NTSB Safety Recommendation P-94-002

NTSB safety recommendation P-94-002.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY: REVIEW YOUR RECORDS, MAPS, SERVICE CARDS, AND BILLING STATEMENTS TO IDENTIFY INACTIVE SERVICE LINES FOR WHICH PROSPECTIVE REUSE IS DOUBTFUL AND PROPERLY ABANDON THEM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1994-04-22

Adopted Date: 1994-04-15

Overall Date Closed: 2004-05-18

Synopsis: ABOUT 11:35 A.M. ON JUNE 9, 1993, A CINDERBLOCK DUPLEX AT 634 CLIFFWOOD AVENUE IN CLIFFWOOD BEACH, NEW JERSEY, EXPLODED AS A NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY (NJNG) CONTRACTOR WAS TRENCHING IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. THE EXPLOSION KILLED 3 RESIDENTS OF THE DUPLEX AND SERIOUSLY INJURED 3 OTHERS.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA93FP008

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: New Jersey Natural Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2004-05-18

Addressee Acronym: NJNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-05-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the public is provided the highest level of safety, and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. That is why we monitor the implementation of all our recommendations. We would appreciate an update from you regarding actions taken or planned to implement this recommendation.

Addressee Acronym: NJNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2004-02-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Mr. Downes On May 28, 2002, the National Transportation Safety Board sent you a letter (see attached) requesting information on the status of implementing Safety Recommendation P-94-2 which was issued to the New Jersey Natural Gas Company (NJNG), on April 22, 1994. Safety Recommendation P-94-2, stated below, which the National Transportation Safety Board issued to NJNG, on April 22, 1994, as a result of the Safety Board’s investigation of a natural gas explosion and fire in Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey, on June 9, 1993. P-94-2 Review your records, maps, service cards, and billing statements to identify inactive service lines for which prospective reuse is doubtful and properly abandon them. On August 1, 1995, Safety Recommendation P-94-2 was classified "Open--Acceptable Response," as the Safety Board understood from NJNG’s June 7, 1995, letter that the company’s Stub Service Program and Inactive Service Program would identify inactive service lines for retirement. To date, the Safety Board has not received any further information on the status of action to complete Safety Recommendation P-94-2. The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the public is provided the highest level of safety, and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. That is why we monitor the implementation of all our recommendations. We would appreciate an update from you regarding actions taken or planned to implement this recommendation. Please address your response to Ms. Marion C. Blakey, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, and refer to the recommendation by number in your response. A copy of the recommendation letter and related correspondence is enclosed for your reference. Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact me at 202-314-6174 if you have any questions. Sincerely, Michael T. Brown Pipeline Safety Recommendations

Addressee Acronym: NJNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2004-05-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board notes that the NJNG has implemented two programs to address this recommendation: the stub service program and the inactive service program. The stub service program identified and retired the short sections of service lines. The NJNG has reviewed all available records and retired all known stub services on its system. NJNG construction standards have also been changed to eliminate the creation of future stub services. The Safety Board further notes that the NJNG's inactive service program matched existing services with accounts that have shown no activity for 2 years or more and retired them. The NJNG periodically generates a list of accounts with no activity over the previous 24 months. If the customer cannot provide a satisfactory timeframe for activating service, the service is retired. Because the NJNG has taken action as requested, Safety Recommendation P-94-2 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: NJNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-08-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE STUB SERVICE PROGRAM & INACTIVE SERVICE PROGRAM ARE CURRENTLY UNDER WAY TO IDENTIFY INACTIVE SERVICE LINES FOR RETIREMENT. ON COMPLETION OF THIS WORK, WE WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING A REPORT ON THE PROGRAM RESULT. PENDING RECEIPT OF THAT INFO P-94-2 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: NJNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2004-03-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 3/23/2004 11:58:59 AM MC# 2040144 NJNG has implemented two programs to address this recommendation. The "Stub Service Program" to identify and retire the short sections of service lines left during the historical practice of retiring services behind curbs. NJNG has reviewed all available records and has retired all known stub services on our system. Our construction standards have also been changed to eliminate the creation of future stub services. The "Inactive Service Program" to match existing services with accounts that have shown no activity for two years or more and to retire them. This initial program has also been completed. NJNG also generates on a periodic basis a list of accounts with no activity over the past twenty-four-month timeframe. If the customer cannot provide a satisfactory timeframe for activating service, the service is retired. I hope the details above provide the needed information to update you on the status of actions taken by NJNG to satisfy Safety Recommendation P-94-2. Please call me at 732-938-1105 if any additional information is needed to close this recommendation.

Addressee Acronym: NJNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1995-06-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TWO PROGRAMS ARE UDNERWAY TO COMPLY WITH THIS ITEM: THE STUB SERVICE PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY & RETIRE THE SHORT SECTIONS OF SERVICE LINES LEFT DURIN THE HISTORICAL PRACTICE OF RETIRING SERVICES BEHIND THE CURB RATHER THAN AT THE MAIN.., THE INACTIVE SERVICE PROGRAM TO MATCH THE EXISTING SERVICES WITH ACCOUNTS THAT HAVE SHOWN NO ACTIVITY FOR TWO YEARS OR MORE & RETIRE THEM. WE HAVE COMMITTED TO A COMPLETION DATE OF OCTOBER, 1996 & WILL KEEP THE PROGRAMS CURRENT AFTER THAT.