NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-015

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-015.

THE NSTB RECOMMENDS THAT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY: IN COORPERATION WITH MAPCO NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS, INC., 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: 1995-07-03

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: State of Texas, County of Washington, Courthouse

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-04-18

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1995-07-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT WASHINGTON & AUSTIN COUNTIES HELD A DRILL & TRAINING EXERCISE. THE BOARD ALSO NOTES THAT TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION HAS NOT PERMITTED MAPCO TO REOPEN & THAT MAPCO WILL NOT APPEAL THE DECISION. BASED ON THIS INFO P-93-15 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1995-04-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence