NTSB Safety Recommendation P-95-036

NTSB safety recommendation P-95-036.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: IN COORDINATION WITH HAZARDOUS LIQUID AND GAS PIPELINE OPERATORS AND RAILROADS, ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR PROMPT NOTIFICATION OF ALL INVOLVED PARTIES, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, FOLLOWING A TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT AND ESTABLISH COMPREHENSIVE PLANS FOR MONITORING AND MAINTAINING PROTECTIVE CONTROL MEASURES DURING WRECK-CLEARING OPERATIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1995-05-30

Adopted Date: 1995-05-16

Overall Date Closed: 2007-06-12

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: State of Florida, City of Tallahassee, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2007-06-12

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

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 traveling 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. The Safety Board would appreciate learning what action has been taken or planned to be taken to implement the recommendation.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2004-02-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 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-95-36, which was issued to the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management on May 30, 1995, as a result of the Safety Board’s investigation of an accident involving an Amtrak train and a Rountree Transport and Rigging, Inc., vehicle near Intercession City, Florida, on November 30, 1993. P-95-36: In coordination with hazardous liquid and gas pipeline operators and railroads, establish procedures for prompt notification of all involved parties, including public safety officials, following a transportation accident and establish comprehensive plans for monitoring and maintaining protective control measures during wreck-clearing operations. To date, the Safety Board has never received a response from the Division of Emergency Management, and is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the traveling 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. The Safety Board would appreciate learning what action has been taken or planned to be taken to implement the recommendation. Please address your response to Ms. Ellen Engleman Conners, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, and refer to the recommendation by number in your response. A copy of the recommendation letter is enclosed for your reference.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2006-03-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The DEM's June 15, 1995, letter to the Safety Board detailed efforts then-underway to address the recommendation, and Safety Recommendation P-95-36 was classified "Open-Acceptable Response," pending completion of these efforts, on July 17, 1995. Since that time, Safety Board staff has attempted several times to obtain information from DEM staff via e-mail, but we have been unable to confirm that action has been completed on this issue. The Safety Board would appreciate receiving an update on the action that DEM has taken to implement Safety Recommendation P-95-36. Copies of the letter issuing the safety recommendation and a correspondence report are enclosed for your review.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2007-06-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The DEM’s June 15, 1995, letter to the Safety Board detailed efforts then-underway to address the recommendation, and Safety Recommendation P-95-36 was classified Open Acceptable Response, pending completion of these efforts, on July 17, 1995. On May 28, 2002; February 12, 2004; and March 2, 2006, the Safety Board sent letters to your office requesting a update on action taken by the DEM to satisfy this recommendation. In addition, Safety Board staff has attempted several times to obtain information from DEM staff via e-mail. Accordingly, because the Safety Board has been unable to confirm that action has been completed on this issue, Safety Recommendation P-95-36 is classified Closed Unacceptable Action.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2004-06-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: I'm reviewing the older safety recommendations that are still held in an open classification and P-95-36 to the Fl DEM is still classified "Open--Acceptable Response," pending further information from the DEM. See attached for background information. I'm hoping that the DEM efforts in 1995 are complete. Basically the facts are: P-95-36 was issued to DEM on 5-30-95 as a result of the Intercession highway/rail accident, requesting that the DEM in coordination with hazardous liquid and pipeline operators and railroads, establish procedures for prompt notification of all involved parties, including public safety officials, following a transportation accident and establish comprehensive plans for monitoring and maintaining protective control measures during wreck-clearing operations. On 7-17-95, in response to the DEM letter of 6-15-95, Safety Recommendation P-95-36 was classified "Open--Acceptable Response." The Board noted that the Florida DEM had revised its criteria for county emergency management plans and would begin reviewing all county emergency plans in October 1995. The Board also understood that additional training or the public sector first responders will be provided under the hazardous materials training act.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1995-07-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE FLORIDA DEM HAS REVISED ITS CRITERIA FOR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS & WILL BEGIN REVIEWING ALL COUNTY EMERGENCY PLANS IN OCTOBER 1995. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR THE PUBLIC SECTOR FIRST RESPONDERS WILL BE PROVIDED UNDER THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRAINING ACT. THE BOARD APPRECIATES THE FLORIDA DEM PURSUIT OF A DIRECT APPROACH TO IMPROVE SAFETY. PENDING THE REVIEW OF THE REVISED EMERGENCY PLANS BY THE BOARD & THE COMPLETION OF THE UPDATED TRAINING BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR FIRST RESPONDERS, P-95-36 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1995-06-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: DEM HAS DEVELOPED REVISED CRITERIA FOR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS & HAS SCHEDULED ALL COUNTY EMERGENCY PLANS FOR REVIEW. REVIEW OF REVISED COUNTY PLANS IS SECHEDULED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 1995. IN ADDITION, THE STATE WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR FIRST RESPONDERS UNDER THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRIANING ACT. YOUR RECOMMENDATION WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING TRAINING SESSIONS. DEM WILL EMPLOY A HANDS ON APPROACH TO REVIEWING COUNTY EMERGENCY PLANS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH NEW COMPLIANCE CRITERIA. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS APPROACH & UPDATED TRAINING OF PUBLIC FIRST RESPONDERS WILL RESULT IN REALISTIC WORKABLE PLANS THAT WILL FURTHER PROTECT THE HEALTH & SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA.