NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-039

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-039.

AS A RESULT OF SPECIAL STUDY PSS-81-1, THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU OF THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: USING THE FINDINGS OF THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE CONCERNING ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS WHERE EFFECTIVE USE CAN BE MADE OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES TO PREVENT VARIOUS TYPES OF ACCIDENTS, EXTEND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES. (P-81-038 and P-81-039 supersede P-73-002, P-76-009A, P-80-055, and P-81-009)

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed - Reconsidered

Issued Date: 1981-09-24

Adopted Date: 1981-09-09

Overall Date Closed: 1986-08-11

Synopsis: THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD HAS CONDUCTED A STUDY OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES DESIGNED FOR USE IN GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS (SPECIAL STUDY--PIPELINE EXCESS FLOW VALVES, NTSB-PSS-81-1). THESE DEVICES, INTENDED TO STOP THE FLOW OF GAS TO A CUSTOMER IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR LEAK IN THE GAS SERVICE, HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CONSIDERABLE CONTROVERSY IN RECENT YEARS.

Keywords: Excess Flow Valves

Ntsbnumber: 80564

Report Number: PSS-81-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Reconsidered

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-08-11

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1982-08-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA (MTB) LTR: WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (GRI) HAS UNDERTAKEN THE TEST AND EVALUATION PROGRAM YOU RECOMMENDED THEY CONDUCT, AND THAT THE RESULTS OF THEIR WORK SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. THE RESULTS OF GRI'S WORK WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO ANY DECISION THE MTB MIGHT MAKE ON POSSIBLE RULEMAKING ACTION PROPOSING A REQUIREMENT FOR EXCESS FLOW VALVES. AS YOU KNOW, THE RULEMAKING PROCESS CAN BE RATHER LENGTHY AND INCLUDES THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE COST/BENEFIT DATA AND ANALYSES. IT NOW APPEARS PRUDENT TO ADDRESS THE ENTIRE EXCESS FLOW VALVE QUESTION IN ONE BROAD COMPREHENSIVE ACTION, IF SUCH RULEMAKING IS DEEMDED JUSTIFIED, RATHER THAN TO BEGIN THE PROCESS FOR THE ONE ASPECT (SINGLE-FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL HIGH PRESSURE SERVICES WHERE CONDITIONS IN THE OPERATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSEM WILL NOT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE USE OF THE VALVE). THEREFORE, WE ARE PLANNING TO AWAIT THE RESULTS OF THE GRI RESEARCH BEFORE DECIDING IF A RULEMAKING PROJECT ON EXCESS FLOW VALVES SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN. WHEN WE RECEIVE GRI'S FINDINGS, WE WILL CAREFULLY REVIEW THEM AND BASED ON THE POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENT TOGETHER WITH THE COSTS AND BENEFITS REFLECTED IN THEIR REPORT, WE WILL DECIDE IF AND TO WHAT EXTENT RULEMAKING IS WARRANTED.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1986-03-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SEE THE LOG FILE FOR A LENGTHY RESPONSE.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1986-08-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence