List of pipeline accidents in the United States in 1971 explained

The following is a list of pipeline accidents in the United States in 1971. It is one of several lists of U.S. pipeline accidents. See also: list of natural gas and oil production accidents in the United States.

Incidents

This is not a complete list of all pipeline accidents. For natural gas alone, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a United States Department of Transportation agency, has collected data on more than 3,200 accidents deemed serious or significant since 1987.

A "significant incident" results in any of the following consequences:

• Fatality or injury requiring in-patient hospitalization.
• $50,000 or more in total costs, measured in 1984 dollars.
• Liquid releases of five or more barrels (42 US gal/barrel).
• Releases resulting in an unintentional fire or explosion.

PHMSA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) post-incident data and results of investigations into accidents involving pipelines that carry a variety of products, including natural gas, oil, diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, carbon dioxide, and other substances. Occasionally pipelines are re-purposed to carry different products.^[1]

The following incidents occurred during 1971:

• 1971 A faulty valve on a 3-inch natural gas pipeline was suspected of causing a gas leak that resulted in three separate explosions, including a house explosion in Lambertville, New Jersey that killed seven people.
• 1971 On April 17, a road grader hit a gas transmission pipeline in Mississippi, resulting in fatal burns to the grader operator. Later, it was found the pipeline only had 5 to 6 inches of soil cover in the area.^[2]
• 1971 On June 5, an ammonia pipeline failed near Floral, Arkansas, releasing 80 tons of ammonia. A 6-year-old boy had to be hospitalized, cattle were killed or blinded, and 10,000 acres of trees had leaf scorching from the ammonia. Delays were made in notifying Arkansas State Department of Pollution Control and Ecology.^[3]
• 1971 On July 8, a six inch crude oil gathering pipeline ruptured, near Flat Rock, Illinois. Crude spilled in the Embarras River, extending 10 miles along it. There were no injuries.^[4]
• 1971 On July 30, a Sunoco gasoline pipeline leaked 11,000 gallons of gasoline, near Ambler, Pennsylvania. Gasoline fumes built up in the basements of nearby homes, but there were no injuries reported.^[5]
• 1971 Around August 20, a Mobil six inch crude oil pipeline leaked, near Stafford, New York. About 16,800 gallons of crude slowly was released, evading leak detection. Some water wells in the area were at risk.^[6]
• 1971 Two gas explosions occurred in North Richland Hills, Texas, on October 4. Gas migrated into two homes from leaking gas pipes.^[7]
• 1971 A gas company repair crew was overcome in a service vault on November 17, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Two workmen were overcome initially, and four others attempting to rescue them were also overcome by gas asphyxiation. All six died.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Data sets of PHMSA Pipeline Safety-Flagged Incidents for 1986–2001, 2002–2009, and 2010–2017 can be downloaded from the tab by that name on the PHMSA's Pipeline Incident Flagged Files page at https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/data-and-statistics/pipeline/pipeline-incident-flagged-files, accessed 2018.01.10. PHMSA Corrective Action Orders are at https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/reports/enforce/CAO_opid_0.html. PHMSA Pipeline Failure Investigation Reports are at https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/safety-reports/pipeline-failure-investigation-reports. NTSB Pipeline Accident Reports are at https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/pipeline.aspx.
2. Web site: 507 F2d 658 Wideman v. Mississippi Valley Gas Company | OpenJurist. openjurist.org. 18 October 2014.
3. News: Gas Leak Scars Arkansas Forest; Delay in Reporting Is Studied . The New York Times . July 6, 1971.
4. https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press-il-pipeline/151105577/
5. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-gasoline-pipeline-leak-near/151105712/
6. https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-crude-oil-pipelin/151105843/
7. https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-72-034
8. https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-72-025