NTSB Letter advises Pipeline and Hazmat Safety Administration.
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Press Release Summary:
NTSB issued recommendations that included conducting a comprehensive study to identify actions that can be implemented by pipeline operators to eliminate catastrophic longitudinal seam failures in electric resistance welded pipe. Based on results of this study, necessary actions should be implemented. Lastly, a program should be initiated to evaluate pipeline operators' public education programs and provide NTSB with timeline for implementation and completion of said evaluation.
Original Press Release:
NTSB Safety Recommendations P-09-1 through -3
The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following recommendations to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration:
Conduct a comprehensive study to identify actions that can be implemented by pipeline operators to eliminate catastrophic longitudinal seam failures in electric resistance welded pipe (ERW); at a minimum, the study should include assessments of the effectiveness and effects of in-line inspection tools, hydrostatic pressure tests, and spike pressure tests; pipe material strength characteristics and failure mechanisms; the effects of aging on ERW pipelines; operational factors; and data collection and predictive analysis. (P-09-1)
Based on the results of the study requested in Safety Recommendation P-09-1, implement the actions needed. (P-09-2)
Initiate a program to evaluate pipeline operators' public education programs, including pipeline operators' self-evaluations of the effectiveness of their public education programs. Provide the National Transportation Safety Board with a timeline for implementation and completion of this evaluation. (P-09-3)
http://ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2009/P09_1_3.pdf
The complete recommendation letter is available on the Web at the URL indicated above.
The letter is in the Portable Document Format (PDF) and can be read using the Acrobat Reader 5.0 or later from Adobe (http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html).
An archive of recommendation letters is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/letters.htm.
Electronic versions of letters may or may not include enclosures; however, related publications, accident briefs, and aviation accident synopses may be found on the NTSB website.
