May 6, 1993
TO:Missouri Natural Gas Distribution Operators
SUBJECTS:1) Pipeline Safety Staff Changes - Incident Reporting List
2) Federal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking-Excess Flow Valves
3) Federal Pipeline Safety Advisory Bulletin-Continued Educational Programs for Gas Customers and the Public
4) National Transportation Safety Board Safety Recommendations
1) Please be advised that Daren Gilbert and Deborah Sauer have resigned from the Missouri Public Service Commission to work for the Nevada Public Service Commission Pipeline Safety Staff (Carson City, NV) and Washington Natural Gas Company (Seattle, WA), respectively.
Michael Loethen and Richard Fennel have been hired to fill the vacancies and began their employment at the Commission on April 19, 1993. Rick has a degree in education from Central Missouri State University and had worked for the City of Fulton for twenty years, leaving as the Gas and Water Superintendent. Michael has an electrical engineering degree from the University of Missouri at Rolla and an administrative management degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia. Michael was previously employed by Tetley Technologies in Columbia. We are sorry to see our experienced Staff members depart, but please join us in welcoming Rick and Michael to the Commission's Gas Safety Staff.
An updated list of the Energy Department's Gas Safety Staff is enclosed. Please circulate copies of the new telephone list to appropriate operator personnel.
2) On April 21, 1993, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a Proposed Rule; Excess Flow Valve Installation on Service Lines in the Federal Register. Comments to the proposed rulemaking are due to the U.S. DOT, Office of Pipeline Safety by June 21, 1993. Be advised that despite past efforts, this rulemaking essentially requires distribution operators to install excess flow valves (EFV) on each new or replaced single customer residential gas service line, if the inlet pressure to the service line is 10 psig or more. I would encourage your comments to DOT on the excess flow valve rulemaking. If you didnot receive a copy of the proposed rulemaking on EFV, please contact Barb Adrian at 314/751-7504 for a copy.
Missouri Natural Gas Distribution Operators
May 6, 1993
Page 2
3) On April 9, 1993, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an Advisory to Owners and Operators of Gas Distribution and Gas Transmission Facilities; Continuing Educational Programs for Gas Customers and the Public. The MoPSC Pipeline Safety Regulations contained in 240-40.030(12)(K) are more stringent than the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations found in 192.615(d). Therefore, I believe that the Missouri Operators (for the most part) are far surpassing the Federal requirements and the Bulletin may not be applicable. However, the Advisory Bulletin is enclosed for your information and to advise you of the emphasis that DOT is placing on the continuing education requirements.
4) The NTSB issued their Safety Recommendations for an incident that occurred on January 17, 1992, in Chicago, Illinois. This Safety Recommendation was sent to the American Gas Association and the American Public Gas Association and many of the Missouri operators may have received a copy through these organizations. I believe the circumstances of the incident and the NTSB recommendations on page 5 are important enough to be distributed to the operators for review and consideration. The three recommendations are pertinent to all the Missouri operators (covering operation and maintenance procedures, emergency procedures, employee training, and continuing education). The third NTSB recommendation is the subject of the DOT Advisory noted in Item 3 of this letter.
If you have any questions concerning any of these topics, please contact me at 314/751-3456.
Sincerely,
Robert R. Leonberger
Assistant Manager-Gas Safety
RRL:ba
enclosures