NTSB Safety Recommendation P-95-034

NTSB safety recommendation P-95-034.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: 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: 1995-08-01

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 Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1995-08-01

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1995-06-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE API GENERAL COMMITTEE ON PIPELINES WILL FORWARD A COPY OF SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-95-34 TO ALL OUR COMMITTEE & SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS TO INFORM THOSE COMPANIES OF THE SAFETY ISSUES IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE NTSB INVESTIGATION OF THIS ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, WE WILL FORWARD COPIES TO THE 70 PIEPLINE COMPANIES WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PIPELINE PUBLIC EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST COMPANIES IN THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS & PROVIDES API WITH A MAILING LIST OF COMPANY PERSONNEL WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS ALONG PIPELINE RIGHT OF WAY.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1995-08-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE API WILL INFORM ITS COMMITTEE & SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE SAFETY ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN THE ACCIDENT REPORT BY FORWARDING A COPY OF P-95-34 TO THOSE COMPANIES. WE ALSO NOTE THE API EFFORTS FOR ENCOURAGING THE 70 COMPANIES IN ITS PIPELINE PUBLIC EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO WORK WITH RAILROAD OPERATORS. THEREFORE, P-95-34 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION." THE BOARD APPRECIATES THE SUGGESTION TO INCLUDE ONE-CALL SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL (OCSI) UNDER THIS RECOMMENDATION. THE OCSI NOW ACTIVELY ENCOURAGES RAILROAD OPERATORS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OVERALL EXCAVATION DAMAGE PROGRAM. CONSEQUENTLY, THE OSCI ALREADY IS ACTING ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE.