NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-008

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-008.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CENTRAL HUDSON GAS AND ELECTRIC CORPORATION: IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM, BASED ON FACTORS SUCH AS AGE, PIPE DIAMETER, OPERATING PRESSURE, SOIL CORROSIVENESS, EXISTING GRAPHITIC DAMAGE LEAK HISTORY, BURIAL DEPTH, AND EXTERNAL LOADING, TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE IN A PLANNED, TIMELY MANNER CAST IRON PIPING SYSTEMS THAT MAY THREATEN PUBLIC SAFETY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1993-08-23

Adopted Date: 1993-08-09

Overall Date Closed: 1996-10-01

Synopsis: A NATURAL GAS EXPLOSION DESTROYED A HOUSE AT 26 LIBERTY STREET IN CATSKILL, NEW YORK, ON NOVEMBER 6, 1992, ABOUT 7:45 P.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME. THE TWO-STORY WOOD-FRAME HOUSE HAD NOT HAD ACTIVE GAS SERVICE 1969. THE EXPLOSION KILLED A WOMAN IN THE HOUSE, SERIOUSLY INJURED HER DAUGHTER, AND SLIGHTLY INJURED TWO CHILDREN IN A NEIGHBORING HOUSE.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA93FP002

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1996-10-01

Addressee Acronym: CHG&E

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-12-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RECOMMENDATION P-93-8 ASKED CENTRAL HUDSON TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM, BASED ON FACTORS SUCH AS AGE, PIPE DIAMETER, OPERATING PRESSURE, SOIL CORROSIVENESS, EXISTING GRAPHITIC DAMAGE, LEADK HISTORY, BURIAL DEPTH, AND EXTERNAL LOADING, TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE IN A PLANNED, TIMELY MANNER CAST-IRON PIPING SYSTEMS THAT MAY THREATEN PUBLIC SAFETY. THE BOARD NOTES THAT BY JUNE Y, 1994, CENTRAL HUDSON WILL HAVE EXPANDED ITS PROGRAM OF EVALUATING CAST-IRON PIPELINE FACILITIES TO MONITOR SYSTEM INTEGRITY AND TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. PENDING THE EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM, RECOMMENDATION P-93-8 WILL BE CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: CHG&E

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1996-10-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD IS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT CENTRAL HUDSON HAS DEVELOPED & IMPLEMENTED AN EXPANDED PROGRAM TO MONITOR, TEST, & EVALUATE CAST IRON & UNPROTECTED STEEL PIPELINE FACILITIES BASED ON THE FACTORS DESCRIBED IN THE RECOMMENDATION. THE BOARD ALSO NOTES THAT CENTRAL HUDSON HAS INVESTED IN A PROGRAM TO REPLACE CAST IRON & BARE STEEL PIPELINES SINCE RECEIVING P-93-8. BASED ON THIS INFO, P-93-8 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: CHG&E

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1993-10-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CENTRAL HUDSON IS DEVELOPING AN EXPANDED PROGRAM OF MONITORING, TESTING, AND EVALUATING CAST IRON PIPELINE FACILITIES TO MONITOR SYSTEM INTEGRITY AND TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE PROBLEM AREAS. ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1 1994, CENTRAL HUDSON WILL COMPLETE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS EXPANDED PROGRAM FOR SUBSEQUENT INPLEMENTATION.

Addressee Acronym: CHG&E

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1996-07-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN RESPONSE TO RECOMMENDATION P-93-08, CENTRAL HUDSON HAS DEVELOPED & IMPLEMENTED AN EXPANDED PROGRAM OF MONITORING TESTING & EVALUATING CAST IRON & UNPROTECTED STEEL PIPELINE FACILITIES TO MONITOR SYSTEM INTEGRITY & TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE PROBLEM AREAS. FACTORS SUCH AS AGE, PIPE DIAMETER, OPERATING PRESSURE, SOIL CORROSIVENESS, EXISTING GRAPHITIC DAMAGE, LEAK HISTORY, BURIAL DEPTH, & EXTERNAL LOADING ARE INCLUDED IN OUR PROGRAM. CENTRAL HUDSON HAS SPENT 3 MILLION DOLLARS TO REPLACE CAST IRON BARE STEEL PIPING FACILITIES THUS FAR.