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TRANSPORTATION - BTS - Bureau of Transportation Statistics

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Box 3-13 continuedUltrasonic pigs detect corrosion and cracks in the pipe wall. They also can detect mechanicaldamage, although they cannot determine the severity <strong>of</strong> the damage with a high level <strong>of</strong>confidence. These devices require a liquid film between the ultrasonic transducer and the pipewall. Therefore, they can be used only in liquid pipelines.Elastic wave pigs detect cracks, stress corrosion cracking, external coating faults, andother axially oriented pipe defects. The ultrasonic transducers used in elastic wave toolshave rolling contact with the pipe wall. They do not require a liquid film and can be usedin gas pipelines as well as in hazardous-liquid pipelines.Geometry pigs detect changes in the internal size <strong>of</strong> new and operating pipelines. Ovality,dents, and buckles can be detected in both gas and hazardous-liquid pipelines.Camera pigs allow visual inspection <strong>of</strong> the inside bottom quadrant <strong>of</strong> gas pipelines byproducing photographs <strong>of</strong> the inside surface.Pipe-curvature pigs determine position, orientation, curvature, ovality, dents, and wrinklesin gas pipelines and those that transport liquids. These devices can detect pipe movementafter seismic events.Figure 3-50Reported Hazardous Materials Incidents: 1975-98(Annual totals)20,000Number <strong>of</strong> incidents15,00010,0005,000TotalHighway01975 1980 1985 1990 19951998Source: U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> <strong>Transportation</strong>, Research and Special Programs Administration, Office<strong>of</strong> Hazardous Material Safety, Hazardous Materials Information System (Washington, DC: 1999).Hazardous Materials SafetyOver the last 25 years, the transportation <strong>of</strong> hazardous materials (hazmat) has been thesubject <strong>of</strong> increased scrutiny. Today, an estimated 800,000 U.S. hazmat shipments are madedaily [USDOT RSPA 1998]. These shipments, in combination with a growing population,urban sprawl, and increasing air-, road-, rail-, and water-traffic congestion, fuel concern forthe safe transportation <strong>of</strong> hazardous materials and the potential consequences <strong>of</strong> acatastrophic event.The Hazardous Materials <strong>Transportation</strong> Act <strong>of</strong> 1974, signed into law in 1975, gave theUSDOT expanded power to regulate hazmat transportation. The USDOT has the authority todetermine which materials pose unreasonable transportation risks to public health and safety.3-57

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