NTSB Safety Recommendation P-97-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-97-006.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RSPA: MODIFY YOUR MONITORING OF STATE PIPELINE SAFETY PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THAT THE STATES ARE TIMELY IN MONITORING HE CORRECTION OF IDENTIFIED SAFETY DEFICIENCIES AND TO ENSURE THAT THEY IMPLEMENT ENFORCEMENT ACTION AS NECESSARY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1998-01-06

Adopted Date: 1997-12-23

Overall Date Closed: 2004-03-09

Synopsis: ABOUT 8:30 A.M. ON 11/21/96, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE HUMBERTO VIDAL SHOE STORE AND OFFICE BUILDING AT 100 JOSE DE DIEGO CALLE IN RIO PIEDRAS, PUERTO RICO. LOCAL EMERGENCY AGENCIES RESPONDED AND INITIATED SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, BY 12/5/96 30 FATALITIES HAD BEEN CONFIRMED, AND 5 PEOPLE, BELIEVED TO STILL BE IN THE BUILDING RUINS, WERE MISSING. LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE SUSPENDED SEARCH EFFORTS UNTIL THE BUILDING CAN BE MADE SAFE FOR RESCUE WORKERS.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the propane gas explosion, fueled by an excavationcaused gas leak, in the basement of the Humberto Vidal, Inc., office building was the failure of San Juan Gas Company, Inc., (1) to oversee its employees’ actions to ensure timely identification and correction of unsafe conditions and strict adherence to operating practices and (2) to provide adequate training to employees. Also contributing to the explosion was (1) the failure of the Research and Special Programs Administration/Office of Pipeline Safety to oversee effectively the pipeline safety program in Puerto Rico, (2) the failure of the Puerto Rico Public Service Commission to require San Juan Gas Company, Inc., to correct identified safety deficiencies, and (3) the failure of Enron Corp. to oversee adequately the operation of San Juan Gas Company, Inc.

Ntsbnumber: DCA97MP004

Report Number: PAR-97-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2004-03-09

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2000-07-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ON 2/19/99, BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE RSPA LETTER OF 7/8/98, P-97-6 WAS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," P-97-7 WAS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," AND P-97-8 WAS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE." COPIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS P-87-34, P-90-21, P-95-4, P-96-1, P-97-6, P-97-7, P-97-8, P-98-1, P-98-2, P-98-3, P-98-4, P-98-5, AND P-98-25 AND ASSOCIATED CORRESPONDENCE ARE ENCLOSED. THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING OF ANY ACTION TAKEN OR PLANNED TO COMPLY WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, ESPECIALLY P-97-7 AND -8, WHICH MAY BE DISCUSSED AT A BOARD MEETING.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2004-03-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: In reviewing its records, the Safety Board notes that on April 5, 2001, Safety Recommendation P-97-5, issued to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) (a companion recommendation to P-97-6, issued to RSPA), was classified "Closed--Acceptable Action." In correspondence between the Board and the DOT concerning P-97-5, the DOT had advised the Board on February 6, 2001, that RSPA had revised its State Liaison annual evaluation forms to provide further clarification and information on compliance actions initiated by the States. Actions addressed by these revisions included written procedures and other communications for notifying operators of a noncompliance or violation, conformance with the manual "Guidelines for States Participating in the Pipeline Safety Program," routine review of the progress of compliance actions, formal actions to correct violations, and adherence to written procedures and documentation. As these revisions to RSPA's State Liaison evaluation forms fully address the Safety Board's intent in issuing Safety Recommendation P-97-6, the recommendation is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1999-02-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ALTHOUGH THE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR PIPELINE SAFETY WROTE TO THE SAFETY BOARD ON 7/8/98, EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE IN THE ADEQUACY OF THE STATE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, I AM REASSURED BY YOUR DECEMBER 1998, PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO REVIEW THIS PROGRAM. PENDING COMPLETION OF THIS REVIEW, P-97-6 IS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1998-07-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 7/14/98 3:05:56 PM MC# 980875 RSPA AGREES THAT TIMELY CORRECTION OF SAFETY DEFICIENCIES AND APPROPRIATE ENFORCEMENT ACTION IS CRITICAL TO CONTINUED PIPELINE SAFETY. WE WILL REVIEW OUR WRITTEN GUIDANCE TO THE STATE PROGRAMS AND STATE EVALUATION CRITERIA TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE APPROPRIATELY OVERSEEING STATE ACTIVITIES. ANY NEEDED CHANGES WILL BE REFLECTED IN OUR 1999 CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. RSPA BELIEVES THIS INITIATIVE WILL FULLY ADDRESS THE NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATION.