NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-088

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-088.

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

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-02-26

Adopted Date: 1980-12-19

Overall Date Closed: 1984-04-20

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: Puerto Rico Telephone Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1984-04-20

Addressee Acronym: PRTC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-12-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: PUERTO RICO TELEPHONE COMPANY LETTER: IMPLEMENTATION OF ABOVE RECOMMENDATION ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AMONG OWNERS OR OPERATORS HAS HAD NO SUCCESS BECAUSE SAID OWNERS OR OPERATORS HAVE THEIR OWN CONTROL SYSTEM AND ARE NOT INTERESTED. HOWEVER, EXCAVATION PERMITS ISSUED BY THE PERTINENT GOVERNMENT AGENCY WITH THE CONDITION THAT EXCAVATOR MUST NOTIFY OWNERS OR OPERATORS OF THEIR PLANNED EXCAVATIONS TOGETHER WITH PROPER LEGISLATION IS BEING PROMOTED.

Addressee Acronym: PRTC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-11-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: PUERTO RICO TELEPHONE COMPANY LETTER: EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN AGREEMWNT WITH MR. CAMBO'S POSITION REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A "ONE-CALL-SYSTEM", WE BELIEVE THAT COORDINATION TOWARDS THIS OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE THROUGH EITHER THE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OR THE PERMITS AND REGULATIONS ADMINISTRATION (ARPE). THE PUERTO RICO TELEPHONE COMPANY IS WILING AND ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, BUT NOT TO UNDERTAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGING OR SUPERVISING SUCH OPERATIONS.

Addressee Acronym: PRTC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: PRTC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-05-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: PRTC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1984-04-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence