NTSB Safety Recommendation P-87-003

NTSB safety recommendation P-87-003.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: AMEND 49 CFR 192.459, EXTERNAL CORROSION CONTROL, EXAMINATION OF BURIED PIPELINE WHEN EXPOSED, TO REQUIRE PIPELINE OPERATORS TO FULLY EXPOSE AND FULLY EXAMINE PIPELINES EXPOSED FOR ANY REASON. THE EXPOSURE AND EXAMINATION SHOULD CONTINUE UNTIL CORRODED OR OTHER DAMAGED AREAS ARE NO LONGER ENCOUNTERED.

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1987-03-24

Adopted Date: 1987-02-18

Overall Date Closed: 1998-07-27

Synopsis: ON APRIL 27, 1985, NATURAL GAS UNDER 990 PSIG RUPTURED THE NO. 10 PIPELINE OF THE TEXAS GAS PIPELINE COMPANY SYSTEM. THE RUPTURE WAS IN AN AREA WEAKENED BY ATMOSPHERIC CORROSION THAT WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE PIPELINE'S CASING UNDER KENTUCKY STATE HIGHWAY 90 NEAR BEAUMONT, KENTUCKY. THE ENSUING FIRE KILLED FIVE PERSONS IN A HOUSE LOCATED NORTH OF THE RUPTURE, INJURED THREE PERSONS AS THEY FLED FROM THEIR HOUSE LOCATED SOUTH OF THE RUPTURE, AND DESTROYED SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF PROPERTY. ON FEBRUARY 21, 1986, NATURAL GAS UNDER 987 PSIG RUPTURED THE NO. 15 PIPELINE OF THE TEXAS EASTERN GAS PIPE LINE SYSTEM. THE RUPTURE WAS IN AN AREA WEAKENED BY GAL VANIC CORROSION AND WAS LOCATED SOUTH OF KENTUCKY STATE HIGHWAY 52 NEAR LANCASTER, KENTUCKY. THE FORCE OF THE ESCAPING GAS AND THE ENSUING FIRE INJURED THREE PERSONS AS THEY FLED FROM THEIR HOUSES, RESULTED IN THE EVACUATION OF 77 OTHER PERSONS, AND DESTROYED SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF PROPERTY.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA85FP011

Report Number: PAR-87-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1998-07-27

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1997-10-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NTSB REQUESTED A FOLLOWUP ON THIS DATE 10/31/97.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1993-05-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA HAS INDICATED TO THE BOARD STAFF THAT THE FINAL RULE ADDRESSING P-87-3 IS BEING PREPARED. FURTHERMORE, PUBLIC LAW 102-508, WHICH ADDRESSES P-87-22, REQUIRES A STUDY TO BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER 1994, & A FINAL RULE TO BE ISSUED BY OCTOBER 1996. THE BOARD URGES RSPA TO ACT EXPEDITIOUSLY ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, LONG DELAYED DUE TO REGULATORY REVIEW. PENDING RECEIPT OF THE PUBLISHED NPRMS, P-87-3 & -22 WILL REMAIN "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1998-07-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD BELIEVES THAT GIVEN THE 11 YEARS SINCE THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS ISSUED, THE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO 49 CFR PART 192.459 ARE LONG OVERDUE. ACCORDINGLY P-87-3 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1998-03-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: (Letter Mail Controlled 3/17/98 5:55:08 PM MC# 980349) RSPA INFORMS US THAT ITS EARLIER PROPOSED RULE RAN INTO PROBLEMS & THAT RSPA IS NOW FORMULATING IN "INVESTIGATIVE" DOCKET TO DETERMINE IN WHAT AREAS THE EXISTING FEDERAL PIPELINE SAFETY REGULATIONS ON CORROSION CONTROL NEED TO BE MODERNIZED, REVISED, OR CORRECTED.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1987-09-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA AGREES THAT PRUDENT PRACTICE WOULD DICTATE INVESTIGATION OF THE FULL EXTENT OF ANY DISCOVERED CORROSION. IT IS ALSO AGREED THAT EXAMINATION OF PIPELINES FOR THE FULL EX TENT OF CORROSION IS PRUDENT WHENEVER A PIPELINE IS UNCOVERED. THE HAZARDOUS LIQUIDS REGULATIONS IN 49 CFR 195.416(E) REQUIRE A PROCEDURE FOR CORROSION DETECTION THAT RSPA BELIEVES WOULD SATISFY THE RECOMMENDED ACTION IF APPLIED TO GAS PIPELINES. IN LIGHT OF RSPA'S POLICY TO MAKE PARTS 192 AND 195 PARALLEL SO FAR AS IS PRACTICABLE, RSPA WILL PROPOSE APPROPRIATE CHANGES TO PART 192. THE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL BE PLACED ON THE RULEMAKING AGENDA FOR 1988.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-09-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ISSUANCE OF A NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON QUALIFICATION OF PIPELINE PERSONNEL HAS BEEN DELAYED PENDING THE PRESIDENT'S REGULATORY MORATORIUM AND EVALUATION OF ALL REGULATIONS TO IDENTIFY THOSE WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY IMPACT ECONOMIC GROWTH, MAY NO LONGER BE NECESSARY, OR IMPOSE NEEDLESS COSTS OR RED TAPE.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1987-04-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN THE COMING WEEKS RSPA WILL BE EVALUATING THE MERITS OF ALL THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING P-87-3 AND -8 WHCIH WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THE RULEMAKING NOTICES OR STUDY. RSPA HOPES TO SEND A COMPLETE REPLY ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS BY JULY 2, 1987.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1987-06-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1987-10-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-08-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence