NTSB Safety Recommendation P-90-037

NTSB safety recommendation P-90-037.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: ASSIST THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE METHODS AND REQUIREMENTS TO BURY, PROTECT, INSPECT THE BURIAL DEPTH OF, AND MAINTAIN ALL SUBMERGED PIPELINES IN AREAS SUBJECT TO DAMAGE BY SURFACE VESSELS AND THEIR OPERATIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1990-10-01

Adopted Date: 1990-09-11

Overall Date Closed: 2002-06-14

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 3, 1989, THE UNITED STATES FISHING VESSEL NORTHUMBERLAND STRUCK AND RUPTURED A 16-INCH-DIAMETER NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE ABOUT 1/2 NAUTICAL MILE OFFSHORE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND ABOUT 5 1/3 NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF THE JETTIES AT THE ENTRANCE TO SABINE PASS, TEXAS. NATURAL GAS UNDER A PRESSURE OF 835 PSIG WAS RELEASED. AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE ON BOARD THE VESSEL IGNITED THE GAS, AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENTIRE VESSEL WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE ON THE VESSEL BURNED ITSELF OUT ON OCTOBER 4. LEAKING GAS FROM THE PIPELINE ALSO CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL OCTOBER 4. OF THE 14 CREW MEMBERS, 11 DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: DCA90MM001

Report Number: PAR-90-02

Addressee Name: United States Department of War, Department of the Army

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-06-14

Addressee Acronym: DA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2001-12-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 02/12/2002 5:44:54 PM MC# 2020144 This is in reply to Ms. Carol Carmody's letter of April 25, 2001, to my predecessor, Honorable Joseph W. Westphal, concerning the National Transportation Safety Board's open pipeline safety recommendations, which included one involving the Army Corps of Engineers. You specifically inquired about recommendation P-90-37 issued on October 1, 1990. P-90-37 recommended that the Corps assist the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) with the development of effective methods and requirements to bury, protect, and inspect the burial depth of, and maintain all, submerged pipelines in areas subject to damage by surface vessels and their operations. While we could find no record of that recommendation, as a result of your letter the Corps contacted the RSPA to inquire about an initiative to address this recommendation. In January 2002, representatives from the two agencies will meet to discuss mutual concerns and strategize about what might be done concerning the burial of pipelines. The Corps routinely permits pipelines pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and the Clean Water Act. The issues associated with the protection of pipelines have been of concern to the Corps over the last Century because submerged pipelines could pose a hazard to the dredging projects that keep our Nation's waterways open for commercial barge traffic. In that regard, Corps permits for pipelines crossing navigable waters have been conditioned to require burial of the lines. The standards for such protection have varied from waterway to waterway, based on the hazard the lines might pose to navigation. The Corps expects the initial meeting with RSPA will allow an assessment of current standards leading to better criteria for burial.

Addressee Acronym: DA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2001-07-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The U.S. Army will respond back within 45 days.

Addressee Acronym: DA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2002-06-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: We appreciate the update on your activities regarding this recommendation. As you are aware, the Safety Board issued companion Safety Recommendation P-90-29 to RSPA to take the lead in implementing these initiatives with the assistance of USACE and other organizations. On April 18, 2001, based on information provided in RSPA's April 20, 2000, letter, Safety Recommendation P-90-29 was classified "Open--Acceptable Response," pending completion of rulemaking related to pipeline integrity management. On December 1, 2000, RSPA issued its final rule for operators who operate 500 or more miles of hazardous liquid pipelines. RSPA also plans to issue Notices of Proposed Rulemaking to cover the balance of operators of hazardous liquid pipelines, as well as operators of natural gas transmission pipelines. At present, Safety Recommendation P-90-29 is classified "Open--Acceptable Response" pending RSPA's completion of rulemaking activity. We are aware that USACE, as well as other organizations including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Minerals Management Service of the Department of the Interior, have been participants in this rulemaking activity. In that regard, we believe that the objective of Safety Recommendation P-90-37 has been met, and the recommendation is now classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: DA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2001-04-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On June 18, 1999, Safety Recommendation P-90-29 was classified "Open-Acceptable Response" because RSPA was drafting a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) responsive to the recommendation. Accordingly, based on RSPA's action on Safety Recommendation P-90-29, which included the assistance of the Corps, Safety Recommendation P-90-37 is also classified "Open-Acceptable Response." The Safety Board would appreciate learning what action the Corps has taken to implement Safety Recommendation P-90-37.