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Safety Recommendation Details

Safety Recommendation P-79-020
Details
Synopsis: ON APRIL 18, 1979, A 24-INCH NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE OWNED BY THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE COMPANY OF AMERICA (GAS COMPANY) PULLED OUT OF A COMPRESSION COUPLING DURING A LINE-LOWERING PROJECT UNDER IOWA STATE HIGHWAY 181 IN A RURAL AREA NEAR DALLAS, IOWA. WITHIN SECONDS, THE NATURAL GAS IGINITED AND BURNED A 900-FOOT BY 400-FOOT AREA. FIVE OF THE EIGHT INJURED WORKERS WERE HOSPITALIZED. TWO CARS, A PICKUP TRUCK, AND A TRAILER HOUSING CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT WERE DESTROYED. A BACKHOE WAS PARTLY DAMAGED, AND WINDOWS WERE BROKEN IN A NEARBY FARMHOUSE.
Recommendation: THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MTB: COORDINATE WITH THE APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCIES, BY FIELD TEST REPORTS AND ON-SITE INSPECTION, IN MONITORING THE EXCAVATION OF THE COMPRESSION COUPLINGS ON THE 24-INCH TRANSMISSION PIPELINE TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PIPELINE. (URGENT)
Original recommendation transmittal letter: PDF
Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Mode: Pipeline
Location: Dallas, IA, United States
Is Reiterated: No
Is Hazmat: No
Is NPRM: No
Accident #: DCA79FP013
Accident Reports:
Report #: None
Accident Date: 4/18/1979
Issue Date: 8/8/1979
Date Closed: 3/13/1980
Addressee(s) and Addressee Status: RSPA (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Keyword(s):

Safety Recommendation History
From: NTSB
To: RSPA
Date: 3/13/1980
Response:
From: RSPA
To: NTSB
Date: 12/19/1979
Response: MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU (MTB) LTR: THE MTB HAS COORDINATED WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE IOWA STATE COMMERCE COMMISSION IN MONITORING THE EXCAVATION AND RELATED WORK TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PIPELINE. THE STATE OF IOWA ACTS AS AN AGENT FOR THE MTB TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PIPELINE REGULATIONS. THE OPERATOR IS CARRYING OUT A REMEDIAL PROGRAM TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PIPELINE IN THE STATES OF ILLINOIS, IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND NORTHERN KANSAS. IN EACH OF THE STATES, OTHER THAN IOWA, THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASSURING COMPLIANCE RESIDES WITH THE MTB AND THE OPERATOR WILL BE MONITORED BY PERSONNEL FROM THE MTB CENTRAL REGION OFFICE. THE MONITORING ACTION INCLUDES CHECKING THE OPERATOR'S REPAIR RESEARCH AND PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS AND VERIFYING THEM BY ON-SITE INSPECTIONS. THE WORK REQUIRED TO ANCHOR THE OVERBENDS AND INSTALL WELDING REINFORCING SLEEVES OVER THE COUPLINGS AT HORIZONTAL BENDS HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN IOWA. MTB BELIEVES THAT THE $12 MILLION CORRECTIVE PROJECT WILL ASSURE THAT A PULLOUT PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST. IF A PULLOUT PROBLEM DOES PERSIST, ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY MTB.