NTSB Safety Recommendation P-99-008

NTSB safety recommendation P-99-008.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE DISTRIBUTION CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION: INFORM YOUR MEMBERS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE 7/21/97, PIPELINE RUPTURE AND FIRE IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, AND PROVIDE THEM WITH RECOMMENDED SAFE PRACTICES TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO EXISTING UNDERGROUND PIPELINE FACILITIES DURING DIRECTIONAL DRILLING OPERATIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1999-04-28

Adopted Date: 1999-04-20

Overall Date Closed: 2004-03-16

Synopsis: ABOUT 2:33 P.M. ON 7/21/97, A 20-INCH-DIAMETER STEEL NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE OWNED AND OPERATED BY CITIZENS GAS AND COKE UTILITY COMPANY (CITIZENS GAS) RUPTURED AND RELEASED NATURAL GAS NEAR AN INTERSECTION ADJOINING THE CHARTER POINTE SUBDIVISION IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN. THE GAS IGNITED AND BURNED, KILLING ONE RESIDENT AND INJURING ANOTHER. ABOUT 75 RESIDENTS REQUIRED TEMPORARY SHELTER. SIX HOMES WERE DESTROYED, AND ABOUT 65 OTHERS SUSTAINED DAMAGE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO BE DOCUMENTED BY THE LOCAL INVESTIGATION TEAM.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of Citizens Gas and Miller to have adequate controls in place to ensure that directional drilling operations carried out in the proximity of existing underground facilities would not cause damage to those facilities.

Ntsbnumber: DCA97FP005

Report Number: PAB-99-02

Addressee Name: Distribution Contractors Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2004-03-16

Addressee Acronym: DCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2004-01-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 1/14/2004 11:15:13 AM MC# 2040020 Dennis J. Kennedy, Executive V.P., Distribution Contractors Association (972-680-0261), wrote 'The association has promulgated the information concerning the tragic accident of July 21, 1997 and several meetings including the DCA Safety Congress held annually in Houston, TX during the month of January. This issue as well as other issues dealing with the potential hazards associated with underground construction has been a topic of discussion at virtually all meetings of the association. The association has for years offered safety tips through its "Tool Box Talks" on our website: www.dca-online.org. The association in cooperation with our members is a sponsor and contributor to a widely disseminated: HDD Good Practices Guidelines that we have distributed to our membership and to several international organizations that form the World Federation of Pipe Line Contractor Association. We will continue to support and promote safe practices in our organization.'

Addressee Acronym: DCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2003-12-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Contacted Dennis Kennedy, Executive VP of Distribution Contractors Association (DCA). Mr Kennedy responded with an email same day addressing how DCA had responded to the SR. That email is in review in RPH-20.

Addressee Acronym: DCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-06-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On April 16, 2001, the Safety Board inquired whether the DCA had taken the action requested in Safety Recommendation P-99-8. Because the Board has not received a response from the DCCA, we do not know whether our goal in issuing this recommendation was ever achieved. With that in mind, we have prepared the enclosed article that we request be included in the publication that has the widest distribution to your membership, if the DCCA has not already done so. Although the accident is more than 5 years old, we believe that the issues associated with this accident are still pertinent today and may be of interest to your association and its members. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the published article or being informed if an article was previously published. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Pending your response, the recommendation remains classified "Open--Await Response."

Addressee Acronym: DCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2004-03-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: In your January 9, 2004, e-mail to the Safety Board, you explain that the issues concerning the tragic accident of July 21, 1997, as well as other issues dealing with the potential hazards associated with underground construction, have been a topic of discussion at virtually all meetings of the DCA, including the annual DCA Safety Congress. Further, you write that the DCA's online Tool Box Talks feature has offered safety tips for years. You add that the DCA, in cooperation with its members, is also a sponsor and contributor to the widely disseminated Horizontal Directional Drilling-Good Practices Guidelines, which are distributed to DCA members and to several international organizations that form the World Federation of Pipe Line Contractors Association. In view of these initiatives, Safety Recommendation P-99-8 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action." Because Tool Box Talks is available only to members, the Board would appreciate receiving a copy of the tips specifically related to directional drilling. Please send them to the attention of Ms. Elaine B. Weinstein, Director, Office of Safety Recommendations and Accomplishments, 490 L'Enfant Plaza East, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20594 or Weinste@ntsb.gov.