

Addressee Acronym: CSP

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-05-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: CSP

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: CSP

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-07-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: CSP

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1988-04-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence