NTSB Safety Recommendation P-87-022

NTSB safety recommendation P-87-022.

TO THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY: Require the installation of remote-operated valves on pipeline that transport hazardous liquids, and base their spacing on the population at risk. (Superseded by P-95-1)

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action/Superseded

Issued Date: 1987-09-09

Adopted Date: 1987-07-20

Overall Date Closed: 1995-02-07

Synopsis: ABOUT 4:20 A.M. ON JULY 8, 1986, LINE 2N, AN 8-INCH PRODUCTS PIPELINE OPERATED BY WILLIAMS PIPE LINE COMPANY (WPL) AT MOUNDS VIEW, MINNESOTA, RUPTURED. UNLEADED GASOLINE UNDER 1,434 PSIG SPEWED FROM A 7 1/2-FOOT-LONG OPENING ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL SEAM OF THE PIPE. VAPORIZED GASOLINE COMBINED WITH AIR AND LIQUID GASOLINE FLOWED ALONG NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, THE GASOLINE VAPOR WAS IGNITED WHEN AN AUTOMOBILE ENTERED THE AREA. FOLLOWING AN EXPLOSION-LIKE NOISE, FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY ALONG THE PATH OF THE LIQUID GASOLINE. TWO PERSONS WERE BURNED SEVERELY AND LATER DIED, AND ONE PERSON SUFFERED SERIOUS BURNS. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE AND SOIL AND WATER POLLU TION.

Keywords: Remote Operated Valves

Ntsbnumber: DCA86AP014

Report Number: PAR-87-02

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action/Superseded

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-02-07

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1991-06-11

Communication Type: Recommendation Reiteration

Communication Contents: From the pipeline accident report of the liquid propane pipeline rupture and fire of the Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company pipeline in North Blenheim, New York on March 13, 1990.The Board adopted this report on 6/11/1991. Also, the Safety Board reiterated the following safety recommendations to the Research and Special Programs Administration: P-84-26, P-87-2, and P-87-22.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-06-19

Communication Type: Recommendation Reiteration

Communication Contents: From the railroad accident report: Derailment of Southern Pacific Transportation Company freight train on May 12, 1989 and subsequent rupture of Calnev petroleum pipeline on May 25, 1989 in San Bernardino, California. The Board adopted this report on 6/19/1990. As a result of its investigation, the Safety Board also reiterated the following safety recommendations: P-84-26, P-87-6, P-87-7, P-87-22, and R-89-50.

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: 1995-02-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: (IN GREENSHEET) THE RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTING FROM THIS INVESTIGATION FOLLOW. THE ACCIDENT REPORT SUPPORTING THE FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE FORWARDED UNDER SEPARATE COVER. IN THAT REPORT, THE BOARD CLASSIFIED P-87-6 & -7 "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," & CLASSIFIED P-87-22 "CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE SUPERSEDED" BY P-95-1.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1991-10-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WE PLAN TO INCLUDE A PROJECT IN OUR REGULATORY AGENDA PROPOSING REGULATIONS PRESCRIBING THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH EMERGENCY FLOW RESTRICTING DEVICES, INCLUDING REMOTELY CONTROLLED VALVES AND CHECK VALVES, SHOULD BE INSTALLED ON HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, CONGRESS MAY BY LEGISLATION REQUIRE THE DOT TO ISSUE REGULATIONS WITHIN 3 YEARS OF ENACTMENT PRESCRIBING THE CIRCUMSTANCE UNDER WHICH OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES MUST USE EMERGENCY FLOW RESTRICTING DEVICES, INCLUDING REMOTELY CONTROLLED VALVES AND CHECK VALVES ON SUCH PIPELINES.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-09-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA ISSUED A REPORT, "EMERGENCY FLOW RESTRICTING DEVICES STUDY" IN MARCH 1991 THAT FOUND REMOTELY CONTROLLED VALVES AND CHECK VALVES ARE THE ONLY EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY FLOW RESTRICTING DEVICES. THE REPORT PROPOSES ISSUANCE OF AN ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING (ANPRM). ANY WORK ON AN ANPRM HAS BEEN DELAYED BY THE PRESIDENT'S REGULATORY MORATORIUM AND EVALUATION OF ALL REGULATIONS WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY IMPACT ECONOMIC GROWTH.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1988-05-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA HAS INITIATED A TECHNICAL STUDY TO BE COMPLETED IN 1988, ASSESSING THE FEASIBILITY, SAFETY, COST AND EFFECTIVENESS OF REMOTE AND AUTOMATIC-CONTROL VALVES IN CERTAIN PIPELINE SITUATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN POPULATED AREAS. RSPA DECIDED TO CONDUCT THE TECHNICAL STUDY BASED ON A REVIEW OF COMMENTS TO AN ADVANCE NOTICE WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY OF 1987, IN RESPONSE TO A RECOMMENDATION MADE BY THE GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA'S COMMISSION ON PIPELINE SAFETY AND ON CONGRESSIONAL PROPOSALS MADE AFTER MOUNDS VIEW. RSPA PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED THE NEED FOR REMOTE-OPERATED VALVES AND THEIR SPACING. A PROPOSED RULEMAKING WAS WITHDRAWN BECAUSE, AT THAT TIME, ENGINEERING AND ECONOMIC STUDIES INDICATED THAT REMOTELY CONTROLLED VALVES WERE NOT AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO REDUCE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HVL PIPELINE ACCIDENTS. IF THE RESULTS OF THE TECHNICAL STUDY ARE POSITIVE, RSPA WILL INITIATE RULEMAKING ACTION.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1988-10-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1991-12-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-11-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence