NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-037

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-037.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI AND THE MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION: ENCOURAGE OPERATORS OF UNDERGROUND FACILITIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE ONE-CALL EXCAVATION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-09-08

Adopted Date: 1982-08-24

Overall Date Closed: 1995-05-31

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 28, 1982, AT CENTRALIA, MISSOURI, NATURAL GAS AT 47 PSIG ENTERED A LOW PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WHICH NORMALLY OPERATED AT 11 INCHES WATER COLUMN (0.40 PSIG) AFTER A BACKHOE BUCKET SNAGGED, RUPTURED, AND SEPARATED THE 3/4-INCH-DIAMETER STEEL PRESSURE REGULATOR CONTROL LINE AT THE MISSOURI POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY'S DISTRICT REGULATOR STATION NO. 1. THE BACKHOE, WHICH WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CITY OF CENTRALIA, WAS BEING USED TO CLEAN A DITCH LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE PRESSURE REGULATOR STATION. THE HIGH PRESSURE GAS ENTERING CUSTOMER PIPING SYSTEMS IN SOME CASES RESULTED IN HIGH PILOT LIGHT FLAMES WHICH INITIATED FIRES IN BUILDINGS; WHILE IN OTHER CASES, THE PILOT LIGHT FLAMES WERE BLOWN OUT, ALLOWING GAS TO ESCAPE WITHIN THE BUILDINGS. OF THE 167 BUILDINGS AFFECTED BY THE OVER PRESSURE, 12 WERE DESTROYED AND 32 SUSTAINED MODERATE TO HEAVY DAMAGES. FIVE PERSONS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA82MP010

Report Number: PAR-82-03

Addressee Name: State of Missouri

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-05-31

Addressee Acronym: MO

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1988-08-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: State of Missouri, Public Service Commission

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-02-21

Addressee Acronym: MOPSC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1982-09-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION LETTER: YOUR LETTER HAS BEEN FILED IN THIS OFFICE TODAY WITH A COPY GOING TO PARTIES OF RECORD IN THE COMMISSION'S CASE NO. GO-83-25.

Addressee Acronym: MOPSC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1988-11-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN YOUR LETTER, IT WAS INDICATED A FORMAL RESPONSE TO THIS RECOMMENDATION HAD NOT BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE COMMISSION. ACTUALLY, I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER RESPONDING TO THIS RECOMMENDATION TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, WE ARE UNABLE TO PRODUCE A COPY OF THAT CORRESPONDENCE, AND WILL BE PLEASED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AGAIN. THIS COMMISSION HAS NOT "ACTIVELY PROMOTED" THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATEWIDE ONE CALL EXCAVATION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM. THIS IS BECAUSE THE COMMISSSION IS DIVIDED AS TO THE EFFICACY OF SUCH A MANDATORY SYSTEM, AS ARE MANY OF OUR MAJOR JURISDICTIONAL UTILITIES. THERE IS A VOLUNTARY ONE-CALL SYSTEM IN PLACE, IN WHICH MANY MISSOURI COMPANIES PARTICIPATE. I MUST MENTION THAT IT IS VERY DOUBTFUL THAT THE EXISTENCE OF A ONE-CALL SYSTEM WOULD HAVE HAD ANY IMPACT WHATSOEVER ON THE CENTRALIA, MISSOURI INCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN RECOMMENDATION P-82-37. THE CITY'S BACKHOE OPERATOR IN THAT INCIDENT DID NOT BELIEVE HE WAS "EXCAVATING" ANYTHING, BUT MERELY CLEANING OUT A DITCH. HE WOULD NOT HAVE CALLED "ONE CALL," WHETHER IT WAS MANDATORY OR VOLUNTARY. SECONDLY, HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS AUTHORIZED ITS STAFF TO WORK WITH MEMBERS OF THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE IN DEVELOPING LEGISLATION WHICH COULD IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE ONE-CALL EXCAVATION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM. OUR STAFF WAS INVOLVED IN PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN THIS AREA DURING THE LAST SESSION AND WILL BE IN THE UPCOMING SESSION, IF THE LEGISLATION IS AGAIN INTRODUCED. I HOPE THIS LETTER ADEQUATELY ADDRESSES YOUR INQUIRY REGARDING COMMISSION ACTION IN RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATION P-82-37. IF YOU DESIRE FURTHER INPUT ON THIS MATTER, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.

Addressee Acronym: MOPSC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1995-02-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LEGISLATION THAT REVISED THE "DAMAGE PREVENTION" STATUTES OF MISSOURI BECAME EFFECTIVE 8/28/91. THE STATUTE NOW INCORPORATES THE ELEMENTS CONTAINED IN 4 CFR PART 198 (STATE ONE-CALL PREVENTION PROGRAM) AS REQUIRED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE U.S. DOT, PIPELINE SAFETY GRANT-IN-AID PROGRAM.

Addressee Acronym: MOPSC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1995-05-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD APPRECIATES THE COMMISSION'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE MISSOURI'S EXCAVATION DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES A STATEWIDE NOTIFICATION CENTER. ALTHOUGH THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID NOT ENACT LEGISLATION REQUIRING ALL EXCAVATORS TO NOTIFY FACILITY OPERATORS THROUGH A ONE-CALL SYSTEM, MISSOURI'S EFFORTS IN THIS AREA SINCE 1982 HAVE BEEN COMMENDABLE. BECAUSE FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE EVACUATION DAMAGE PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT, THE BOARD URGES YOU TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD THIS GOAL. BASED ON YOUR SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING WIDESPREAD PARTICIPATION IN THE ONE-CALL SYSTEM, P-82-37 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: MOPSC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1982-12-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: MOPSC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1988-08-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: MOPSC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1989-03-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence