# COOK INLET NATURAL GAS STORAGE ALASKA — Notice of Amendment **Citation:** CPF 120180008M **Type / status:** enforcement / historical **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2018-11-29 CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.12(e). ## Document text Notice of Amendment involving COOK INLET NATURAL GAS STORAGE ALASKA. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.12(e). The case was opened on 2018-11-29 and is reported as closed as of 2019-03-19. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status. Official case documents: 120180008M_Closure Letter_03192019.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Closure%20Letter_03192019.pdf 120180008M_Closure Letter_03192019_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Closure%20Letter_03192019_text.pdf 120180008M_Notice of Amendment_11292018.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Notice%20of%20Amendment_11292018.pdf 120180008M_Notice of Amendment_11292018_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Notice%20of%20Amendment_11292018_text.pdf 120180008M_Operator Response to Notice_12212018.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_12212018.pdf 120180008M_Closure Letter_03192019_text.pdf OVERNIGHT EXPRESS DELIVERY March 19, 2019 Mr. John Lau Vice President of Operations Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska 3000 Spenard Road Anchorage, AK 99519 CPF 1-2018-0008M Dear Mr. Lau: From July 31 to August 2, 2018, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of Title 49 of the United States Code, inspected Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska’s (Cook Inlet) procedures and records for the Cannery Row Underground Natural Gas Storage field in Kenai Peninsula County, Alaska. As a result of the inspection, Cook Inlet was issued a Notice of Amendment (NOA) on November 29, 2018. On December 21, 2018, Cook Inlet responded to the NOA and submitted documentation showing it took certain actions to ensure compliance with the terms of the Notice. Based on our review of the documentation, it appears that the inadequacies outlined in this NOA have been corrected. This letter is to inform you no further action is necessary, and this case is now closed. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, Robert Burrough Director, Eastern Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 120180008M_Notice of Amendment_11292018_text.pdf NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OVERNIGHT EXPRESS DELIVERY November 29, 2018 Mr. John Lau Vice President of Operations Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska 3000 Spenard Road Anchorage, AK 99503 CPF 1-2018-0008M Dear Mr. Lau: From July 31 to August 2, 2018, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska (Cook Inlet) procedures and records for the Cannery Row Underground Natural Gas Storage field in Kenai Peninsula County, Alaska. On the basis of the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacies found within Cook Inlet’s plans or procedures, as described below: 1. §192.12 (e) Underground natural gas storage facilities. (e) Operators of underground gas storage facilities must establish and follow written procedures for operations, maintenance, and emergencies implementing the requirements of API RP 1170 and API RP 1171, as required under this section, including the effective dates as applicable, and incorporate such procedures into their written procedures for operations, maintenance, and emergencies established pursuant to §192.605. Cook Inlet’s procedures for operations, maintenance and emergencies implementing the requirements of API RP 1170 and API RP 1171 were inadequate. Specifically, Cook Inlet’s procedures do not define an annular pressure threshold to determine if additional evaluation is required as stated in API RP 1171, Section 9.3. In addition, Cook Inlet’s procedures do not state what measures must be undertaken if that threshold is met as stated in API RP 1171, Section 9.3. 2. §192.12 (e) Underground natural gas storage facilities. (e) Operators of underground gas storage facilities must establish and follow written procedures for operations, maintenance, and emergencies implementing the requirements of API RP 1170 and API RP 1171, as required under this section, including the effective dates as applicable, and incorporate such procedures into their written procedures for operations, maintenance, and emergencies established CPF 1-2018-0008M 3. pursuant to §192.605. Cook Inlet’s procedures for operations, maintenance and emergencies implementing the requirements of API RP 1170 and API RP 1171 were inadequate. Specifically, Cook Inlet does not have the proper definition of an incident as stated in Part 192.3. §192.12 (e) Underground natural gas storage facilities. (e) Operators of underground gas storage facilities must establish and follow written procedures for operations, maintenance, and emergencies implementing the requirements of API RP 1170 and API RP 1171, as required under this section, including the effective dates as applicable, and incorporate such procedures into their written procedures for operations, maintenance, and emergencies established pursuant to §192.605. Cook Inlet’s procedures for operations, maintenance and emergencies implementing the requirements of API RP 1170 and API RP 1171 were inadequate. Specifically, Cook Inlet is missing procedures to address Accidental Releases, Equipment Failure, Third Party Emergencies, and Natural Disasters as stated in API RP 1171, Section 10.6.1. 4. §192.12 (e) Underground natural gas storage facilities. (e) Operators of underground gas storage facilities must establish and follow written procedures for operations, maintenance, and emergencies implementing the requirements of API RP 1170 and API RP 1171, as required under this section, including the effective dates as applicable, and incorporate such procedures into their written procedures for operations, maintenance, and emergencies established pursuant to §192.605. Cook Inlet’s procedures for operations, maintenance and emergencies implementing the requirements of API RP 1170 and API RP 1171 were inadequate. Specifically, Cook Inlet does not have a procedure for the mitigation of external corrosion on casing in exposed piping within their well pits as stated in API RP 1171, Section 9.3. Response to this Notice This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. Enclosed as part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the complete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b). Following the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised procedures, or a request for a hearing under §190.211. If you do not respond within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of your right to contest the allegations in this Notice 120180008M_Notice of Amendment_11292018_text Page 2 of 3 CPF 1-2018-0008M and authorizes the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to find facts as alleged in this Notice without further notice to you and to issue an Order Directing Amendment. If your plans or procedures are found inadequate as alleged in this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans or procedures to correct the inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.206). If you are not contesting this Notice, we propose that you submit your amended procedures to my office within 90 days of receipt of this Notice. This period may be extended by written request for good cause. Once the inadequacies identified herein have been addressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement action will be closed. It is requested (not mandated) that Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska maintain documentation of the safety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision of plans, procedures) and submit the total to Robert Burrough, Director, Eastern Region, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence concerning this matter, please refer to CPF 1-2018-0008M and, for each document you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible. Please note, the address for the PHMSA Eastern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, has changed: PHMSA, Eastern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety 840 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300 West Trenton, NJ 08628 Please make a note of this new information in your records. If you have any questions, please contact us at 609-771-7800. Sincerely, Robert Burrough Director, Eastern Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration cc: Mr. Rusty Allen, Compliance Engineer, Cook Inlet Natural Gas Storage Alaska Enclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings 120180008M_Notice of Amendment_11292018_text Page 3 of 3 ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement` - SHA-256: `366462129bb59f574e4ce1cefc84ccb0a43ea363cd0188269bc1828a04545973` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T06:11:20.887Z - Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-120180008m` ### Source metadata ```json { "cpf": "120180008M", "operator": "COOK INLET NATURAL GAS STORAGE ALASKA", "region": "Eastern", "pipelineType": "GAS INTRASTATE ONSHORE", "caseStatus": "CLOSED", "citedSections": [ "192.12(e)" ], "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM", "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04", "attachmentCount": 5, "attachments": [ { "name": "120180008M_Closure Letter_03192019.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Closure%20Letter_03192019.pdf", "bytes": 510548, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "120180008M_Closure Letter_03192019_text.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Closure%20Letter_03192019_text.pdf", "bytes": 83285, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "120180008M_Notice of Amendment_11292018.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Notice%20of%20Amendment_11292018.pdf", "bytes": 281609, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "120180008M_Notice of Amendment_11292018_text.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Notice%20of%20Amendment_11292018_text.pdf", "bytes": 119935, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "120180008M_Operator Response to Notice_12212018.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120180008M/120180008M_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_12212018.pdf", "bytes": 212571, "category": "party_submission" } ], "extractedAgencyDocumentCount": 2, "attachmentPolicy": "Official attachment links are retained. Agency-issued documents may also include a verified local PDF and page-level text representation.", "jurisdiction": "US", "operatorName": "COOK INLET NATURAL GAS STORAGE ALASKA" } ```