NTSB Safety Recommendation P-95-031

NTSB safety recommendation P-95-031.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: ADVISE YOUR MEMBERS OF THE PIPELINE SAFETY ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN THE INTERCESSION CITY, FLORIDA, ACCIDENT REPORT, & URGE THEM TO WORK WITH RAILROAD OPERATORS IN DEVELOPING PLANS FOR HANDLING EMERGENCIES INVOLVING BOTH RAIL & PIPELINE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1995-05-30

Adopted Date: 1995-05-16

Overall Date Closed: 2001-03-29

Synopsis: ON 11/30/93, A 184-FOOT-LONG VEHICLE OPERATED BY ROUNTREE TRANSPORT & RIGGING (ROUNTREE), INC., WAS EN ROUTE TO DELIVER AN 82-TON TURBINE TO A KISSIMMEE UTILITY AUTHORITY (KUA) ELECTRICITY GENERATING PLANT UNDER CONSTRUCTION NEAR INTERCESSION CITY, FLORIDA. THE PRIVATE ACCESS ROAD TO THE PLANT FACILITY CROSSES OVER A SINGLE RAILROAD TRACK OWNED BY CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC, (CSXT). BECAUSE OF THE CONFIGURATION OF THE TRUCK & THE PROFILE OF THE ROADWAY, THE CARGO DECK OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BOTTOM OUT ON THE ROADWAY SURFACE AS IT MOVED ACROSS THE TRACKS. THE ROUNTREE CREW PROCEEDED TO ADJUST THE HEIGHT OF CARGO DECK TO GAIN GREATER CLEARANCE WHILE THE VEHICLE STRADDLED THE TRACKS. THEY HAD FINISHED RAISING THE CARGO DECK & WERE PREPARING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LIGHTS & BELLS AT THE GRADE CROSSING ACTIVATED. SECONDS LATER, NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION (AMTRAK) TRAIN NUMBER 88, THE SILVER METEOR, CARRYING 89 PASSENGERS, STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE CARGO DECK & THE TURBINE. THE LOCOMOTIVE & THE FIRST FOUR CARS OF THE EIGHT-CAR CONSIST DERAILED, CARRYING THE TURBINE & PARTS OF THE ROUNTREE VEHICLE WITH THEM.

Ntsbnumber: DCA94MH002

Report Number: HAR-95-01

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-03-29

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-08-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 08/30/2000 4:14:50 PM MC# 2001184 The pipeline industry was alerted to the need to coordinate emergency response efforts in a national advisory by the OPS. AGA has been active in broadening the collaborative efforts of all parties that might be involved in pipeline and underground utility damage and emergency response. AGA or its member companies were on 10 of the 11 “Common Ground” stakeholder committees that addressed best practices for damage prevention and emergency response. The Association of American Railroads was also a part of this collaborative effort. Together with the American Public Gas Association, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and the Gas Technology Institute, AGA is continuing to address inter-industry emergency response coordination efforts through participation in the “Common Ground Alliance” and other broad-based underground facility damage prevention efforts. These efforts are one of the top priorities for the Association and receive strong support and collaboration from member companies. We view AGA's participation in the Common Ground Alliance as a long-term commitment that satisfies the NTSB safety recommendation P-95-31.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-06-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TO DATE THE SAFETY BOARD HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REPLY FROM THE AGA REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF P-95-31, AND WOULD APPRECIATE A REPORT ON THE ACTION TAKEN.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-03-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board is pleased to note that the AGA has made this effort a top priority, that the alliance has strong support among member companies, and that the AGA considers its participation in the Common Ground Alliance a long-term commitment. Accordingly, because the AGA has taken a leading role to address the issues identified in the Intercession City, Florida, accident, Safety Recommendation P-95-31 is classified “Closed--Acceptable Action.”