# ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS OPERATING LLC — Warning Letter

**Citation:** CPF 220195005W  
**Type / status:** enforcement / historical  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2019-11-01

CLOSED warning letter citing 195.420(a), 195.420(b), 195.49.

## Document text

Warning Letter involving ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS OPERATING LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.420(a),  195.420(b),  195.49. The case was opened on 2019-11-01 and is reported as closed as of 2019-11-01. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

220195005W_Operator Response to Notice_11252019.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220195005W/220195005W_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_11252019.pdf

220195005W_Warning Letter_11012019.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220195005W/220195005W_Warning%20Letter_11012019.pdf

220195005W_Warning Letter_11012019_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220195005W/220195005W_Warning%20Letter_11012019_text.pdf

220195005W_Warning Letter_11012019_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
November 1, 2019
Mr. Graham W. Bacon
Group Sr. Vice President
Operations & EHS&T
Enterprise Products Operating, LLC
1100 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002
CPF 2-2019-5005W
Dear Mr. Bacon:
Between April 8 and April 25, 2019, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.)
inspected the Enterprise Products Operating, LLC (Enterprise) Tri-States System in Alabama,
Louisiana & Mississippi.
As a result of the inspection, it is alleged that Enterprise has committed probable violations of
the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The items
inspected and the probable violations are:
1. §195.420 Valve maintenance.
(a) Each operator shall maintain each valve that is necessary for the safe operation
of its pipeline systems in good working order at all times.
(b) Each operator shall, at intervals not exceeding 7 1/2 months, but at least twice
each calendar year, inspect each mainline valve to determine that it is functioning
properly.
Enterprise failed to comply with the regulation because it did not, at intervals not
exceeding 7 1/2 months, but at least twice each calendar year, inspect each mainline
valve to determine that it is functioning properly.



Enterprise began operating the Tri-States system on October 1, 2016. PHMSA’s review of
records documenting required valve inspections revealed that Enterprise inspected Mainline
Valve VLV-0068A only once, on April 10, 2019. Enterprise personnel were unable to provide
record of any other inspection of the above-referenced valve since Enterprise began operating the
Tri-States system.
2. §195.49 Annual report.
Each operator must annually complete and submit DOT Form PHMSA F 7000-1.1
for each type of hazardous liquid pipeline facility operated at the end of the previous
year. An operator must submit the annual report by June 15 each year, except that
for the 2010 reporting year the report must be submitted by August 15, 2011. […]
Enterprise failed to comply with the regulation because it did not complete and submit
DOT Form PHMSA F 7000-1.1 (Annual Report) for each type of hazardous liquid
pipeline facility it operated at the end the previous year. Specifically, Annual Reports
submitted by Enterprise for Calendar Years (CY) 2016 and 2017 did not accurately
reflect the interstate status of all components of Enterprise’s Tri-States system during the
previous reporting period.
During an on-site inspection, PHMSA personnel noted three lateral lines in the Tri-States
system which were not included as interstate facilities in annual reports submitted by
Enterprise for CY 2016 and 2017 (Line 398 in Alabama, and Lines 399 and 404 in
Mississippi).
Following PHMSA’s identification of the discrepancy, Enterprise submitted
supplemental Annual Reports for CY 2016 and 2017, updating the interstate designation
to accurately reflect the Tri-States system’s status at the end of each respective CY.
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, Enterprise is subject to a civil penalty not to
exceed $218,647 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,186,465 for
a related series of violations. For violations occurring on or after November 27, 2018 and before
July 31, 2019, the maximum penalty may not exceed $213,268 per violation per day, with a
maximum penalty not to exceed $2,132,679. For violations occurring on or after November 2,
2015 and before November 27, 2018, the maximum penalty may not exceed $209,002 per
violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,090,022. For violations occurring
prior to November 2, 2015, the maximum penalty may not exceed $200,000 per violation per
day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,000,000 for a related series of violations. We
have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents involved in this case, and have
decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this
time. We advise Enterprise to correct the items identified in this letter. Failure to do so will
result in Enterprise being subject to additional enforcement action.



No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to
CPF 2-2019-5005W. 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).
Sincerely,
James A. Urisko
Director, Office of Pipeline Safety
PHMSA Southern Region

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/220195005W>
- Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement`
- SHA-256: `dc7c58dd00c90207f0b8e16578830cb308789ca9625c44c782672d3f34734511`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T10:33:31.110Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-220195005w`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cpf": "220195005W",
  "operator": "ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS OPERATING LLC",
  "region": "Southern",
  "pipelineType": "INTERSTATE LIQUID ONSHORE",
  "caseStatus": "CLOSED",
  "citedSections": [
    "195.420(a)",
    "195.420(b)",
    "195.49"
  ],
  "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM",
  "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04",
  "attachmentCount": 3,
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      "bytes": 450133,
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  ],
  "extractedAgencyDocumentCount": 1,
  "attachmentPolicy": "Official attachment links are retained. Agency-issued documents may also include a verified local PDF and page-level text representation.",
  "jurisdiction": "US",
  "operatorName": "ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS OPERATING LLC"
}
```
