NTSB Safety Recommendation P-91-002

NTSB safety recommendation P-91-002.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH & SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION: REQUIRE PIPELINE OPERATORS TO CONDUCT ANA LYSES, BEFORE MOVING PRESSURIZED PIPELINES, TO DETERMINE: O THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PIPE MAY BE SAFELY MOVED, O THE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES REQUIRED FOR THE SAFE MOVEMENT OF THE PIPE, AND O THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN FOR PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC.

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1991-07-17

Adopted Date: 1991-06-11

Overall Date Closed: 1992-10-20

Synopsis: ON MARCH 13, 1990, THE TEXAS EASTERN PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY (TEPPCO) LINE P-41, AN 8-INCH-DIAMETE LIQUID PROPANE PIPELINE, RUPTURED WITHIN A PIPELINE CASING BENEATH COUNTY ROAD 43 (CR 43) NEAR THE VILLAGE OF NORTH BLENHEIM, NEW YORK. LIQUID PROPANE GAS ESCAPED FROM THE ENDS OF THE CASING, VAPORIZED, AND FORMED A WHITE, HEAVIER-THAN-AIR GAS CLOUD. THE GAS CLOUD FLOWED DOWNHILL ALONG CR 43 UNTIL IT ENTERED NORTH BLENHEIM AND IGNITED. THE FIRE QUICKLY CONSUMED THE PROPANE VAPOR AND FLASHED BACK TO THE PIPELINE RUPTURE, TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED, SEVEN PERSONS INJURED AND MORE THAN $4 MILLION IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND OTHER COSTS RESULTED.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA90MP006

Report Number: PAR-91-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1992-10-20

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-10-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE INTENT OF RECOMMENDATION P-91-2 CAN BE MET BY THE RSPA'S ALERT NOTICE IN COMBINATION WITH EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE MONITORING; THEREFORE, RECOMMENDATION P-91-2 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1991-10-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA WILL REVIEW ITS CURRENT REGULATIONS TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE MOVEMENT OF PIPELINES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE REGULATIONS OR WHETHER API STANDARD 1117 CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE REFERENCED IN THIS REGARD.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-06-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WE ISSUED THE ENCLOSED ALERT NOTICE DATED OCTOBER 22, 1991, TO EACH OWER OR OPERATOR OF A GAS OR HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE FACILITY AND EVERY STATE PIPELINE SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE. THE NOTICE CALLS ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR OEPRATORS TO CONDUCT ANALYSES BEFORE MOVING THE PIPE. BASED ON THE OCT. 22 ALERT NOTICE AND IMPENDING ISSUANCE OF API STANDARD 1117, WE BELIEVE THE INTENT OF SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-91-2 HAS BEEN MET.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1991-12-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence