NTSB Safety Recommendation P-97-034

NTSB safety recommendation P-97-034.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE FHWA: REQUIRE STATE TRANSORTATION DEPARTMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN EXCAVATION DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAMS & CONSIDER WITHHOLDING FUNDS TO STATES IF THEY DO NOT FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1998-01-06

Adopted Date: 1997-12-23

Overall Date Closed: 1998-09-03

Synopsis: A GAS EXPLOSION ON 11/21/96, IN THE RIO PIEDRAS SHOPPING DISTRICT OF SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, RESULTED IN 33 FATALTIES & 69 INJURIES. THIS ACCIDENT, ONE OF THE DEADLIEST IN PIPELINE HISTORY, MADE 1996 A RECORD YEAR FOR PIPELINE FATALITIES. THE SAN JUAN ACCIDENT ACCOUNTED FOR MORE FATALITIES THAN OCCURRED THE ENTIRE PREVIOUS YEAR, & IT VIVIDLY ILLUSTRATES THE TRAGIC POTENTIAL OF A SINGLE EXCAVATION-DAMAGED PIPE.

Ntsbnumber: 80433

Report Number: SS-97-01

Addressee Name: FHWA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1998-09-03

Addressee Acronym: FHWA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1998-09-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD RECOGNIZES THAT MANY STATE DOTS ARE USING SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING & ARE PARTICIPATING IN ONE-CALL PROGRAMS TO SOME DEGREE & THAT THE FHWA WILL CONTINUE ENCOURAGING ALL STATE DOTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS. ACCORDINGLY, P-97-34 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: FHWA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1998-08-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 7/30/98, followup meeting on recommendation status.

Addressee Acronym: FHWA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1998-03-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE FHWA FIRMLY BELIEVES EXCAVATION DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAMS SHOULD INCLUDE THE USE OF SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALL HIGHWAY PROJECTS & PARTICIPATION IN ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS PRIOR TO ECAVATION. THE USE OF SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEEING ASSURES ACCURATE & COMPREHENSIVE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES' INFO IS AVAILABLE TO BOTH PROJECT UTILITY OWNERS. PARTICIPATION ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS ASSURES UTILITY OWNERS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MARK THEIR UNDERGOUND FACILITIES PRIOR TO ANY EXCAVATION. SINCE 1990, THE FHWA HAS ENCOURAGED STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS TO USE SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING & TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE-CELL NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS BUT HAS NOT REQUIRED SUCH USE. IN RECENT YEARS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 23, UNITED STATES CODE, THE FHWA'S TRADITIONAL OVERSIGHT ROLE HAS BEEN REDUCED & CONSIDERABLE FLEXIBILITY HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS TO DESIGN & CONSTRUCT HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAWS, STANDARDS & PROCEDURES, RATHER THAN FEDERALLY APPROVED PROCEDURES & STANDARDS. THE FHWA IS RELUCTANT TO DEPART FROM THIS POLICY, WHICH IS PRECEIVED TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTENT OF CONGRESS, & REQUIRE THE USE OF SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING OR PARTICIPATION IN ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION PROGRAMS. THE FHWA WILL NONETHELESS CONTINUE TO AVAIL ITSELF OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO STRESS THE BENEFITS & ENCOURAGE STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO USE BOTH . FHWA'S PROPOSED ACTION: THE FHWA BELIEVES THIS FULFILLS THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION. THE FHWA REQUESTS THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION BE CONSIDERED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."