NTSB Safety Recommendation P-97-036

NTSB safety recommendation P-97-036.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN SHORT LINE RAILROAD ASSOCIATION: URGE YOUR MEMBERS TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN STATEWIDE EXCAVATION DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ONE-CALL NOTIFICATION CENTERS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1998-01-06

Adopted Date: 1997-12-23

Overall Date Closed: 2003-03-17

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: American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2003-03-17

Addressee Acronym: ASLRRA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-10-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 10/16/2002 4:09:25 PM MC# 2020869 Our members currently work with states on all Emergency Response Programs that would benefit the public in times of crises and all railroads work very closely with their communities to ensure the safety of both the public and their employees. This notice has been sent to all member railroads in the form of an e-mail and that notification should be suffice, as there has never been such an occurrence on a Class III railroad. I recommend that this file be considered closed.

Addressee Acronym: ASLRRA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-10-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: With the exception of R-93-29, the Safety Board has never received a response from ASLRRA regarding these recommendations. With respect to R-93-29, the Safety Board was informed in previous correspondence that the ASLRRA was a member of an industry work/rest task force that was focusing on improvements to working conditions and was working on a model program for its members. Safety Recommendation R-93-29 was classified "Open--Acceptable Response," pending an update on the ASLRRA's progress on this work. The other five recommendations have remained classified "Open--Await Response." The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure the public the highest level of safety and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. That is why we are monitoring the progress of these recommendations. Because the Safety Board has been in contact with the ASLRRA regarding other safety recommendations (most recently R-01-13, which was classified "Closed--Acceptable Action" on May 28, 2002, based on the positive action taken by ASLRRA in response to that recommendation), the Safety Board is concerned that the recommendations discussed in this letter may have been inadvertently overlooked. The Safety Board would appreciate receiving information from the ASLRRA on any actions taken in response to these recommendations. Please address your response to Carol J. Carmody. If you have any questions regarding these recommendations or wish to meet to facilitate a discussion and closure of these recommendations, please contact Mr. Jim Rosenberg, Deputy Director, Operations, Office of Safety Recommendations and Accomplishments, at (202) 314-6177. We are enclosing copies of the letters that transmitted these recommendations to the ASLRRA.

Addressee Acronym: ASLRRA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2003-03-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The ASLRRA reports that its members currently work with states on all emergency response programs that would benefit the public in times of crisis and all railroads work very closely with their communities to ensure the safety of both the public and their employees. Further, the ASLRRA sent this notice to all member railroads in the form of an e-mail. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-97-36 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: ASLRRA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-05-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE BEING INFORMED OF WHAT ACTION, IF ANY, HAS BEEN TAKEN OR IS CONTEMPLATED TO IMPLEMENT I-98-3, P-97-36, R-97-45 AND R-99-26.