NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-013

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-013.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MAPCO NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS, INC.: INCORPORATE TESTING AND PRACTICE DRILLS OR OTHER EMERGENCY PROCEDURE EXERCISES INTO YOUR EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAM SO THAT MANAGERS CAN EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1993-12-15

Adopted Date: 1993-11-04

Overall Date Closed: 1995-05-01

Synopsis: ON APRIL 7, 1992, AN UNCONTROLLED RELEASE OF HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUIDS (HVLS) FROM A SALT DOME STORAGE CAVERN IN THE SEMINOLE PIPELINE SYSTEM NEAR BRENHAM, TEXAS, FORMED A LARGE, HEAVIER-THAN-AIR GAS CLOUD THAT EXPLODED. THREE PEOPLE DIED FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED EITHER FROM THE BLAST OR IN THE FIRE. AN ADDITIONAL 21 PEOPLE WERE TREATED FOR INJURIES AT AREA HOSPITALS. DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT EXCEEDED $9 MILLION.

Probable Cause: None

Keywords: Firefighting, Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA92MP006

Report Number: PAR-93-01

Addressee Name: MAPCO Natural Gas Liquids, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-05-01

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1994-01-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AS PART OF ITS ONGOING COOPERATION WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY & BRENHAM EMERGENCY RESPONSE OFFICIALS, SEMINOLE HELD A MOCK EXPLOSION DRILL ON DECEMBER 8, 1993. SEMINOLE WILL CONTINUE TO USE MOCK DRILLS TO TEST EMERGENCY RESPONSE SCENARIOS & TRAINING. THIS SHOULD CLEARLY ADDRESS RECOMMENDATION P-93-13.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-01-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ALL UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES WHICH MAPL OWNS OR PROVIDES SERVICES FOR WILL BE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT AN ANNUAL EMERGENCY DRILL. FULL MOCK DRILLS WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES ARE PREFERRED, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF DAILY DEMANDS ON THOSE AGENCIES, SMALL SCALE DRILL WILL BE HELD AT TIMES.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1994-05-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THE RECENT PRACTICE DRILLS CONDUCTED FOR EMPLOYEES AT THE BRENHAM STATION & YOUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO USE MOCK DRILLS TO TEST EMERGENCY RESPONSE SCENARIOS & TRAINING. HOWEVER, YOUR RESPONSE DOES NOT ADDRESS WHAT ACTIONS, IF ANY ARE PLANNED OR BEING UNDERTAKEN FOR EMPLOYEES AT OTHER UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES OWNED, OPERATED, OR CONTROLLED BY MAPCO & ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES. UNTIL THE BOARD RECEIVIES INFO CONCERNING ALL OF MAPCO'S ACTIVITIES, RECOMMENDATION P-93-13 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--AWAIT RESPONSE."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-05-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGE MAPCO NOW REQUIRES THAT ANNUAL PRACTICE DRILLS BE CONDUCTED FOR EMPLOYEES AT THE BRENHAM STATION & ALL OTHER UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES OWNED, OPERATED, OR CONTROLLED BY MAPCO & ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES. THEREFORE, P-93-13 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."