NTSB Safety Recommendation P-98-024

NTSB safety recommendation P-98-024.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE LAROCHE INDUSTRIES, INC.: ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE WRITTEN EXCAVATION PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT, IF SUSPECTED DAMAGE TO A FACILITY OCCURS DURING EXCAVATION, ALL RELEVANT AUTHORITIES OR ENTITIES ARE NOTIFIED SO THAT THE SITUATION CAN BE EVALUATED AND ANY CORRECTIVE ACTIONS NEEDED CAN BE UNDERTAKEN PROMPTLY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Issued Date: 1998-09-28

Adopted Date: 1998-09-21

Overall Date Closed: 2004-07-14

Synopsis: 0N 5/23/96, A 68-MILE-LINE, 20-INCH-DIAMETER STEEL PIPELINE OWNED BY MARATHON PIPE LINE COMPANY RUPTURED AT A LOCATION NEAR GRAMERCY, LOUISIANA. THE RUPTURE WENT UNDETECTED BY THE PIPELINE CONTROLLER FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR. THE RUPUTRE PIPELINE ULTIMATEY RELEASED ABOUT 475,000 GALLONS OF GASOLINE INTO A COMMON PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY WITHIN A DESIGNATED "WETLAND." GASOLINE ALSO ENTERED THE BLIND RIVER, CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AND KILLING FISH, WILDLIFE, AND VEGETATION IN THE AREA.

Probable Cause: Excavations of a nearby pipeline operated by LaRoche Industries, Inc., which resulted from the failure of LaRoche either to take adequate measures to ensure that excavations performed under its supervision did not damage underground utilities or to notify Marathon that those excavations may have damaged the Marathon pipeline

Ntsbnumber: DCA96MP004

Report Number: PAB-98-01

Addressee Name: LaRoche Industries, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 2004-07-14

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-10-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 11/01/2002 4:42:51 PM MC# 2020920 LaRoche Industries Inc. has not operated the subject pipeline since about January 1, 200 1. LaRoche discontinued all operations at the Gramercy, LA facility in early 200 1, and sold the non-operating facility and pipeline to Kaiser Aluminum in June, 200 1. Mr. Ingalls is no longer with LaRoche Industries Inc. I talked via phone to Peter Bibko, Kaiser Regulatory Manager about the subject letter and faxed a copy of the subject letter and attachments to him. He is being copied on this correspondence.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2001-05-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 05/30/2001 6:39:21 PM MC# 2010445 The BRINE PIPELINE SURVEILLANCE POLICY developed by LaRoche Industries Inc. and dated February 1999 is attached as requested in Ms. Weinstein's April 13, 2001 letter. LaRoche Industries Inc. believes this policy satisfies P-98-24. LaRoche Industries Inc. is in the process of selling the Gramercy, LA facility that the subject pipeline is associated with. We expect the sale to be completed within the next thirty days. We will inform you of the new owner, and inform the new owner of this policy. Please feel free to contact me via phone at 404-851-0323, via e-mail at rcannon-larocneind.com, or via mail at the above address if you need additional information.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2004-04-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: This is to confirm that, as discussed with you this morning by telephone, Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp purchased certain assets of LaRoche Chemical, contiguous to our land in Gramercy Louisiana, including certain facilities and equipment previously used for chemical manufacture, which had discontinued operating prior to the time of purchase by Kaiser. Moreover as I indicted on the telephone, we have since began demolition of the structures and equipment used to manufacture chemicals at the LaRoche facility. Please let me know if you need any additional information or clarification. Regards, Peter Bibko 225-869-2100

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-09-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On July 25, 2001, the Board advised LaRoche that the Brine Pipeline Surveillance Policy did not address this type of notification. The Safety Board requested that LaRoche provide additional information to clarify whether the type of notification procedures requested in our recommendation had subsequently been addressed. Pending receipt of the information, Safety Recommendation P-98-24 was classified "Open--Acceptable Response." The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the public is provided the highest level of safety, and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. That is why we monitor the implementation of all our recommendations. We would appreciate receiving an update from you regarding actions taken or planned to fully implement the recommendation.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-11-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LaRoche's May 25, 2001, response advised that in February 1999, LaRoche had developed a Brine Pipeline Surveillance Policy that implemented a program for systematic surveillance and inspection of the 8-inch and 6-inch brine lines. This policy called for telephone notification of Louisiana One Call prior to LaRoche personnel's excavating a suspected leak site; the lack of such notification at the time of the May 23, 1996, accident was one of the Safety Board's concerns expressed in its letter of September 28, 1998. However, of equal concern and what prompted the issuance of the above safety recommendation was the lack of any procedures to notify all relevant authorities or entities when suspected damage had occurred to a pipeline. The Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was damage done to the Marathon pipeline during excavations of a nearby pipeline operated by LaRoche. Had Marathon been notified by LaRoche that the Marathon pipeline may have been damaged, repairs or replacements could have been made that would have prevented this accident. On July 25, 2001, the Board advised LaRoche that the Brine Pipeline Surveillance Policy did not address this type of notification. The Safety Board requested that LaRoche provide additional information to clarify whether the type of notification procedures requested in our recommendation had subsequently been addressed. Pending receipt of the information, Safety Recommendation P-98-24 was classified "Open-Acceptable Response." On October 22, 2002, Mr. Raybon C. Cannon, Acting Director of Environmental Affairs, Kaiser Aluminum Company, advised the Safety Board that LaRoche has not operated the subject pipeline since about January 1, 2001; that it discontinued all operations at the Gramercy, Louisiana facility in early 2001; and that it sold the non-operating facility and pipeline to Kaiser Aluminum Company in June 2001. Because Kaiser Aluminum Company now owns the Gramercy, Louisiana, facility, Safety Recommendation P?98?24 is redirected to your company. The Safety Board is interested in knowing whether and how its recommendations are implemented, both to ensure that the public is provided the highest level of safety and to identify creative solutions that might be shared with others. That is why we monitor the implementation of all our recommendations. We would appreciate receiving an update from you regarding actions taken or planned to fully implement the recommendation. Please address your response to Ms. Carol J. Carmody, Acting Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, and refer to the recommendation by number in your response. A copy of the recommendation letter and related correspondence is enclosed for your reference.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2004-07-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board understands that in 2001, Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation purchased certain assets of LaRoche Chemical, contiguous to its land in Gramercy, Louisiana, including certain facilities and equipment that once had been used for chemical manufacture. The Board notes that Kaiser did not use the LaRoche plant and has initiated demolition of the structures and equipment once used to manufacture chemicals. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-98-24 is classified "Closed--No Longer Applicable."

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2001-04-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TO DATE, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RESPONSE TO P-98-24, AND THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING WHAT ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT IT. PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR RESPONSE TO MS. CAROL J. CARMODY, ACTING CHAIRMAN, CITING THE RECOMMENDATION NUMBER.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2001-07-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board notes that in February 1999, LaRoche developed a Brine Pipeline Surveillance Policy that implements a program for systematic surveillance and inspection of the 8-inch and 6-inch brine lines. This policy now calls for telephone notification of Louisiana One Call prior to excavating a suspected leak site; the lack of such notification at the time of the May 23, 1996, accident was one of the Safety Board's concerns expressed in its letter of September 28, 1998. However, of equal concern and what prompted the issuance of the above safety recommendation was the lack of any procedures to notify all relevant authorities or entities when suspected damage had occurred to a pipeline. The Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was damage done to the Marathon pipeline during excavations of a nearby pipeline operated by LaRoche. Had Marathon been notified by LaRoche that the Marathon pipeline may have been damaged, repairs or replacements could have been made that would have prevented this accident. The Brine Pipeline Surveillance Policy does not address this type of notification. The Safety Board would appreciate additional information to clarify whether the type of notification procedures requested in our recommendation have been addressed. Pending receipt of the information, Safety Recommendation P-98-24 is classified "Open--Acceptable Response."