NTSB Safety Recommendation P-90-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-90-006.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT BOTH THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GAS ASSOCIATION: ENCOURAGE ITS BENEFITS OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES WHEN INSTALLED IN GAS SERVICE LINES AND OFFER THEIR CUSTOMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE AND HAVE INSTALLED AT COST AN EXCESS FLOW VALVE WHEN INSTALLING NEW, RENEWING, OR REPLACING GAS SERVICE LINES. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Issued Date: 1990-04-20

Adopted Date: 1990-03-27

Overall Date Closed: 2002-01-03

Synopsis: IN A 7-MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 16, 1988, THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATED 5 NATURAL GAS ACCIDENTS IN THE KANSAS CITY-TOPEKA AREA THAT INVOLVED THE GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS OWNED BY KANSAS POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY (KPL). CORROSION DAMAGE WAS INVOLVED ON EACH OF THE 3 GAS SERVICE LINES AND THE 2 CAST IRON GAS MAINS. EACH OF THE GAS LINES INVOLVED WERE INSTALLED BEFORE THE FEDERAL MINIMUM GAS PIPELINE SAFETY REGULATIONS BECAME EFFECTIVE AND THE FAILURES ON THE GAS SERVICE LINES INVOLVED CUSTOMER-OWNED PIPE THAT HAD NOT BEEN PROTECTED AGAINST CORROSION DAMAGE. THESE ACCIDENTS KILLED 4 PEOPLE, INJURED 12 OTHERS AND DESTROYED 4 HOUSES.

Probable Cause: None

Keywords: Excess Flow Valves

Ntsbnumber: DCA89MP014

Report Number: PAR-90-03

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-03-29

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-08-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 08/30/2000 4:14:50 PM MC# 2001184 Since the last AGA update to the NTSB and after substantial deliberation with public input, the OPS adopted two final rules to address excess flow valves, namely: 49 CFR § 192.3 81 Service lines: Excess flow valve performance standards. 49 CFR § 192.3 83 Excess flow valve customer notification. After the implementation of these rules, AGA and the American Public Gas Association conducted informal surveys of their member natural gas utilities regarding their efforts to comply with the new rules. AGA described the results of the survey in a June 14, 2000 letter to Mr. Rodney I. J. Dyck, National Transportation Safety Board. These steps demonstrate that much work has been completed in implementing the objectives of safety recommendation P-90-6. Accordingly, AGA urges the NTSB to close safety recommendation P-90-6.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1990-10-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: A.G.A.'S COORDINATING GROUP FOR PIPELINE SAFETY AND DISTRI BUTION CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE HAVE REVIEWED THIS RECOMMENDATION. THEY ARE CONCERNED BY THE RECOMMENDA TION THAT CUSTOMERS BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE EFVS AND HAVE THEM INSTALLED BY THE UTILITIES. IN LATER DISCUSSIONS WITH NTSB STAFF, NTSB HAS CLARIFIED THAT IT EXPECTS UTILITIES TO INFORM ONLY THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE SERVICE CONDITIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE PROPER OPERATION OF EFVS. AGA COMMITTEES AGREE THAT EFVS CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN CERTAIN APPLICATIONS. THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT A PROPERLY INSTALLED EFV WILL STOP THE FLOW OF GAS IN EVENT THAT A SERVICE OPERATING ABOVE 10 POUNDS PRESSURE IS COMPLETELY SEVERED. WE STRONGLY URGE THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH EXCESS FLOW VALVES TO RESPOND TO THE ANPR WHEN IT IS PUBLISHED. A.G.A. WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF THIS RULEMAKING AND ALERT YOU WHEN IT APPEARS IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: At the 1990 Board meeting addressing the NTSB’s Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements (MWL), the Board voted to place Safety Recommendations P-90-6 and P-90-12 on the MWL under the issue category “Pipeline Excess Flow Valve Installation.” Safety Recommendations P-25-24, P-96-2, P-96-3, and P-96-30 were added at later dates. In May 1997, this category’s name was changed to “Excavative Damage Protection to Underground Facilities.” This issue was removed from the MWL in 2002.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-06-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING OF ANY ACTIONS TAKEN OR PLANNED TO COMPLY WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-03-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board is aware that since it received the last AGA correspondence on this recommendation, the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) implemented two regulations: 49 CFR 192.381 Service Lines: Excess Flow Valve Performance Standards and 49 CFR 192.383 Excess Flow Valve Customer Notification. The Safety Board notes that 49 CFR 192.383 requires pipeline operators to advise their customers of the potential safety benefits of excess flow valves and to offer certain customers the opportunity to have an excess flow valve installed. Because of the new regulations, Safety Recommendation P-90-6 is classified “Closed--No Longer Applicable.”

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1990-09-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1991-02-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: American Public Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-01-03

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1991-01-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: APGA STAFF AND THE APGA OPERATIONS COMMITTEE PARTICIPATED WITH THE AGA IN REVIEWING THIS SAFETY RECOMMENDATION. THE APGA OPERATIONS COMMITTEE HAD SOME RESERVATIONS CONCERNING THIS RECOMMENDATION SINCE THERE IS MINIMAL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE FROM MUNICIPAL GAS SYSTEMS REGARDING EXCESS FLOW VALVES. SOME OF THESE CONCERNS ARE INCLUDED IN THE ENCLOSED LETTER FROM AGA PRESIDENT GEORGE LAWRENCE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT DOT IS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING AN ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING CONCERNING EXCESS FLOW VALVES. IF YOU HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE OR KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THESE FLOW VALVES, PLEASE RESPOND TO DOT WHEN THE ADVANCE RULEMAKING NOTICE IS ISSUED.

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1995-05-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: APGA IS A PARTICIPANT WITH SEVERAL OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES CONCERNING EXCESS FLOW VALVES.

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-01-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board is aware that since it received the last AGA correspondence on this recommendation, the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) implemented two regulations: 49 CFR 192.381 service lines: excess flow valve performance standards and 49 CFR 192.383 excess flow valve customer notification. The Safety Board notes that 49 CFR 192.383 requires pipeline operators to advise their customers of the potential safety benefits of excess flow valves and to offer certain customers the opportunity to have an excess flow valve installed. Because of the new regulations, Safety Recommendation P-90-6 (to the AGA) is classified "Closed--No Longer Applicable." Accordingly, because of the new regulations, as discussed in the Board's response to the AGA above, Safety Recommendation P-90-6, to the APGA, is also classified "Closed--No Longer Applicable."

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1995-07-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: P-90-6 WAS ISSUED TO THE APGA FOLLOWING THE BOARD'S INVESTIGATION OF FIVE NATURAL GAS ACCIDENTS IN THE KANSAS CITY-TOPEKA, KANSAS AREA DURING A 7-MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING 9/16/88. P-90-6 URGED THE APGA TO ENCOURAGE ITS MEMBERS TO ADVISE THEIR GAS CUSTOMERS OF THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF EXCESS-FLOW VALVES WHEN INSTALLED IN GAS SERVICE LINES & OFFER THEIR CUSTOMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE & HAVE INSTALLED AT COAST AN EXCESS-FLOW VALVE WHEN INSTALLING NEW, RENEWING, OR REPLACING GAS SERVICE LINES. THE ISSUE OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES HAS BEEN A PART OF THE BOARD'S "MOST WANTED" PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1990. THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE APGA SUPPORTS THE INTENT OF P-90-6 & IS PARTICIPATING WITH OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES IN A DOT RULEMAKING CONCERNING EXCESS-FLOW VALVES. PENDING DOT'S FINAL RULE CONCERNING EXCESS-FLOW VALVES & YOUR REPLY, P-90-6 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-06-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TO DATE THE SAFETY BOARD HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY FURTHER REPLY FROM APGA REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF P-90-6. THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING OF ANY ACTIONS TAKEN OR PLANNED TO COMPLY WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION.

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-04-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD HAS RECEIVED NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM APGA INDICATING THAT THIS EFFORT HAS EVER BEEN COMPLETED.

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1990-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: APGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1991-05-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence