NTSB Safety Recommendation P-89-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-89-006.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION: ESTABLISH INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND TEST REQUIREMENTS TO DEMONSTRATE AND MAINTAIN THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF CHECK VALVES INSTALLED IN PIPELINE SYSTEMS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1989-08-09

Adopted Date: 1989-08-09

Overall Date Closed: 1999-06-18

Synopsis: ON MAY 12, 1989, A SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION COMPANY (SP) FREIGHT TRAIN DERAILED IN SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, WITH PORTIONS OF THE ENGINES AND RAIL CARS COMING TO REST OVER A 14-INCH PRODUCTS PIPELINE BEING OPERATED BY CALNEV PIPELINE COMPANY (CALNEV) IN EXCESS OF 1,600 PSIG. AFTER LEARNING OF THE DERAILMENT, CALNEV PERSONNEL STOPPED PUMPING PRODUCT THROUGH THE PIPELINE. PRESSURE IN THE PIPELINE NEAR MILEPOST 6.8, THE AREA OF THE DERAILMENT, WAS REDUCED TO ABOUT 1,100 PSIG WHEN THE PUMPS WERE SHUT DOWN; HOWEVER, CALNEV PERSONNEL DESIRED TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE TO ABOUT 300 PSIG TO PROVIDE GREATER SAFETY IN THE EVENT THAT IS PIPELINE HAD BEEN DAMAGED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA89MR004

Report Number: RAR-90-02

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1999-06-18

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: 1993-03-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE RSPA HAS GIVEN THE CHECK VALVE STUDY A LOWER PRIORITY BECAUSE OF THE REGULATORY BACKLOG FROM THE PIPELINE SAFETY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1988, & THAT THE STUDY WHICH WAS TO BE COMPLETED IN 1992 IS CURRENTLY IN DRAFT FORM AWAITING ADDITIONAL WORK. THIS RECOMMENDATION WILL REMAIN "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1999-06-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD IS AWARE THAT RSPA PUBLISHED THE 1989 ALERT NOTICE, THE 1997 ADVISORY BULLETIN, AND THE 1997 STUDY OF DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES FOR CHECK VALVES. THE SAFETY BOARD ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT, FOLLOWING ON-SITE INSPECTION OF CHECK VALVES, RSPA ADVISED OPERATORS OF GAS AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES TO PERFORM A THOROUGH QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF THEIR REMANUFACTURED CHECK VALVES, FOLLOWED BY A TEST OR INSPECTION TO ENSURE THAT TOLERANCES ARE WITHIN DESIGN PARAMETERS, PARTICULARLY VALVES, SUCH THAT THE SHAFT IS KEPT INSIDE THE VALVE BY SET SCREWS. IN ADDITION, THE REGULATIONS IN 49 CFR PART 195.402, PROCEDURAL MANUAL FOR OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND EMERGENCIES; AND PART 195.420, VALVE MAINTENANCE, REQUIRE OPERATORS TO ENSURE THAT VALVES OPERATE AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE BOARD IS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT RSPA'S PIPELINE SAFETY INSPECTORS WILL CONTINUE TO ROUTINELY CHECK PIPELINE OPERATORS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS, THE 1989 ALERT NOTICE, AND THE 1997 ADVISORY BULLETIN. FURTHERMORE, RSPA ADDRESSED THE DEFINITIONS OF VALVE TERMS IN ITS 1997 STUDY. ACCORDINGLY, P-89-6 AND P-90-24 HAVE BOTH BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-04-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Safety Recommendation P-89-6 asked the RSPA to establish inspection, maintenance, and test requirements to ensure that check valves function properly. We note that the RSPA has initiated a study to determine the feasibility of establishing inspection, maintenance, and test requirements to demonstrate and maintain the proper functioning of check valves installed in pipeline systems; therefore, this safety recommendation has been placed in an "Open--Acceptable Action" status. We look forward to hearing further from the RSPA at the conclusion of this study.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1989-11-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WE HAVE INITIATED A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND TEST REQUIREMENTS TO DEMONSTRATE AND MAINTAIN THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF CHECK VALVES INSTALLED IN PIPELINE SYSTEMS. WE PLAN TO COMPLETE THIS STUDY WITHIN 9 MONTHS. IF THE STUDY SUPPORTS A NEED FOR SUCH A REGULATION, WE WILL INITIATE RULEMAKING.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-11-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA IS CURRENTLY STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE OF CHECK VALVES. THIS STUDY WOULD INCLUDE PROPOSED DESIGN CHANGES FOR NEW VALVES TO BETTER DETERMINE THEIR FUNCTIONING AFTER INSTALLATION AND METHODS TO INSPECT FOR THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF EXIST ING VALVES. THIS STUDY IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1991.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1998-07-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA HAS ISSUED ONE ALERT NOTICE AND ONE ADVISORY BULLETIN ADDRESSING CONCERNS WITH CHECK VALVES. THE ALERT NOTICE, DATED 11/13/89, FOLLOWED A FAILURE OF CALNEV PIPELINE'S 14INCH PRODUCTS PIPELINE IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA. THE ACCIDENT WAS EXACERBATED BY THE FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE CHECK VALVES TO CLOSE. CLOSURE WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED THE RELEASE OF GASOLINE. IN THE ALERT NOTICE, RSPA RECOMMENDED THAT GAS TRANSMISSION AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE OPERATORS TEST THEIR CHECK VALVES TO ENSURE PROPER CLOSURE UNDER EMERGENCY CONDITIONS. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY SITUATIONS THAT WOULD JUSTIFY RULEMAKING WITH RESPECT TO CHECK VALVES. HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD A SITUATION INVOLVING REMANUFACTURED CHECK VALVES THAT HAS PROMPTED ADDITIONAL ACTION IN THE FORM OF AN ADVISORY BULLETIN. THE ADVISORY BULLETIN, DATED 11/5/97 (62 FR 60747; 11/12/97), FOLLOWED THE FAILURE OF A REMANUFACTURED CHECK VALVE THAT RESULTED IN THE RELEASE OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. THE ON-SITE VALVE INSPECTION FOLLOWING THE FAILURE INDICATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS HELD IN PLACE ONLY BY THE LOCKING BOLT USED TO LOCK-UP THE CLAPPER DURING PIG RUNS. THE CLAPPER AND HINGE WERE DETACHED AND THE SET SCREWS WERE MISSING. RSPA ADVISED OPERATORS OF GAS AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES TO PERFORM A THOROUGH QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF THEIR REMANUFACTURED CHECK VALVES FOLLOWED BY A TEST OR INSPECTION TO ENSURE TOLERANCES ARE WITHIN DESIGN PARAMETERS, PARTICULARLY VALVES WHERE THE SHAFT IS RETAINED INSIDE THE VALVE BY SET SCREWS. RSPA PIPELINE SAFETY INSPECTORS ROUTINELY CHECK ON HOW PIPELINE OPERATORS ARE RESPONDING TO ADVISORY BULLETINS AND ALERT NOTICES DURING SCHEDULED PIPELINE INSPECTIONS. ANY ISSUES REGARDING THE CONTENT OF THE ADVISORY BULLETINS AND ALERT NOTICES ARE DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE INSPECTOR AND THE OPERATOR. WE BELIEVE THESE ACTIONS HAVE PROVIDED SUFFICIENT DIRECTION TO THE INDUSTRY. RSPA REQUESTS THAT P-89-6 BE RECLASSIFIED AS "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-04-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: GIVEN THE REGULATORY BACKLOG ATTRIBUTED LARGELY TO THE PIPELINE SAFETY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1988, COMPLETION OF THE CHECK VALVE HAS BEEN GIVEN A LOWER PRIORITY. AT THIS POINT, WE EXPECT TO COMPLETE THE STUDY IN THE SUMMER OF 1992.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1991-04-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence