{"operation":"document","citation":"P-83-016","title":"NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-016","source_type":"guidance","agency":"National Transportation Safety Board","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1983-07-08","effective_on":"1983-07-08","summary":"THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY: INSPECT EACH CUSTOMER METER INSTALLATION TO DETERMINE IF A HIGH PRESSURE GAS SERVICE LINE IS INSTALLED BENEATH A BUILDING AND, WHERE THE CONDITION EXISTS, REROUTE ALL HIGH PRESSURE PIPING TO AN OUTSIDE LOCATION.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-83-016.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-83-016.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-83-016","source_url":"https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-83-016","body":"NTSB safety recommendation P-83-016.\n\nTHE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MONTANA POWER COMPANY: INSPECT EACH CUSTOMER METER INSTALLATION TO DETERMINE IF A HIGH PRESSURE GAS SERVICE LINE IS INSTALLED BENEATH A BUILDING AND, WHERE THE CONDITION EXISTS, REROUTE ALL HIGH PRESSURE PIPING TO AN OUTSIDE LOCATION.\n\nPriority: CLASS II\n\nOverall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action\n\nIssued Date: 1983-07-08\n\nAdopted Date: 1983-06-24\n\nOverall Date Closed: 1995-07-12\n\nSynopsis: ON NOVEMBER 15, 1982, A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION IN CONRAD, MONTANA, DEMOLISHED ONE HOUSE, HEAVILY DAMAGED AN ADJACENT HOUSE, EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED NEARBY HOUSES, AND INJURED ONE PERSON. NATURAL GAS ESCAPING FROM A DISCONNECTED GAS PIPE LOCATED BENEATH THE HOUSE FILLED THE ENCLOSED CRAWL SPACE AND IGNITED WHEN THE OWNER, WHO WAS AT AN INSIDE ENTRANCE TO THE CRAWL SPACE, LIT A PROPANE TORCH WHICH HE HAD PLANNED TO USE TO THAW FROZEN WATER PIPES LOCATED BENEATH THE HOUSE.\n\nProbable Cause: None\n\nNtsbnumber: DCA83FP006\n\nReport Number: None\n\nAddressee Name: Montana Power Company\n\nAddressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action\n\nAddressee Date Closed: 1995-07-12\n\nAddressee Acronym: MPC\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1995-07-12\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence\n\nCommunication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE MPC HAS COMPLETED A PROGRAM TO \"MOVE ALL GAS METERS OUTSIDE & ELIMINATE ALL INSTANCES WHERE DISTRIBUTION PRESSURE (20 PSIG) EXISTS INSIDE THE BASEMENTS & CRAWL SPACES UNDER BUILDINGS.\" BASED ON YOUR REPORTED ACTIONS, P-83-16 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED \"CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION.\"\n\nAddressee Acronym: MPC\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1983-07-15\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence\n\nCommunication Contents: MONTANA POWER COMPANY LETTER: IN RESPONSE TO YOUR LETTER, WE ARE FORMULATING AN INSPECTION PROGRAM TO REVIEW OUR SYSTEM FOR CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE CONRAD INCIDENT. WE WILL CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OF CONDUCTING THIS INSPECTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ESTABLISHED ANNUAL LEAK DETECTION PROGRAM.\n\nAddressee Acronym: MPC\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1995-04-12\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence\n\nCommunication Contents: MONTANA POWER COMPANY HAS COMPLETED A PROGRAM IN CONRAD MONTANA, TO MOVE ALL GAS METERS OUTSIDE & ELIMINATE ALL INSTANCES WHERE DISTRIBUTION PRESSURE (20 PSIG) EXISTS INSIDE THE BASEMENTS & CRAWL SPACE UNDER BUILDINGS. WE FEEL THAT WITH THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROGRAM, IN ADDITION TO THE ON-GOING SURVEILLANCE OF OUR GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, WE HAVE VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED THE CONDITIONS THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A SIMILAR INCIDENT. AS MENTIONED IN THE ORIGINAL REPORT, MONTANA POWER COMPANY PURCHASED THIS SYSTEM IN 1953. WHILE INSIDE METER SETS ARE STANDARD PRACTICE IN MANY AREAS, HAVING DISTRIBUTION PRESSURE IN BUILDINGS PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A HIGH VOLUME LEAK THAT DOES NOT EXIST WHEN ONLY LOW PRESSURE IS SUPPLIED TO INSIDE PIPING.\n\nAddressee Acronym: MPC\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1983-08-23\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence","truncated":false,"body_characters":3147}