NTSB Safety Recommendation P-87-037

NTSB safety recommendation P-87-037.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY: REVISE ITS POLICY ON THE USE OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES CONSIDERING THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN THESE VALVES SINCE 1980 AND INSTALL THEM WHERE NECESSARY TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1987-09-02

Adopted Date: 1987-08-17

Overall Date Closed: 2003-03-17

Synopsis: A NEW WATER MAIN WAS BEING INSTALLED ALONG 14TH STREET IN CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS BY THE ALPHA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (CONTRACTOR). BEFORE THE WORK WAS BEGUN THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY MARKED THE LOCATION OF ITS SERVICE LINES AND MAINS. ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 13, 1986, WHILE EXCAVATING EAST OF THE MARKED SERVICE LINE FOR 204 14TH STREET, THE CONTRACTOR'S CREW SNAGGED A GAS SERVICE LINE WITH A BACKHOE. BECAUSE THIS GAS SERVICE LINE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET AWAY FROM THE MARK AND BECAUSE OF THE LINE'S DETERIORATED CONDITION, THE CONTRACTOR'S CREW ASSUMED CORRECTLY THAT IT WAS ABANDONED AND USED IT AS AN INDICATION THAT THEY WERE NEAR THE AREA OF THE THE ACTIVE SERVICE LINE. THE FOREMAN INSTRUCTED THE BACKHOE OPERATOR TO TAKE OFF THE "FROST" USING THE BACKHOE, IN PREPARATION FOR EXCAVATING BY HAND DIGGING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ABOUT 7:30 A.M., THE BACKHOE SNAGGED THE ACTIVE, WRAPPED, 3/4-INCH STEEL NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINE FOR 204 14TH STREET. THE LINE WAS OPERATING AT 28 PSIG AND WAS 30 INCHES BELOW THE SURFACE. ACCORDING TO THE FOREMAN, THE CREW COULD SMELL GAS BUT THEY DID NOT OBSERVE ANY BLOWING GAS AROUND THE SNAGGED SERVICE LINE. THE FOREMAN RADIOED HIS OFFICE AND REPORTED THE LEAK. AT 7:37 A.M. THE OFFICE PERSONNEL CALLED THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY (GAS COMPANY) AND INFORMED THE GAS COMPANY OF THE ACCIDENT BUT RECEIVED NO INSTRUCTIONS FROM IT. THE GAS COMPANY'S CALL RECORD SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A LINE HIT REPORTED AT ROUTE 30 (14TH STREET) AND GARDEN. THE RECORD HAD THE FOLLOWING HANDWRITTEN NOTE, "HIT LINE-DON'T KNOW IF BLOWING"; HOWEVER, THE RECORD WAS STAMPED "LEAK."

Probable Cause: None

Keywords: Excess Flow Valves

Ntsbnumber: DCA86FP011

Report Number: PAR-87-01-SUM

Addressee Name: Northern Illinois Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2003-03-17

Addressee Acronym: Nicor

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2003-03-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On February 3, 1998, the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation published a final rule that established performance standards for EFVs and requirements that customers be notified of the availability and potential safety benefits derived from the installation of EFVs. Since that time, the Safety Board has again called on RSPA to require the installation of EFVs in all new and renewed gas service lines, regardless of a customer's classification, when the operating conditions are compatible with readily available valves. Nevertheless, the Safety Board believes that Nicor's compliance with the existing RSPA rule to notify customers of the availability of EFVs and the safety benefits and operational characteristics of EFVs is an acceptable alternative approach to P-87-37; consequently, this recommendation is now classified "Closed--Acceptable Alternate Action."

Addressee Acronym: Nicor

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Board wrote "The Safety Board is currently working with the Gas Research Institute on this issue and will be meeting with Institute representatives this spring to discuss recent findings and to map future action related to excess flow valves. We appreciate your commitment to participate in ongoing national efforts with regard to appropriate use of these valves. Pending the outcome of the Safety Board’s meeting, this safety recommendation will be held open with no assigned status. We will inform you of the outcome of our meeting."

Addressee Acronym: Nicor

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-01-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NI-GAS IS NOT PERSUADED IT SHOULD REVISE ITS POLICY BECAUSE OF THIS ONE INCIDENT. NI-GAS WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY ONGOING NATIONAL EFFORT WITH REGARD TO APPROPRIATE USE OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES AND ALSO WILL EVALUATE THE APPLICABILITY OF ANY IMPROVED DEVICES THAT BECOME AVAILABLE.