NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-014

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-014.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MAPCO GAS LIQUIDS, INC.: IN COOPERATION WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY, DEVELOP DISASTER PLANS FOR BRENHAM STATION THAT IDENTIFY CONDITIONS THAT WARRANT AN EVACUATION, THAT IDENTIFY THE EXTENT OF THE AREA TO BE EVACUATED, AND THAT INCLUDE PROCEDURES FOR CARRYING OUT AN EVACUATION.

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

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: RECOMMENDATION P-93-14 WAS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMERGENCY PLAN WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY IN EARLY 1993 & WAS PART OF THE PROCESS THAT LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOCK DRILL OUTLINED IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-01-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SEMINOLE FULLY SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT & ENHANCEMENT OF COUNTY DESIGNED & ADMINISTERED EVACUATION PLANS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A COUNTY ON-SCENE INCIDENT COORDINATOR. TO AID COUNTY IN ITS EVACUATION PROCESS, A CIVIL DEFENSE SIREN HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT THE BRENHAM FACILITY WITH PROCEDURE FOR ACTIVATION BY COUNTY OFFICIALS OR SECONDARILY BY SEMINOLE. EVACUATION CONDITIONS, INSTRUCTIONS & A MAP FOR IMPACTED AREA RESIDENTS WERE PREPARED BY SEMINOLE & DISTRIBUTED PRIOR TO THE DECEMBER 1993 MOCK DRILL.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1994-05-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT SEMINOLE HAS CONDUCTED A MOCK DRILL & CRITIQUE WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY OFFICIALS & THAT FURTHER AMENDMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO ITS EMERGENCY PLAN. THE BOARD REQUESTS A COPY OF THE MODIFIED PLAN SO THAT WE CAN EVALUATE HOW THE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED IN A-93-14 HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. IN THE INTERIM, P-93-14 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-05-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT MAPCO HAS COORDINATED WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY SAFETY OFFICIALS TO DEVELOP ANNUAL TRAINING EXERCISES & HAS DEVELOPED & DISSEMINATED EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES SPECIFIC TO THE BRENHAM STATION. THE BOARD FURTHER NOTES THAT THE MAPL PROCESS SAFETY MANAGMENT MANUAL CALLS FOR UPDATED DISTRIBUTION OF THE EVACUATION GUIDELINES TO AREA RESIDENTS OR BRENHAM STATION & FOR ALL MAPL-OPERATED UNDERGROUND FACILITIES. CONSEQUENTLY, P-93-14 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."