NTSB Safety Recommendation P-96-024

NTSB safety recommendation P-96-024.

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

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Issued Date: 1996-09-11

Adopted Date: 1996-09-06

Overall Date Closed: 2001-04-05

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: Interstate Natural Gas Association of America

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-04-05

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-08-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TO DATE THE SAFETY BOARD HAS HAD NO RESPONSE FROM INGAA, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING WHAT ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THIS RECOMMENDATION.

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-04-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Because the Safety Board has never received a response from INGAA on this issue, Safety Recommendation P-96-24 is classified “Closed--Unacceptable Action, No Response Received.”