[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 218 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 60747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29721]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Research and Special Programs Administration


Potential Failure of Check Valves Following Remanufacturing

AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; issuance of advisory bulletin.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: RSPA is issuing an advisory bulletin to owners and operators 
of Hazardous Liquid and Natural Gas Pipelines. The bulletin advises the 
industry about potential failure of check valves following 
remanufacture.

ADDRESSES: This document can be viewed on the Office of Pipeline Safety 
(OPS) home page at: http://ops.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Daugherty, (202) 366-4577.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In a recent accident, a hazardous liquid pipeline cleaning pig was 
late arriving at a pump station. The pig was thought to be lodged in 
the check valve due to the noise level at the valve. The valve was 
equipped with a lock open device and the wrench was locked in the open 
position by a bolt intended for that function. An attempt was made to 
remove the bolt from the operating handle on the check valve in order 
to exercise the valve and dislodge the cleaning pig. The wrench locking 
bolt was moved about one-half of a turn and the shaft unexpectedly blew 
out of the valve releasing liquefied petroleum gas into the 
environment. The on-site valve inspection indicated that the valve stem 
was held in place only by the locking bolt. The clapper and hinge were 
detached and the set screws were missing.

II. Advisory Bulletin (ADB-97-05)

    To: Owners and Operators of Hazardous Liquid and Natural Gas 
Pipelines.
    Subject: Potential Failure of Check Valves Following 
Remanufacturing.
    Purpose: Inform system owners and operators of the need to inspect/
test remanufactured check valves.
    Advisory: Recent information discovered during the course of an 
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) accident investigation indicates 
certain older check valves were not remanufactured within specified 
tolerances. Significant differences were found in several of the same 
type of remanufactured check valves. All of the shafts were different 
and none of the valves appear to match the description given in the 
check valve remanufacture procedure. Additionally, the valves were 
assembled differently. Evaluation of other remanufactured check valves 
also shows evidence of improper reassembly.
    Remanufactured check valves should undergo a thorough quality 
assessment to assure tolerances are within design parameters, 
particularly valves where the shaft is retained inside the valve by set 
screws. Operators should consider including testing or inspection as 
part of the quality assessment. Remanufactured check valves currently 
in service are included in this advisory because damage to a pipeline 
and release of pressurized product may occur as a result of improper 
remanufacturing of check valves.
    OPS recommends operators also be aware of an October 20, 1997, 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration Joint Safety Alert (Alert) concerning a similar 
but unrelated problem with certain types of check and butterfly valves. 
According to the Alert, certain types of check and butterfly valves can 
undergo shaft-disk separation and fail catastrophically or ``blow-
out''. For more information on the Alert, visit the EPA CEPPO home page 
at http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/ or contact the Emergency Planning and 
Community Right-to-Know Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or 703-412-9810.

(49 U.S.C. Chapter 601; 49 CFR 1.53)

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on November 5, 1997.
Stacey L. Gerard,
Acting Director for Program Development.
[FR Doc. 97-29721 Filed 11-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4010-60-P