NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-020

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-020.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE COMMITTEE ON GAS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGULATORY COMMISSIONERS: DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE GAS CUSTOMERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF NATURAL GAS AND ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN DURING GAS EMERGENCIES.

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-07-01

Adopted Date: 1985-06-12

Overall Date Closed: 2002-06-28

Synopsis: AT 3:30 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1984, AN EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY AN INTENSE NATURAL GASFED FIRE DESTROYED TWO APARTMENTS AT 3022 NORTH 37TH STREET IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. OF THE 12 PERSONS INJURED IN THE FIRE, 5 PERSONS LATER DIED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE 1 1/4-INCH-DIAMETER PLASTIC GAS MAIN SUPPLYING GAS TO THE DESTROYED APARTMENTS WAS EXCAVATED AND A 3-INCH-LONG LONGITUDINAL SPLIT WAS DISCOVERED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PIPE 18 FEET FROM THE GAS METERS ON THE APARTMENT BUILDING. GAS AT 30 PSIG HAD ESCAPED THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL SPLIT, MIGRATED INTO AND UNDER THE APARTMENTS, IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED.

Keywords: Hazmat

Ntsbnumber: DCA84AP026

Report Number: PAR-85-01

Addressee Name: National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-06-28

Addressee Acronym: NARUC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-12-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGULATORY COMMISSIONERS (NARUC), STAFF SUB-COMMITTEE ON PIPELINE SAFETY HAS BEEN ASSIGNED WITH THE TASK OF DEVELOPING A PROGRAM TO EDUCATE GAS CUSTOMERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE SAFETY AWARENESS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FAMILIARIZE THE PUBLIC WITH THE DANGERS OF NATURAL GAS, ON BEHALF OF THE NARUC COMMITTEE ON GAS. THIS STAFF SUB-COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF STAFF MEMBERS FROM VARIOUS STATE REGULATORY AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HAVE BEEN MEETING OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS ASSEMBLING A "HOW TO DO IT KIT" THAT MAY BE USED TO PROVIDE SAFETY INFORMATION TO ALL CONCERNED, BY UTILIZING PORTIONS OF THE KIT. TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE, COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN STAFF OUTLINED A PROGRAM THAT CAN: (1) BE PUT IN PLACE BY REGULATORY STAFF'S, EVEN WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF SOMEONE EXPERIENCED IN DEALING WITH THE MEDIA AND ADVERTISING COMMUNITY, AND; (2) WILL BE EFFECTIVE EVEN IF LIMITED STAFF TIME REQUIRES THAT THE EFFORT BE SPREAD OVER A PERIOD OF MORE THAN A YEAR. THE APPROACH TO THIS CAMPAIGN IS BROKEN DOWN AS FOLLOWS: A) WHO THE CONTACTS ARE. B) FREE EXPOSURE C) MODERATE COST ELEMENTS D) PAID ELEMENTS THE STAFF SUB-COMMITTEE HAS MADE PRESENTATIONS TO TWO OF THE THREE NARUC COMMITTEE NECESSARY, IN HOPES TO RECEIVE THE ENDORSEMENTS TO DISTRIBUTE THE "HOW TO DO IT" KIT TO ALL REGULATORY AGENCIES IN THE NATION. WE ANTICIPATE COMPLETING THE FINAL PRESENTATION IN MARCH OF 1989, AND HAVE DISTRIBUTION TO ALL STATE REGULATORY AGENCIES OF THE KITS BY SEPTEMBER OF 1989. ATTACHED IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE FOUR CAMPAIGN ELEMENTS AND A SAMPLING OF MATERIAL DEVELOPED BY THE STAFF SUB-COMMITTEE.

Addressee Acronym: NARUC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-06-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Administratively closed based on activity by AGA, APGA, and USDOT.

Addressee Acronym: NARUC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-10-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: NARUC

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1989-01-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence