NTSB Safety Recommendation P-96-017

NTSB safety recommendation P-96-017.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ALLENTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY: ENCOURAGE UGI SERVICES, INC., TO INSTALL AN EXCESS FLOW VALVE IN THE GAS SERVICE TO ANY BUILDING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OWNS OR MANAGES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1996-03-06

Adopted Date: 1996-02-26

Overall Date Closed: 2002-11-04

Synopsis: ABOUT 6:45 P.M. ON 6/9/94, A 2-INCH-DIAMETER STEEL GAS SERVICE LINE THAT HAD BEEN EXPOSED DURING EXCAVATION SEPARATED AT A COMPRESSION COUPLING ABOUT 5 FEET FROM THE NORTH WALL OF JOHN T. GROSS TOWERS, AN EIGHT-STORY RETIREMENT HOME OPERATED BY THE ALLENTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY AT ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. THE FAILED UGI UTILITIES, INC,. (UGI) SERVICE LINE RELEASED NATAURAL GAS AT 55 PSIG PRESSURE, & THE ESCAPING GAS FLOWED UNDERGROUND TO GROSS TOWERS. THE GAS PASSED THROUGH OPENINGS IN THE BUILDING FOUNDATION, ENTERED THE MECHANICAL ROOM THROUGH FLOOR VENTS, & MIGRATED TO OTHER BUILDING FLOORS.

Probable Cause: The failure of the management of Environmental Preservation Associates, Inc. (EPAI) to ensure, through project oversight, compliance with its own excavation requirements and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) excavation requirements.

Keywords: Excess Flow Valves

Ntsbnumber: DCA94MP003

Report Number: PAR-96-01

Addressee Name: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, City of Allentown, Housing Authority

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-11-04

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 2002-11-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Closed administratively by Notation 6652C. On February 19, 1997, responding to the Housing Authority of the City of Allentown’s letter of May 14, 1996, the Safety Board classified Safety Recommendation P-96-17 "Open-Acceptable Response." In so classifying the recommendation, the Board noted the Housing Authority’s efforts to encourage UGI to install EFVs in the four high-rise housing projects for the elderly that the housing authority operates. The Board further noted that UGI was working to determine whether there was an EFV available that would be suitable for installation in the service lines to these buildings. On May 23, 2002, staff left telephone messages and e-mailed the executive director of the Housing Authority, but there has been no response. However, staff believes that the 1996 response was positive and that, at that time, the Housing Authority had complied with the recommendation, despite UGI’s failure to install the EFVs. Given the 5 years that have transpired since our last correspondence and the fact that the Housing Authority of the City of Allentown did comply with the recommendation, staff proposes that Safety Recommendation P-96-17 be classified "Closed-Acceptable Action." Further, staff believes that a letter to the Housing Authority advising of the revised status would have little meaning for the Authority and serve no useful purpose; consequently, staff proposes that a letter not be sent.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1996-05-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD WELCOMES THE AHA'S ENDORSEMENT OF BOTH RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS INCLUDING THE NUMEROUS MEETINGS YOU HAVE HELD, TO IMPLEMENT THESE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE INSTALLATION OF EXCESS FLOW VALVES & GAS DETECTORS WILL BEGIN SOON. PLEASE ADVISE US WHEN EITHER THE EXCESS FLOW VALVES OR THE GAS DETCTORS ARE IN OPERATION. IN THE MEANTIME, P-96-17 & -18 HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1997-02-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD APPRECIATES YOUR EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE UGI TO INSTALL EXCESS FLOW VALVES IN THE FOUR HIGH-RISE HOUSING PROJECTS FOR THE ELDERLY THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OPERATES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT UGI IS WORKING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS AN EXCESS FLOW VALVE AVAILABLE THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR INSTALLATION IN THE SERVICE LINES TO THESE BUILDINGS. PENDING FURTHER ACTION, P-96-17 REMAINS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1996-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE ALLENTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY (AHA) HAS CONTINUED TO WORK WITH & ENCOURAGE BOTH THE UGI UTILITIES INCORPORATED (UGI) & UMAC TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN & INSTALLATION OF THE EFV. RECENTLY, HOWEVER, AHA HAS BECOME CONCERNED REGARDING ITS ABILITY TO FULFILL NTSB'S RECOMMENDATION ON THE EFV.

Addressee Organization Type: L-Local Government

Communication Date: 1996-05-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE ALLETENTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY AGREES WITH, CERTAINLY ENDORSES, & IS ALREADY IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OUTLINED IN YOUR LETTER. LET ME BRING YOU UP TO DATE WHERE WE ARE IN OUR EFFORTS: "REGARDING EXCESS FLOW VALVES-" MEETINGS WERE HELD WITH UGI ON 10/3/95, WITH UMAC, INC. ON 12/21/95. UMAC, INC. & THE AHA EXCHANGE CORRESPONDENCE &/OR PHONE CALLS ON 12/29/95, 1/16/96, 1/29/96, 2/23/96 & 3/18/96 3/18/96.