NTSB Safety Recommendation P-98-031

NTSB safety recommendation P-98-031.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE COLONIAL PIPELINE COMPANY: DEVELOP & IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE REQUIRING THAT PROPER ENGINEERING OR HYDRAULIC EVALUATION & ANALYSIS BE PERFORMED BEFORE CHANGS ARE MADE TO LINE OPERATING PARAMETERS THAT HAVE BEEN SET BY COMPANY MANAGEMENT.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1998-11-18

Adopted Date: 1998-11-03

Overall Date Closed: 2001-01-09

Synopsis: ABOUT 11:54 P.M EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME ON 6/26/96, A 36-INCH-DIAMETER COLONIAL PIPELINE COMPANY PIPELINE RUPTURED WHERE A CORRODED SECTION OF THE PIPELINE CROSSED THE REEDY RIVER AT FORK SHOALS, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE RUPTURE PIPELINE RELEASED ABOUT 957,600 GALLONS OF FUEL OIL INTO THE REEDY RIVER & SURROUNDING AREAS. THE ESTIMATED COST TO COLONIAL FOR CLEANUP & SETTLEMENT WITH THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA WAS $20.5 MILLION. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the rupture of the corrosion-weakened pipeline at the Reedy River crossing was the failure of Colonial Pipeline Company (1) to have adequate management controls in place to protect the corroded pipeline at the Reedy River crossing; and (2) to ensure that pipeline controllers were adequately trained to both recognize and respond properly to operational emergencies, abnormal conditions, and pipeline leaks.

Ntsbnumber: DCA96MP005

Report Number: PAR-98-01

Addressee Name: Colonial Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-01-09

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2000-10-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 10/10/2000 4:20:45 PM MC# 2001516 Colonial has developed and implemented management procedures requiring that proper engineering or hydraulic evaluation and analysis be performed before changes are made to line operating parameters that have been set by company management.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2000-07-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE TO P-98-31 THROUGH -33. THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING WHAT ACTION COLONIAL HAS TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2001-01-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board is pleased to learn that Colonial has developed and implemented management policies and procedures that address this recommendation, as described in Mr. Scott’s letter. These include the procedures for implementing a temporary pressure restriction due to a potential safety-related condition, procedure for implementing a permanent change to the system operating pressure limits manual, the management of change policy, and the maintenance procedures for pipeline integrity. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-98-31 is classified “Closed—Acceptable Action.”