NTSB Safety Recommendation P-95-023

NTSB safety recommendation P-95-023.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION: ADVISE YOUR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS ADDRESSED IN THIS ACCIDENT REPORT & URGE THEM TO IMPLEMENT THE LAND-USE IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD'S REPORT 219.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Issued Date: 1995-02-07

Adopted Date: 1995-01-18

Overall Date Closed: 2002-08-26

Synopsis: ABOUT 11:55 ON 3/23/94, A 36-INCH DIAMETER PIPELINE OWNED & OPERATED BY TEXAS EASTERN TRANSMISSION CORPORTION (TETCO) RUPTURED CATASTROPHICALLY IN EDISON TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY, WITHIN AN ASPHALT PLANT COMPOUND. THE FORCE OF THE RUPTURE & OF NATURAL GAS ESCAPING AT A PRESSURE OF ABOUT 970 PSIG (POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH GUAGE) EXCAVATED THE SOIL AROUND THE PIPE & BLEW GAS HUNDREDS OF FEET INTO THE AIR, PROPELLING PIPE FRAGMENTS, ROCKS, & DEBRIS MORE THAN 800 FEET. WITHIN 1 TO 2 MINUTES OF THE RUPTURE, ONE OF SEVERAL POSSIBLE SOURCES IGNITED THE ESCAPING GAS, SENDING FLAMES UPWARD 400 TO 500 FEET IN THE AIR. HEAT RADIATING FROM THE MASSIVE FIRE IGNITED THE ROOFS OF SEVERAL BUILDING ROOFS IN A NEARBY APARTMENT COMPLEX. OCCUPANTS, ALERTED TO THE EMERGENCY BY NOISES FROM ESCAPING GAS & ROCKS HITTING THE ROOFS, FLED FROM THE BURNING BUILDINGS. APPROXIMATELY 1,500 APARTMENT RESIDENTS WERE EVACUATED. MIRACULOUSLY, NO DEATHS DIRECTLY RESULTED FROM THE RUPTURE & RESULTING FIRE. MOST INJURIES WERE MINOR FOOT BURNS & CUTS THAT THE APARTMENT RESIDENTS SUSTAINED FROM THE HOT PAVEMENT & GLASS SHARDS AS THEY FLED THE COMPLEX. DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT EXCEEDED &25 MILLION.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA94MP001

Report Number: PAR-95-01

Addressee Name: American Planning Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-08-26

Addressee Acronym: APA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-04-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board has not received a response to either recommendation and we would appreciate learning what action has been taken, or planned, to implement Safety Recommendations P-95-22 and -23. Please address your response to Ms. Carol J. Carmody, Acting Chairman, citing the recommendation numbers above. A copy of the recommendation letter is enclosed.

Addressee Acronym: APA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-08-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On April 9, 2001, the Safety Board requested information on action that the APA had taken to implement Safety Recommendations P-95-22 and -23. Although no response was received, the Safety Board is aware that the APA participated on a committee with APWA to develop guidelines. The Safety Board is unaware, however, whether the intent of Safety Recommendation P-95-23 has been accomplished. Because we have not received a response to our previous requests, we must classify Safety Recommendation P-95-23 "Closed--Unacceptable Action/No Response Received." If the APA has acted on the recommendation and provides the Safety Board with information to that effect, the Board will evaluate the APA's action and may reclassify Safety Recommendation P-95-23.