NTSB Safety Recommendation P-96-022

NTSB safety recommendation P-96-022.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: TAKE THE LEAD TO DEVELOP, IN COOPERATION WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF OIL PIPE LINES AND THE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS ADEQUATE FOR PIPELINES TO SAFELY CROSS FLOOD PLAINS AND STREAMBEDS, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR PERIODICALLY REASSESSING CROSSING DESIGNS IN LIGHT CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE FLOOD PLAIN OR STREAMBED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1996-09-11

Adopted Date: 1996-09-06

Overall Date Closed: 2005-05-31

Synopsis: IN MID-OCTOBER 1994, SERIOUS FLOODING OCCURRED IN THE SAN JACINTO RIVER FLOOD PLAIN NEAR HOUSTON, TEXAS, FORCING OVER 14,000 PEOPLE TO EVACUATE AND RESULTING IN 20 DEATHS. DUE EO THE FLOODING, EIGHT PIPELINES RUPTURED AND MANY OTHERS WERE UNDERMINED. MORE THAN 35,000 BARRELS OF PETROLEUM PETROLEUM PRODUCTS WERE RELEASED INTO THE RIVER. IGNITION OF THE RELEASED PRODUCTS RESULTED IN 547 PEOPLE RECEIVING (MOSTLY MINOR) BURN AND INHALATION INJURIES. SPILL RESPONSE COSTS EXCEED $7 MILLION, AND ESTIMATED PROPERTY DAMAGE LOSSES WERE ABOUT $16 MILLION.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA95MP002

Report Number: SIR-96-04

Addressee Name: American Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2005-05-31

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2005-03-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 3/21/2005 2:33:29 PM MC# 2050118 A copy of the final recommended practice, "Guidelines for Onshore Hydrocarbon Pipelines Affecting High Consequence Floodplains," First Edition, February 2005 is enclosed.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1999-05-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 5/14/99 4:32:23 PM MC# 990512 API IS CURRENTLY FINISHING OUR RESPONSE TO P-96-22 REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO PIPELINES LOCATED IN FLOODPLAINS. ENCLOSED WITH THIS LETTER IS A DRAFT API GUIDANCE DOCUMENT. WE ARE SEEKING THE INPUT OF THE BOARD TO THIS DOCUMENT BEFORE IT IS COMPLETED AND PUBLISHED. PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO ME AND I WILL PASS THEM ON TO THE GROUP THAT IS DRAFTING THE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT. THANK YOU FOR THE ASSISTANCE.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-06-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 06/08/2001 7:37:07 PM MC# 2010482 API has taken the lead in developing a recommended practice for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of pipelines that cross floodplains and streambeds. A copy of the current draft of the recommended practice is attached. NTSB has commented informally on the draft recommended practice during two separate stages of the drafts development. The comments, received from Mr. Cliff Zimmerman, where forwarded to the task force charged with comment resolution for action. API 1130 has been balloted for publication and the task group responsible for the document is currently resolving the comments. API will forward the published document to NTSB as soon as it is available.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1996-09-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE API PIPELINE OPERATIONS & TECHNICAL COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE BEST APPROACH TO ADDRESS THIS RECOMMENDATION DURING ITS 10/19/96 MEETING. THE API CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE ALONE FOR RESPONDING TO THIS RECOMMENDATION SINCE IT DOES NOT DEVELOP THE PRIMARY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR PIPELINES. BOTH THE B31.4 &..8 COMMITTEE, UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LIQUID & GAS PIPELINES RESPECTIVELY. WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED ON OUR PROGRESS IN PROVIDING LEADERSHIP FOR RESPONSE TO THIS RECOMMENDATION.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2003-06-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On February 4, 2002, in response to information provided in the API's letter of June 8, 2001, the Safety Board classified Safety Recommendation P-96-22 "Open--Acceptable Response," pending receipt of the final guidance document. The Board understood that the API had taken the lead in developing a recommended practice for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of pipelines that cross floodplains and streambeds. The API indicated that (1) the draft recommended practice had been balloted for publication, (2) the task group responsible for the document was resolving the comments received, and (3) the API would forward the published document to the Board as soon as it became available. We would appreciate receiving an update regarding the progress of these actions. Pending receipt of this information, Safety Recommendation P-96-22 remains classified "Open--Acceptable Response."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-02-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On August 9, 1999, based on information provided in API's May 10, 1999, letter, Safety Recommendation P-96-22 was classified "Open--Acceptable Response," pending publication of the final guidance document. The Safety Board understands that API has taken the lead in developing a recommended practice for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of pipelines that cross floodplains and streambeds. The API has advised the Safety Board that the draft recommended practice has been balloted for publication and that the task group responsible for the document is currently resolving the comments received. The API indicates that it will forward the published document to the Board as soon as it is available. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-96-22 is classified "Open--Acceptable Response," pending receipt of the final guidance document.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2005-05-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board is pleased that in February 2005, API published Recommended Practice 1133, Guidelines for Onshore Hydrocarbon Pipelines Affecting High Consequence Floodplains, which fully addresses the recommendation. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-96-22 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1996-12-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD AGREES THAT THE API ALONE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPONDING TO P-96-22. THAT IS THE REASON WE ADDRESSED SIMILAR RECOMMENDATIONS TO BOTH THE ASSOCIATION OF OIL PIPE LINES & TO THE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA. THE BOARD ASKED THAT THE API TAKE THE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THIS UNDERTAKING BECAUSE OF ITS PREVIOUS ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE 1955 API BULLETIN & BECAUSE WE BELIEVED YOUR ORGANIZATION TO BE CAPABLE OF COORDINATING INTO A UNIFIED ACTION THE EFFORTS OF OTHER FOR PRODUCTING EFFECTIVE GUIDANCE. THE BOARD APPRECIATES THAT THE GUIDANCE DEVELOPED MAY HAVE TO BE COMMUNICATED TO INDUSTRY ENGINEERS & MANAGERS THROUGH PUBLICATION IN APPLICABLE INDUSTRY CODES; THIS WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE RECOMMENDATION. PUBLICATION AS AN API OR OTHER INDUSTRY-WIDE ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDED PRACTICE WOULD ALSO BE AN ACCEPTABLE MEANS FOR DISSEMINATING THE GUIDANCE. THE BOARD APPRECIATES CURRENT & PLANNED ACTIONS OF THE API FOR ACHIEVING THE SAFETY OBJECTIVE P-96-22 & AS WELL, THE API'S COMMITMENT TO KEEP US INFORMED OF YOUR PROGRESS P-96-22 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED"OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1999-08-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD ASKED THAT THE API TAKE THE LEAD TO DEVELOP, IN COOPERATION WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF OIL PIPE LINES AND THE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS ADEQUATE FOR PIPELINES TO SAFELY CROSS FLOOD PLAINS AND STREAMBEDS, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR PERIODICALLY REASSESSING CROSSING DESIGNS IN LIGHT OF CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE FLOOD PLAIN OR STREAMBED. THE BOARD IS PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE ASKED US TO REVIEW THE DRAFT API GUIDANCE DOCUMENT THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED. OUR STAFF WILL SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH MR. MATHESON TO DISCUSS THE PREPARED GUIDELINES. PENDING PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL GUIDANCE, P-96-22 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-07-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ON 8/9/99, BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE API LETTER OF 5/10/99, P-96-22 WAS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," PENDING PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL GUIDANCE. ENCLOSED ARE COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION LETTERS FOR P-80-15, P-81-20, P-93-20, P-95-14, P-95-15, P-96-22, AND P-98-29, AS WELL AS SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE SAFETY BOARD LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM YOU UPDATING THE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS.