NTSB Safety Recommendation P-97-037

NTSB safety recommendation P-97-037.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS: DEVELOP STANDARDS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, FOR MAP DEPICTION OF UNDERGOUND FACILITIES THAT WERE INSTALLED USING DIRECTIONAL BORING TECHNIQUES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1998-01-06

Adopted Date: 1997-12-23

Overall Date Closed: 2004-05-27

Synopsis: A GAS EXPLOSION ON 11/21/96, IN THE RIO PIEDRAS SHOPPING DISTRICT OF SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, RESULTED IN 33 FATALTIES AND 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, AND IT VIVIDLY ILLUSTRATES THE TRAGIC POTENTIAL OF A SINGLE EXCAVATION-DAMAGED PIPE.

Ntsbnumber: 80433

Report Number: SS-97-01

Addressee Name: American Society of Civil Engineers

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2004-05-27

Addressee Acronym: ASCE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-12-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 01/30/2002 4:07:04 PM MC# 2020112 A committee of the Geotechnical and Construction Standards Council has been working on "Standard Guidelines for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data". This consensus standard is in its final stage of public comment, and it is expected that ASCE's Codes and Standards Activities Committee will approve it for publication within the next few months (see copy enclosed). This standard explicitly addresses the quality of buried utility information and its representation on maps and plans. The standard presents a system of classifying the quality of data associated with existing subsurface utilities, from the most reliable (Quality Level A) to the least reliable (Quality Level D). The standard does not specifically address underground facilities that were installed using directional boring techniques, but is clearly applicable to such cases through the use of an appropriate quality level commensurate with the degree of accuracy with which the position of the buried utility is known. It will be possible to state this in an explicit fashion in the next revision of the standard. The American Public Works Association has not been involved in this effort, but the possibility was open for APWA to provide input through the public comment process.

Addressee Acronym: ASCE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2004-06-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 6/22/2004 2:58:23 PM MC# 2040334

Addressee Acronym: ASCE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-05-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board understands that the ASCE's Geotechnical and Construction Standards Council developed the Standard Guidelines for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data, which is in the final stage of public comment. The Board notes that the guidelines, expected to be approved shortly, explicitly address the quality of buried utility information and its representation on maps and plans, and presents a system of classifying the quality of data associated with existing subsurface utilities. While the guidelines do not specifically address underground facilities installed by directional boring techniques, they are applicable to such cases, and the Board understands that the ASCE will include a statement to this effect in the next revision. The Safety Board would appreciate being informed when the guidelines have been approved for publication. In the interim, Safety Recommendations P-97-37 and -38 are classified "Open--Acceptable Response." Thank you for your response and for your commitment to pipeline safety. The Safety Board especially appreciates the ASCE's efforts to develop these guidelines.

Addressee Acronym: ASCE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2004-05-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board understands that in 2002 the ASCE's Geotechnical and Construction Standards Council developed and published Standard Guidelines for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data, CI/ASCE 38-02. The Board notes that the guidelines explicitly address the quality of buried utility information and its representation on maps and plans, and presents a system of classifying the quality of data associated with existing subsurface utilities. While the guidelines do not specifically address underground facilities installed by directional boring techniques, they are applicable to such cases, and the Board understands that the ASCE will include a statement to this effect in the next revision. The ASCE's published guidelines constitute an acceptable alternate approach to Safety Recommendation P-97-37 and fully address the intent of Safety Recommendation P-97-38. Consequently, Safety Recommendation P-97-37 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Alternate Action" and Safety Recommendation P-97-38 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: ASCE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-04-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: To date, there has never been a response to Safety Recommendations P-97-37 or -38, and the Safety Board would appreciate learning what action has been taken to implement them.

Addressee Acronym: ASCE

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-12-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On April 27, 2001, the Safety Board requested information on action that the ASCE had taken to implement Safety Recommendations P-97-37 and -38. Because there has never been a response from ASCE to Safety Recommendations P-97-37 or -38, they have been classified "Closed--Unacceptable Action/No Response Received." If the ASCE has completed action in response to Safety Recommendations P-95-19, P-97-37, or -38 and provides details of the action completed, the Board will evaluate the action and may reconsider the classifications of these recommendations.