NTSB Safety Recommendation Letter P-70-029 through P-70-042

Page 1Official PDF- 35 - V I . RECOMMENDATIONS (Listed a f t e r each recommendation a r e t h e numbers of t h e conclusions upon which such recommendations a r e based) The Safety Board recommends t h a t : 1. The t a k e O f f i c e t h e of P i p e l i n e S a f e t y following a c t i o n s : of t h e Department of T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Require i n t h e minimum Federal Safety Standards t h a t each gas u t i l i t y e s t a b l i s h a program f o r t h e prevention of c o n s t r u c t i o n - o r i g i n a t e d damage t o i t s underground f a c i l i t i e s . This program should c o n t a i n provisions: (1) f o r education and g e n e r a l l i a i s o n w i t h c o n t r a c t o r s and t h e i r machine o p e r a t o r s ; (2) f o r o b t a i n i n g n o t i c e s of c o n s t r u c t i o n work i n c l o s e proximity t o underground gas f a c i l i t i e s ; (3) t o i n s u r e t h a t gas f a c i l i t i e s a r e marked o r otherwise protected during such c o n s t r u c t i o n work; and ( 4 ) t o followup and i n v e s t i g a t e a c c i d e n t s which do occur, t o determine where t h e program f a i l e d and how it can b e strengthened. (Conclusion 13, Appendix IV.) A s a p a r t of i t s enforcement a c t i v i t y , study t h e r e g u l a t o r design, maintenance, and t e s t i n g procedures of t h e u t i l i t i e s under its d i r e c t j u r i s d i c t i o n , including municipal operations not r e g u l a t e d by S t a t e s , t o determine whether gas consumers w i l l b e properly p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t o v e r p r e s s u r i z a t i o n i n t h e event of a malfunction of a primary r e g u l a t o r . This would include sampling observations t o determine whether r e g u l a t o r s a r e a d j u s t e d properly, maintained, and t e s t e d on a r e g u l a r b a s i s so t h a t they w i l l f u n c t i o n c o r r e c t l y , and whether t h e c o n t r o l l i n e i s p r o t e c t e d from damage. (Conclusion 1, 4 , and 8.) Conduct a study t o determine what c o n s t i t u t e s a s a f e maximum operating p r e s s u r e f o r low-pressure d i s t r i b u t i o n systems. F u r t h e r , u s e t h e r e s u l t s of such study i n formulating minimum Federal S a f e t y Standards, so t h a t t h e d e s i r e d p r e s s u r e and t h e c o r r e c t functioning of monitoring r e g u l a t o r s and o t h e r overpressure p r o t e c t i o n devices w i l l be defined. (Conclusion S.) . 8 - 70- i#

Page 23% - 36 - (d) Review t h e a b i l i t y of t h e gas u t i l i t i e s under i t s d i r e c t j u r i s d i c t i o n t o r e c e i v e and process telephone c a l l s during emergencies. Determine whether a minimum Federal Safety Standard i s necessary. (Conclusion 16.) 2 . A l l S t a t e s , t h e D i s t r i c t - o f Columbia, and Puerto Rico t a k e t h e following a c t i o n s : Consider t h e enactment of l e g i s l a t i o n t o r e q u i r e : (1) persons planning t o excavate o r b l a s t t o n o t i f y t h e gas u t i l i t y operating i n t h e a r e a (Conclusion 13, Appendix III), and ( 2 ) l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s and o t h e r s who i s s u e c o n s t r u c t i o n p e r m i t s t o cooperate with t h e gas u t i l i t i e s t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e o b t a i n i n g of n o t i c e s of proposed excavation. (Appendix IV.) Encourage u t i l i t i e s having underground f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e same a r e a such a s gas, e l e c t r i c , and telephone, e t c . , t o e s t a b l F s h a coordinated n o t i f i c a t i o n f a c i l i t y , where p r a c t i c a b l e , s o t h a t a person planning t o excavate o r b l a s t can inform a l l u t i l i t i e s by making one telephone c a l l . (Appendix IV.) Review t h e r e g u l a t o r design, maintenance, and t e s t i n g procedures of t h e gas u t i l i t i e s under S t a t e j u r i s d i c t i o n t o determine whether a l l gas consumers w i l l b e properly p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t o v e r p r e s s u r i z a t i o n i n t h e event of a malfunction of a primary r e g u l a t o r , along t h e same l i n e s recommended i n l ( b ) , above. (Conclusion 4.) Review t h e a b i l i t y of t h e gas u t i l i t i e s under t h e i r , j u r i s d i c t i o n t o r e c e i v e and process telephone c a l l s during emergencies. (Conclusion 16.) 3 . Iowa Southern U t i l i t i e s , Inc., t a k e t h e following a c t i o n s : 31 (a) Review i t s own r e g u l a t o r design, maintenance, and t e s t i n g procedures t o determine whether i t s gas consum2rs w i l l be properly p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t o v e r p r e s s u r i z a t i o n i n t h e event of a malfunction of a primary r e g u l a t o r . (Conclusions 4 , 6, 9.) 3% (b) E s t a b l i s h a w r i t t e n procedure f o r preventing damage t o underground f a c i l i t i e s . The program should c o n t a i n t h e same methods recommended t o t h e O f f i c e of P i p e l i n e S a f e t y , above, (Conclusion 13, Appendix IV.)#

Page 3I " - - - 37 - (c) Improve i t s a b i l i t y t o r e c e i v e and process telephone c a l l s during emergencies. (Conclusion 16.) -37 (d) Develop a w r i t t e n , comprehensive r e g u l a t o r maintenance and t e s t i n g procedure t o a s s u r e proper o p e r a t i o n during normal u s e and i n t h e event of emergencies, pending any g o v e r m e n t - o r i g i n a t e d requirements. Appropriate r e c o r d s L%b of maintenance work performed should be made. (Conclusion 7.) 4. The Iowa S t a t e Highway C m i s s i o n t a k e t h e following a c t i o n s : (a) Revise its procedures so t h a t its i n s p e c t o r s , who w i l l be assigned t o a c o n s t r u c t i o n job, a r e aware of t h e l)i\ v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f t h e p r o j e c t and problems of i n t e r - f e r e n c e w i t h u t i l i t i e s . (Conclusions 11, 12.) (b) Provide copies of t h e f i n a l c o n s t r u c t i o n plans and s p e c i f i c a t i o n s t o a l l p a r t i e s involved i n t h e p r o j e c t , such a s gas and o t h e r u t i l i t i e s , and c i t y o f f i c i a l s . BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD: JOHN H. REED Chairman OSCAR M. LAUREL M e m b e r FRANCIS H. McADAMS - Member LOUIS M. THAYER M e m b e r ISABEL A. BURGESS Member October 14, 1970.#