NTSB Safety Recommendation P-91-003

NTSB safety recommendation P-91-003.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH & SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION: REQUIRE OPERATORS OF PIPELINES THAT TRANSPORT HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUIDS TO EXTEND THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM TO INCLUDE PERSONS WHO RESIDE AT ELEVATIONS LOWER THAN & WITHIN 1 MILE OF THE PIPELINE.

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

Keywords: Training and Education, Public Education (Pipeline)

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 ALERT NOTICE ISSUED ON 11/20/91, PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS P-91-3 & -4. THE BOARD ALSO NOTES THAT THE RSPA HAS PUBLISHED A "GUIDE FOR PREPARING PIPELINE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS" AND HAS DEVELOPED A VIDEOTAPE TO SUPPORT THE GUIDE. WE WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING A COPY OF THESE MATERIALS FOR OUR REVIEW AND RECORDS. THE ALERT NOTICE AND NEW GUIDANCE MATERIALS ON ACTIONS EXPECTED OF OPERATORS PURSUANT TO TITLE 49 CFR 195.402(E)(7) & 195.440, IN COMBINATION WITH THE INCREASED EMPHASIS BEING GIVEN ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS BY THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY'S REGION CHIEFS DURING PIPELINE OPERATOR INSPECTIONS, MEET THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT OBJECTIVES OF RECOMMENDATIONS P-91-3 AND -4. THEREFORE, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE 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 ISSUE AN ALERT NOTICE URGING OPERATORS OF HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUID PIPELINES TO EXTEND THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE PERSONS WHO RESIDE AT ELEVATIONS LOWER THAN 1 MILE OF THESE PIPELINES. IN ADDITION, RSPA IS IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATAORS TO CONDUCT PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1992-06-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ON PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WE ISSUED ANOTHER ALERT NOTICE DATED NOV. 20, 1991, TO EACH HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE FACILITY OWNER/OPERATOR AND EVERY STATE PIPELINE SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE. RSPA'S TSI RECENTLY ISSUED A "GUIDE FOR PREPARING PIPELINE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS" AND AN ACCOMPANY 19-MINUTE VIDEOTAPE, "DEVELOPING EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS FOR PIPELINE INDUSTRY" TO ALL STATE PIPELINE SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES FOR USE IN TRAINING PIPELINE OPERATORS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1991-12-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence