NTSB Safety Recommendation P-90-019

NTSB safety recommendation P-90-019.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION: AMEND 49 CFR 192 TO MAKE BURIED LINES USED TO TRANSPORT NATURAL GAS FROM THE OUTLET OF A METER TO A CUSTOMER'S BUILDING FUEL LINES SUBJECT TO THE FEDERAL MINIMUM PIPELINE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1990-04-20

Adopted Date: 1990-03-27

Overall Date Closed: 1998-07-27

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

Ntsbnumber: DCA89MP014

Report Number: PAR-90-03

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: 1993-03-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE RSPA PLANS TO ISSUE AN NPRM THAT PROPOSES TO REDEFINE SERVICE LINE TO INCLUDE YARDLINES & ANY PIPELINE CONNECTED TO A MAIN BRANCHING INTO TWO LINES THAT SUPPLY GAS TO TWO SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS. HOWEVER, THE NPRM WAS DELAYED BY THE MORATORIUM. THE BOARD BELIEVES THAT SAFETY CONCERNS SHOULD BE ACTED UPON EXPEDITIOUSLY. THIS RECOMMENDATION WILL ALSO REMAIN "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE" PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE RULEMAKING PROCESS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1998-07-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD IS DISAPPOINTED THAT RSPA, FOLLOWING A REVIEW & SEVERAL PUBLIC MEETINGS, HAS DETERMINED THAT NO EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENT TO 49 CFR PART 192, & FURTHER CITES PROHIBITIVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECOMMENDED ACTION. BECAUSE RSPA PROPOSES NO ALTERNATIVE ACTION & ASKS THAT THE RECOMMENDATION BE CLOSED, P-90-19 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) ON 8/14/95, RSPA PUBLISHED A RULE ON BURIED GAS PIPING LOCATED DOWNSTREAM FROM CUSTOMER METERS (60 FR 41828). THIS RULE (49 CFR 192.16) WAS MANDATED 49 U.S.C 60113. THE RULE REQUIRES OPERATORS OF GAS SERVICE LINES WHO DO NOT MAINTAIN THEIR CUSTOMERS' BURIED PIPING UP TO BUILDING WALLS TO NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT PIPING, WHAT THAT MAINTENANCE INVOLVES, & WHO CAN PROVIDE THE MAINTENANCE. ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT MAKE CUSTOMER PIPING SUBJECT TO RSPA'S SAFETY STANDARDS IN 49 CFR PART 192, WE BELIEVE THE RULE ADDRESSES THE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS -POTENTIAL CORROSION & LEAKAGE - IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. WE ALSO HAVE REVIEWED STATE POLICIES REGARDING THE SAFETY OF CUSTOMER-OWNED SERVICE LINES TO DETERMINE IF FURTHER FEDERAL ACTION MAY BE NEEDED. THIS REVIEW WAS BASED IN PART ON INPUT FROM STATE & MUNICIPAL AGENCIES, & MUNICIPAL AGENCIES, & ON INFO WE RECEIVED AT A PUBLIC MEETING HELD 5/17/94 IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA. THE REVIEW COVERED A VARIETY OF TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE SAFETY OF CUSTOMER PIPING, INCLUDING PRESENT MAINTENANCE LAWS & PRACTICES, THE AVAILABILITY OF ACCIDENT DATA, & THE COST & OTHER IMPLICATIONS OF HOLDING OPERATORS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE. ALTHOUGH A FINAL REPORT OF OUR REVIEW IS NOT YET COMPLETE, THE REVIEW DOES INDICATE THAT FORCING OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN THEIR CUSTOMERS' EXISTING BURIED PIPING UP TO BUIDLING WALLS COULD BE QUITE COSTLY BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTIES IN THE MATERIAL, CONSTRUCTION, & CONDITION OF THE PIPING, & THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SUFFICIENT ACCIDENT DATA FROM WHICH TO CONCLUDE THAT THESE COSTS WOULD BE MATCHED BY BENEFITS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-09-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA WILL INCLUDE AN ITEM IN THIS YEAR'S DEPARTMENTAL LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL REGARDING THE EXTENT OF FEDERAL JURISDICTION OVER THE DISTRIBUTION OF GAS UNDER THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY ACT OF 1968. THE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL WILL CLARIFY THAT DOT JURISDICTION OVER THE DISTRIBUTION OF GAS INCLUDES EXTERIOR PIPING OWNED BY THE CUSTOMER.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-04-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WE HAVE REASSESSED OUR EXISTING STATUTORY AUTHORITY AND NOW BELIEVE IT IS SUFFICIENT TO COVER YARDLINES. ACCORDINGLY, WE ARE PLANNING TO ISSUE AN NPRM THAT WILL PROPOSE TO REDEFINE SERVICE LINE TO INCLUDE YARDLINES AND ANY PIPELINE CONNECTED TO A MAIN THAT BRANCHES INTO TOW LINES THAT SUPPLY GAS TO TWO SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS. HOWEVER, THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THIS REGULATION HAS BEEN DELAYED PENDING THE PRESIDENT'S REGULATORY MORATORIUM.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1991-05-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1990-09-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-08-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence