NTSB Safety Recommendation P-84-030

NTSB safety recommendation P-84-030.

THS NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: ASSESS THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING PUBLIC POLICY FOR SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE USE OF LAND ADJACENT TO PIPELINES THAT TRANSPORT HAZARDOUS COMMODITIES TO PROVIDE REASONABLE PUBLIC SAFETY. BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE ASSESSMENT, DEVELOP A RECOMMENDED POLICY TO CORRECT IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES IN CURRENT POLICY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1984-06-18

Adopted Date: 1984-05-15

Overall Date Closed: 1988-12-22

Synopsis: ON MARCH 15, 1983, AN 8-INCH-DIAMETER LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) PIPELINE OPERATED BY THE MID-AMERICA PIPELINE SYSTEM (MAPCO) WAS DAMAGED BY A ROTATING POWER AUGER BEING USED TO DRILL HOLES IN ROCKY TERRAIN TO PLANT TREES ON LOT 8, SECTION 5, BLOCK 43 OF THE CHAPARRAL ESTATES HOUSING DEVELOPMENT NEAR WEST ODESSA, TEXAS. THE DAMAGED PIPELINE RUPTURED AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES, LPG, WHICH WAS BEING TRANSPORTED AT 1,075 PSIG, ESCAPED, VAPORIZED, AND WAS IGNITED BY AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE. IN THE RESULTANT FIRE, FIVE PERSONS WERE KILLED AND FIVE PERSONS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED--ONE PERSON DIED 5 DAYS LATER. TWO MOBILE HOMES, A SMALL FRAME HOUSE, AN AUGER TRUCK, TWO CARS, AND A PICKUP TRUCK WERE DESTROYED; 9,375 BARRELS OF LPG WERE BURNED.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA83MP015

Report Number: PAR-84-01

Addressee Name: National Academies, National Research Council, Transportation Research Board

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-12-22

Addressee Acronym: TRB

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1986-05-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AS EXPLAINED IN MY LETTER OF FEB. 20, 1985, TRB ASSEMBLED A TASK FORCE OF EXPERTS IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PIPELINE SAFETY TO EXAMINE THE ISSUES INVOLVED AND TO RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE STEPS FOR TRB. THAT PROCESS HAS NOW BEEN COMPLETED, AND IT HAS RESULTED IN A RECOMMENDATION THAT TRB PREPARE A SYNTHESIS ON THIS SUBJECT, AS DESCRIBED ON THE ENCLOSED PROJECT DESCRIPTION. THE ATTACHED DESCRIPTION HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD AND BY THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, AND WE ARE NOW PREPARING TO BEGIN THE PROJECT. ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ON OUR PLANNED APPROACH WOULD BE TIMELY AND WELCOME.

Addressee Acronym: TRB

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-09-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD'S (TRB'S) RECENTLY COMPLETED REPORT ON "PIPELINES AND PUBLIC SAFETY." THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN RESPONSE TO NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD REQUEST P-84-30 (CLASS II, PRIORITY ACTION), WHICH RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRB EXAMINE WAYS IN WHICH PIPELINE ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY DEVELOPMENT TOO NEAR PIPELINES COULD BE AVERTED BY MORE EFFECTIVE LAND USE POLICIES. THE TRB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONCURRED THAT SUCH A STUDY WAS NEEDED, AND BECAUSE NO POTENTIAL SPONSORS CAME FORWARD, IT APPROVED THE NECESSARY INTERNAL FINANCING. THE REPORT PROVIDES A SYNTHESIS OF POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY NEAR PIPELINES THROUGH DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAMS, LAND USE MEASURES, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS. ALTHOUGH THE SAFETY RECORD OF PIPELINES IS GOOD RELATIVE TO OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, THE STUDY COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED SEVERAL MEASURES FOR STRENGTHENING AND EXTENDING CURRENT SAFETY PROGRAMS. WE HOPE THAT THE REPORT ADDRESSES NTSB'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE SAFETY OF PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION.

Addressee Acronym: TRB

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-02-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: TRB

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-06-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: TRB

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1986-07-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: TRB

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-12-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence