NTSB Safety Recommendation P-91-004

NTSB safety recommendation P-91-004.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH & SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION: REQUIRE PIPELINE OPERATORS TO EXTEND THEIR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE LIAISON WITH ALL COMMUNITY RESPONSE AGENCIES ADJACENT TO THEIR PIPELINES.

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 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 INCLUDE IN THE ALERT NOTICE TO BE PUBLISHED IN RESPONSE TO SR P-91-3 A CLARIICATION OF THESE REGULATIONS BY REMINDING PIPELINE OPERATORS OF THE NEED TO INCLUDE LIAISON WILL ALL RESPONSE AGENCIES ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THEIR PIPELINES AS A PART OF THEIR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 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