NTSB Safety Recommendation P-96-023

NTSB safety recommendation P-96-023.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ASSOCIATION OF OIL PIPE LINES: DEVELOP, IN COOPERATION WITH THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE & THE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS ADEQUATE FOR PIPELINES TO SAFELY CROSS FLOOD PLAINS & STREAMBEDS, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECOMMENDS PRACTICES FOR PERIODICALLY REASSESSING CROSSING DESIGNS IN LIGHT OF 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: 2001-06-05

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 & RESULTING IN 20 DEATHS. DUE EO THE FLOODING, EIGHT PIPELINES RUPTURED & 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 & INHALATION INJURIES. SPILL RESPONSE COSTS EXCEED $7 MILLION, & ESTIMATED PROPERTY DAMAGE LOSSES WERE ABOUT $16 MILLION.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA95MP002

Report Number: SIR-96-04

Addressee Name: Association of Oil Pipe Lines

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-06-05

Addressee Acronym: AOPL

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-03-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 03/29/2001 4:55:28 PM MC# 2010274 Upon receipt of the NTSB’s recommendation that AOPL work with the American Petroleum Institute and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America to develop new design and construction standards adequate for pipelines to safely cross flood plains and streambeds, AOPL met with representatives of API and INGAA to decide how to proceed. API is an accredited international standard setting organization. The associations determined that API should take the lead on developing the requisite standard. The membership of AOPL and members of the API Pipeline Committee overlap significantly. In addition as a standard setting organization, API opens participation in the setting of new standards to the public. AOPL encouraged its members whether members of API or not, to participate in the development of this standard. AOPL elected to solicit member participation rather than to participate itself in the development of new design and construction standards because the staff of AOPL has no expertise in this area. The API standard number 1133, Guidelines for Onshore Hydrocarbon Pipelines Crossing Floodplains is nearly completed. Please find attached the Federal Register notice of March 6, 200l (66 Fed. Reg. 13948) announcing the API’s intent to publish this standard. Please consider this recommendation closed as to AOPL’s obligation under the recommendation.

Addressee Acronym: AOPL

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-03-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: To date, the Safety Board has received no response from AOPL regarding any of these recommendations. The Board would appreciate learning what action, if any, has been taken to implement Safety Recommendations P-95-12 and -13, P-96-23, and P-99-7. Copies of the recommendation letters are enclosed.

Addressee Acronym: AOPL

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-06-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board is pleased to learn that the AOPL worked with the API and others to develop an appropriate standard as requested. The Board further understands that API standard number 1133, Guidelines for Onshore Hydrocarbon Pipelines Crossing Floodplains, is nearly complete, and the Federal Register notice of March 6, 200l (66 FR. 13948), announced the API’s intent to publish this standard. Accordingly, because AOPL worked with the API and others as requested to develop an appropriate standard, now in the final stages of publishing, Safety Recommendation P-96-23 is classified “Closed--Acceptable Action.”