NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-038

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-038.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY OF CENTRALIA, MISSOURI: REQUIRE CITY OFFICIALS TO GIVE NOTICE TO ALL UNDERGROUND AND ABOVE GROUND UTILITIES OF ANY PLANNED EXCAVATION WORK TO BE PERFORMED FOR THE CITY BY A CITY EMPLOYEE OR A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-09-08

Adopted Date: 1982-08-24

Overall Date Closed: 1983-05-04

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, City of Centralia

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-05-04

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-03-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CITY OF CENTRALIA LETTER: PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT WE HAVE IN THE PAST AND WILL CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE TO COMPLY WITH MISSOURI STATE STATUTES DEALING WITH EXCAVATION IN PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAYS; PARTICULARLY CHAPTER 319 WHICH REQUIRES THAT ANYONE EXCAVATING IN PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY NOTIFY UTILITIES AND REQUEST THEIR ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING UNDERGROUND LINES.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1983-05-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence