NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-010

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-010.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES: AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTING PERMITS TO PERFORM WORK IN OR ADJACENT TO PUBLIC STREETS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY, ENCOURAGE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REQUIRE AS A CONDITION OF THE PERMIT THAT PERMITTEE PROVIDE ADVANCE NOTIFICATION TO OPERATORS OF UNDERGROUND FACILITIES ABOUT EXCAVATION, AUGERING, BLASTING, OR OTHER ACTIVITIES WHICH MAY ENDANGER UNDER GROUND FACILITIES USING A ONE-CALL SYSTEM IF ONE IS IN OPERATION.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-04-16

Adopted Date: 1982-02-25

Overall Date Closed: 1983-09-27

Synopsis: ON AUGUST 25, 1981, IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A 16-INCH NATURAL GAS MAIN OWNED BY THE PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY (PG & E) WAS PUNCTURED BY A DRILL THAT AN EXCAVATION CONTRACTOR WAS USING TO SET TIEBACKS FOR ANCHORING HIS EXCAVATION SHORING. ESCAPING NATURAL GAS BLEW UPWARD AND CARRIED INTO THE EMBARCADERO COMPLEX AND OTHER NEARBY BUILDINGS. THERE WAS NO IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE GAS STREAM ENTRAINED AN OIL CONTAINING POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL (PCB). FALL-OUT AFFECTED AN EIGHT-SQUARE-BLOCK AREA OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL DISTRICT COVERING BUILDINGS, CARS, TREES, PEDESTRIANS, POLICE, AND FIREMEN. APPROXI MATELY 30,000 PERSONS WERE SAFELY EVACUATED FROM THE AREA IN 45 MINUTES. NO ONE WAS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED, ALTHOUGH MANY PERSONS WERE SPRAYED WITH THE PCB OIL MIST.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA81MP020

Report Number: PAR-82-01

Addressee Name: American Public Works Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-09-27

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-10-14

Communication Type: Non-Recipient Correspondence

Communication Contents: -From E.C. Jenik, Chairman, Utility Location and Coordination Council: At the ULCC Executive Committee meeting on September 12, 1982, the NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-10 was unanimously endorsed. The Committee further directed the chairman to notify each of the APWA Local Chapter Presidents of this decision and to encourage the entire membership to support and promote this recommendation. An article will also be prepared for our official magazine, APWA Reporter, highlighting this Safety Recommendation and the benefits to be derived through participation in the "One Call" concept. As you know, ULCC is committed to promoting all effective means to minimize potential hazards to excavators, Public Works and utility workers and the general public. I believe this action is one more step toward achieving that goal.

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-07-15

Communication Type: Non-Recipient Correspondence

Communication Contents: -From Donald N. Koehler, Chairman, Utility Location and Coordination Council: This letter will acknowledge receipt of NTSB' s Safety Recommendation P-82-10 requiring advance notification to underground operators of proposed excavation, augering, blasting or other such activities prior to the granting of local governmental approval. The Utility location and coordination Council of the American Public Works Association is very interested in promoting all effective means to minimize potential hazards to excavators, utility workers, customers and to the general public. I believe that you received some appreciation for this purpose as a result of your recent presence at the One--Call Systems International Committee's Symposium in Seattle, Washington. It was my pleasure to meet you and please accept my sincere thanks for your fine keynote speech on Monday June 28. Also, for generally making yourself available for contact with those attending the Symposium. A lot of good information, I feel, is traded outside of the formal presentations. The next meeting of the ULCC Executive Committee will be held in Houston, Texas on September 12 and Recommendation P-82-10 will be placed on the agenda, Possible actions are to add it to current policy statements or to incorporate it as a resolution to be recommended to the APWA membership in 1983. You will be kept informed of the Executive Committee's discussion and action on this Recommendation.

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-05-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: American Public Works Association letter: A copy of the recommendation has been sent to each member of the utility location and coordination council's executive committee for review and comment. I will inform you of the action that the ULCC executive committee recommends at a later date.

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-07-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: American Public Works Association letter: A recent article published in the July 1983 edition of the "APWA Reporter" is in regard to the implementation of P-82-10.

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-01-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Thank you for your October 14, 1982, letter in further response to the National Transportation Safety Board's Safety Recommendation P·-82-10 which was developed as a result of our investigation of the natural gas leak in San Francisco, California) on August 25, 1981. This recommendation was addressed to the American Public Works Association, the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties and asked that these groups: P-82-10 As an integral part of their requirements for granting permits to perform work in or adjacent to public streets and rights-of-way, encourage local governments to require as a condition of the permit that permittee provide advance notification to operators of underground facilities about excavation, augering, blasting, or other activities which may endanger underground facilities using a one-call system if one is in operation. As the responding agency for the American Public Works Association (APWA) we appreciate your efforts to keep the Board aware of progress made in implementing this recommendation. Based on the proposed action in your October 14 letter, we will hold P-82-10 in an "Open--Acceptable Action" status. We look forward to receiving a copy of the proposed article to be printed in the "APWA Reporter" and notification of any other means used to inform local chapter Presidents. We appreciate the responsive action you are taking to prevent damage to underground facilities and look forward to our continued cooperation.

Addressee Acronym: APWA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-09-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: This is in reference to the National Transportation Safety Board's Safety Recommendation P-82-10 which was issued as a result of its investigation of the natural gas leak in San Francisco, California, on August 25, 1981. This recommendation was addressed to the American Public Works Association (APWA), the National League of Cities, and the National Association of Counties; it asked that these groups: P-82-10 As an integral part of their requirements for granting permits to perform work in or adjacent to public streets and rights-of-way, encourage local governments to require as a condition of the permit that permittee provide advance notification to operators of underground facilities about excavation, augering, blasting, or other activities which may endanger underground facilities using a one-call system if one is in operation. The Safety Board has received a copy of the July 1983 edition of the APWA Reporter. We are pleased to learn that an article regarding the implementation of our recommendation was published in the "Institute News" section, pages 37 and 38, of the magazine. Based on this information, the Safety Board has classified Safety Recommendation P-82-10 as "Closed-Acceptable Action." We appreciate your efforts as the responding agency for the APWA to help prevent damage to underground facilities.

Addressee Name: National Association of Counties

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-09-27

Addressee Acronym: NACo

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-10-14

Communication Type: Non-Recipient Correspondence

Communication Contents: -From E.C. Jenik, Chairman, Utility Location and Coordination Council: At the ULCC Executive Committee meeting on September 12, 1982, the NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-10 was unanimously endorsed. The Committee further directed the chairman to notify each of the APWA Local Chapter Presidents of this decision and to encourage the entire membership to support and promote this recommendation. An article will also be prepared for our official magazine, APWA Reporter, highlighting this Safety Recommendation and the benefits to be derived through participation in the "One Call" concept. As you know, ULCC is committed to promoting all effective means to minimize potential hazards to excavators, Public Works and utility workers and the general public. I believe this action is one more step toward achieving that goal.

Addressee Acronym: NACo

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-07-15

Communication Type: Non-Recipient Correspondence

Communication Contents: -From Donald N. Koehler, Chairman, Utility Location and Coordination Council: This letter will acknowledge receipt of NTSB' s Safety Recommendation P-82-10 requiring advance notification to underground operators of proposed excavation, augering, blasting or other such activities prior to the granting of local governmental approval. The Utility location and coordination Council of the American Public Works Association is very interested in promoting all effective means to minimize potential hazards to excavators, utility workers, customers and to the general public. I believe that you received some appreciation for this purpose as a result of your recent presence at the One--Call Systems International Committee's Symposium in Seattle, Washington. It was my pleasure to meet you and please accept my sincere thanks for your fine keynote speech on Monday June 28. Also, for generally making yourself available for contact with those attending the Symposium. A lot of good information, I feel, is traded outside of the formal presentations. The next meeting of the ULCC Executive Committee will be held in Houston, Texas on September 12 and Recommendation P-82-10 will be placed on the agenda, Possible actions are to add it to current policy statements or to incorporate it as a resolution to be recommended to the APWA membership in 1983. You will be kept informed of the Executive Committee's discussion and action on this Recommendation.

Addressee Acronym: NACo

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-09-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: This is in reference to the National Transportation Safety Board's Safety Recommendation P-82-10 which was issued as a result of its investigation of the natural gas leak in San Francisco, California, on August 25, 1981. This recommendation was addressed to the American Public Works Association (APWA), the National League of Cities, and the National Association of Counties; it asked that these groups: P-82-10 As an integral part of their requirements for granting permits to perform work in or adjacent to public streets and rights-of-way, encourage local governments to require as a condition of the permit that permittee provide advance notification to operators of underground facilities about excavation, augering, blasting, or other activities which may endanger underground facilities using a one-call system if one is in operation. The Safety Board has received a copy of the July 1983 edition of the APWA Reporter. We are pleased to learn that an article regarding the implementation of our recommendation was published in the "Institute News" section, pages 37 and 38, of the magazine. Based on this information, the Safety Board has classified Safety Recommendation P-82-10 as "Closed-Acceptable Action." We appreciate your efforts as the responding agency for the APWA to help prevent damage to underground facilities.

Addressee Acronym: NACo

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-01-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Thank you for your October 14, 1982, letter in further response to the National Transportation Safety Board's Safety Recommendation P·-82-10 which was developed as a result of our investigation of the natural gas leak in San Francisco, California) on August 25, 1981. This recommendation was addressed to the American Public Works Association, the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties and asked that these groups: P-82-10 As an integral part of their requirements for granting permits to perform work in or adjacent to public streets and rights-of-way, encourage local governments to require as a condition of the permit that permittee provide advance notification to operators of underground facilities about excavation, augering, blasting, or other activities which may endanger underground facilities using a one-call system if one is in operation. As the responding agency for the American Public Works Association (APWA) we appreciate your efforts to keep the Board aware of progress made in implementing this recommendation. Based on the proposed action in your October 14 letter, we will hold P-82-10 in an "Open--Acceptable Action" status. We look forward to receiving a copy of the proposed article to be printed in the "APWA Reporter" and notification of any other means used to inform local chapter Presidents. We appreciate the responsive action you are taking to prevent damage to underground facilities and look forward to our continued cooperation.

Addressee Name: National League of Cities

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-09-27

Addressee Acronym: NLC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-10-14

Communication Type: Non-Recipient Correspondence

Communication Contents: -From E.C. Jenik, Chairman, Utility Location and Coordination Council: At the ULCC Executive Committee meeting on September 12, 1982, the NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-10 was unanimously endorsed. The Committee further directed the chairman to notify each of the APWA Local Chapter Presidents of this decision and to encourage the entire membership to support and promote this recommendation. An article will also be prepared for our official magazine, APWA Reporter, highlighting this Safety Recommendation and the benefits to be derived through participation in the "One Call" concept. As you know, ULCC is committed to promoting all effective means to minimize potential hazards to excavators, Public Works and utility workers and the general public. I believe this action is one more step toward achieving that goal.

Addressee Acronym: NLC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-07-15

Communication Type: Non-Recipient Correspondence

Communication Contents: -From Donald N. Koehler, Chairman, Utility Location and Coordination Council: This letter will acknowledge receipt of NTSB' s Safety Recommendation P-82-10 requiring advance notification to underground operators of proposed excavation, augering, blasting or other such activities prior to the granting of local governmental approval. The Utility location and coordination Council of the American Public Works Association is very interested in promoting all effective means to minimize potential hazards to excavators, utility workers, customers and to the general public. I believe that you received some appreciation for this purpose as a result of your recent presence at the One--Call Systems International Committee's Symposium in Seattle, Washington. It was my pleasure to meet you and please accept my sincere thanks for your fine keynote speech on Monday June 28. Also, for generally making yourself available for contact with those attending the Symposium. A lot of good information, I feel, is traded outside of the formal presentations. The next meeting of the ULCC Executive Committee will be held in Houston, Texas on September 12 and Recommendation P-82-10 will be placed on the agenda, Possible actions are to add it to current policy statements or to incorporate it as a resolution to be recommended to the APWA membership in 1983. You will be kept informed of the Executive Committee's discussion and action on this Recommendation.

Addressee Acronym: NLC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-09-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: This is in reference to the National Transportation Safety Board's Safety Recommendation P-82-10 which was issued as a result of its investigation of the natural gas leak in San Francisco, California, on August 25, 1981. This recommendation was addressed to the American Public Works Association (APWA), the National League of Cities, and the National Association of Counties; it asked that these groups: P-82-10 As an integral part of their requirements for granting permits to perform work in or adjacent to public streets and rights-of-way, encourage local governments to require as a condition of the permit that permittee provide advance notification to operators of underground facilities about excavation, augering, blasting, or other activities which may endanger underground facilities using a one-call system if one is in operation. The Safety Board has received a copy of the July 1983 edition of the APWA Reporter. We are pleased to learn that an article regarding the implementation of our recommendation was published in the "Institute News" section, pages 37 and 38, of the magazine. Based on this information, the Safety Board has classified Safety Recommendation P-82-10 as "Closed-Acceptable Action." We appreciate your efforts as the responding agency for the APWA to help prevent damage to underground facilities.

Addressee Acronym: NLC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-01-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Thank you for your October 14, 1982, letter in further response to the National Transportation Safety Board's Safety Recommendation P·-82-10 which was developed as a result of our investigation of the natural gas leak in San Francisco, California) on August 25, 1981. This recommendation was addressed to the American Public Works Association, the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties and asked that these groups: P-82-10 As an integral part of their requirements for granting permits to perform work in or adjacent to public streets and rights-of-way, encourage local governments to require as a condition of the permit that permittee provide advance notification to operators of underground facilities about excavation, augering, blasting, or other activities which may endanger underground facilities using a one-call system if one is in operation. As the responding agency for the American Public Works Association (APWA) we appreciate your efforts to keep the Board aware of progress made in implementing this recommendation. Based on the proposed action in your October 14 letter, we will hold P-82-10 in an "Open--Acceptable Action" status. We look forward to receiving a copy of the proposed article to be printed in the "APWA Reporter" and notification of any other means used to inform local chapter Presidents. We appreciate the responsive action you are taking to prevent damage to underground facilities and look forward to our continued cooperation.