NTSB Safety Recommendation P-98-025

NTSB safety recommendation P-98-025.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (ORIGINALLY ISSUED TO RSPA): REQUIRE PIPELINE SYSTEM OPERATORS TO PRECISELY LOCATE & PLACE PERMANENT MARKERS AT SITES WHERE THEIR GAS & HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES CROSS NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1998-10-16

Adopted Date: 1998-09-28

Overall Date Closed: 2006-05-03

Synopsis: ABOUT 4:50 A.M. CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME ON 10/23/96, IN TIGER PASS, LOUISIANA, THE CREW OF THE BEAN HORIZON CORPORATION (BEAN) DREDGE DAVE BLACKBURN DROPPED A STERN SPUD INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE CHANNEL IN PREPARATION FOR CONTINUED DREDGING OPERATIONS. THE SPUD STRUCK & RUPTURED A 12-INCH-DIAMETER SUBMERGED NATURAL GAS STEEL PIPELINE OWNED BY TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY (TENNESSEE GAS). THE PRESSURIZED (ABOUT 930 PSIG) NATURAL GAS RELEASED FROM THE PIPELINE ENVELOPED THE STERN OF THE DREDGE & AN ACCOMPANYING TUG, THE G.C. LINSMIER. WITHIN SECONDS OF REACHING THE SURFACE, THE NATURAL GAS IGNITED. THE RESULTING FIRE DESTROYED THE DREDGE & THE TUG. ALL 28 CREWMEMBERS FROM THE DREDGE & TUG ESCAPED INTO THE WATER OR ONTO NEARBY VESSELS.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company to accurately locate the company’s pipeline across Tiger Pass before that location was dredged. Contributing to the accident was the revocation by the Research and Special Programs Administration of Federal requirements for all pipeline operators to install and maintain markers to identify the locations at which their pipelines cross navigable waterways.

Ntsbnumber: DCA97FP001

Report Number: PAR-98-01-SUM

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2006-05-03

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2000-07-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ON 4/6/99, BASED ON INFORMATION IN THE RSPA LETTER OF 3/16/99, P-98-25 WAS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," PENDING FURTHER REPLY FROM RSPA. 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: 2006-05-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Because PHMSA worked with the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) to develop and issue an industry best practice that provides underwater facility owners guidance on the proper placement and maintenance of visible permanent markers, Safety Recommendation P-98-25 is classified "Closed-Acceptable Alternate Action." Safety Recommendation P-98-30 was issued to PHMSA as a result of the Safety Board's investigation of the June 26, 1996, pipeline rupture and release of fuel oil at Fork Shoals, South Carolina. This recommendation is on the Board's Most Wanted list of safety recommendations.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1999-04-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT RSPA HAS PARTICIPATED IN REGIONAL MEETINGS TO IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDERS' CONCERNS ABOUT THE NATION'S MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, WHICH, IN TURN, BECAME THE FRAMWORK FOR ISSUES ADDRESSED BY A NOVEMBER 1998 NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY LEADERS. THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT, AS A RESULT OF THE REGIONAL MEETINGS AND THE 1998 CONFERENCE, RSPA IS NOW HEADING A SUBCOMMITTEE FORMED SPECIFICALLY TO IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR THE ACTIONS REQUESTED IN P-98-25. PENDING FURTHER RESPONSE ON THIS INITIATIVE, P-98-25 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2005-08-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 8/30/2005 8:56:30 AM MC# 2050395 8-23-05: This recommendation resulted from a dredging incident in Tiger Pass, Louisiana. The NTSB found the pipeline operator took inadequate steps to precisely identify and mark the location of its pipeline through Tiger Pass. The NTSB also indicated concern about the visibility of signs marking pipeline crossings. PHMSA entered into a cooperative agreement with the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) to request they review this recommendation and identify a best practice to lessen future incidents. On April 29, 2005, the CGA published a best practice to provide underwater facility owners (i.e., oil and gas pipelines, cable, telecommunication, electric, sewer) guidance on the proper placement and maintenance of visible permanent markers. The best practice can be found on the PHMSA and CGA websites. A print-out of the CGA web page is enclosed. This best practice will be added to the "Locating and Marking Practices" section of the CGA Best Practices guide and distributed to CGA Sponsor companies, PHMSA headquarters and regional staff, State agencies and other utility companies during the first quarter of 2006.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1999-03-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 3/22/99 4:47:08 PM MC# 990292 THE SAFETY OF WATERWAY CROSSINGS IS AN IMPORTANT CONCERN OF RSPA AND WE ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. THIS PAST SUMMER WE PARTICIPATED IN SIX REGIONAL TOWN MEETINGS WHICH IDENTIFIED STAKEHOLDER CONCERNS FOR THE NATION'S MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (MTS). THESE TOWN MEETINGS PROVIDED AN ISSUE FRAMEWORK FOR A NATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD LAST NOVEMBER AT WHICH LEADERS FROM GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPED A NATIONAL AGENDA FOR THE MTS. THE ISSUE OF PIPELINES CROSSING NAVIGABLE CHANNELS WAS MENTIONED AT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE AS AN AREA OF CONCERN. PARAMOUNT IN THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE REGIONAL TOWN MEETINGS AND THE MTS NATIONAL CONFERENCE WAS THE NEED FOR AN INITIAL, THOROUGH REVIEW BY CONCERNED FEDERAL AGENCIES. WE ARE CURRENTLY LEADING A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SAFETY AND DREDGING TASK GROUPS WHICH WE HAVE FORMED TO ADDRESS YOUR RECOMMENDATION. THIS COMMITTEE BRINGS TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, THE COAST GUARD, AND THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS ON THE ENTIRETY OF THE ISSUE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ESTABLISHING THE BEST METHODS TO MEET EACH OF THE SAFETY NEEDS. WE EXPECT TO HAVE PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE WITHIN TWO MONTHS. PENDING THE RESULTS, WE REQUEST THAT P-98-25 BE CLASSIFIED AS "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2004-07-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: [via email from Cheryl.Whetsel@rspa.dot.gov] The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) requested that the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) draft a Recommended Practice for Locating and Marking Utilities where pipelines cross navigable waterways. On June 8, 2004, CGA met with RSPA staff to discuss a first draft of a recommended practice prepared by the CGA Research and Development Committee. RSPA staff provided comments to the draft recommended practice that will address permanent marking, temporary marking, and locating pipelines crossing waterways. The next step will be to finalize their draft and pass it on to the Recommended Practice Committee for approval. The R&D Committee will continue to research technical options for the use of locating underwater utilities.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2005-02-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: In its 2/28/2005 report to Congress, "Open Statutory Mandates Regarding Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety," the DOT wrote: The Common Ground Alliance has drafted a recommended best practice.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2006-04-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: At PHMSA's request, the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) developed a best practice to address pipeline permanent markers where they cross navigable waterways. The best practice is available on both the PHMSA and CGA websites. PHMSA submitted a lener to NTSB requesting closure on August 23,2005.