# TC OIL PIPELINE OPERATIONS INC — Warning Letter **Citation:** CPF 420145031W **Type / status:** enforcement / historical **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2014-12-03 CLOSED warning letter citing 195.132(b)(3). ## Document text Warning Letter involving TC OIL PIPELINE OPERATIONS INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 195.132(b)(3). The case was opened on 2014-12-03 and is reported as closed as of 2014-12-03. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status. Official case documents: 420145031W_Warning_12032014.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420145031W/420145031W_Warning_12032014.pdf 420145031W_Warning_12032014_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420145031W/420145031W_Warning_12032014_text.pdf 420145031W_Warning_12032014_text.pdf WARNING LETTER CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED December 3, 2014 Mr. Vern Meier Vice President, Field Operations TC Oil Pipeline Operation Inc. 717 Texas Ave. Houston, TX 77002 CPF 4-2014-5031W Dear Mr. Meier: On several occasions from June thru September 2014, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected your breakout tank construction at the Houston Tank Terminal in Houston, TX. As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed probable violations of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and the probable violation(s) are: 1. §195.132 Aboveground breakout tank. (b) For aboveground breakout tank first placed in service after October 2, 2000, compliance with paragraph (a) of this section requires one of the following: (3) Vertical, cylindrical, welded steel tanks with internal pressures at the tank top approximating atmospheric pressures (i.e., internal vapor space pressures not greater than 2.5 psig (17.2 kPa), or not greater than the pressure developed by the weight of the tank roof) must be designed and constructed in accordance with API Standard 650. TC Oil Pipeline Operation Inc. (Transcanada) failed to meet the requirements of 195.132(b)(3) by not following the requirements of API 650. After conducting the nondestructive examination (NDE) by visual examination of the breakout tank bottom welds and plates for potential defects and leaks, Transcanada failed to sufficiently document the repairs made to the bottom floors as required by API 650. Upon completion of welding the tank bottom, API 650 Section 7 Erection, 7.3.3 Examination of the Tank Bottom, requires the operator to visually examine the bottom welds and plates for any potential defects and leaks. Particular attention shall apply to areas such as sumps, dents, gouges, three-plate laps, bottom plate breakdowns, arc strikes, temporary attachment removal areas, and welding lead arc burns. In addition Section 1.4 Documentation Requirements, requires the operator to develop certain documents as per Appendix W, which includes reports of all tests including reports of all nondestructive examinations. During the inspections, the PHMSA inspector noticed several arc burns and paint markings on the breakout tank bottom floors and asked the tank inspector the reasoning for the markings. The tank inspector stated that the markings are known as “Pick ups,” which are marked by the NDT inspector after performing a visual examination of the bottom floors. The “pick ups” indicate areas which need attention by the welder by either grinding down the weld, adding additional weld, repairing arc burns or any other type of repair. After making repairs to the “pick ups” and arc burns, Transcanada could not provide documentation or records to demonstrate that the “pick ups” or arc burns were repaired. Transcanada needs to document the repairs made to defects identified by visual examination to meet API 650 requirements. Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $200,000 per violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a related series of violations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum penalty may not exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 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 you to correct the item(s) identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Transcanada 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 4-2014-5031W. 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, R. M. Seeley Director, Southwest Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 2 ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement` - SHA-256: `ead3ff1aea15e88f4999cc9f760fd39ce069fe1b59605d49ed1e8fb101a25d0e` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z - Exported: 2026-08-24T21:52:19.157Z - Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-420145031w` ### Source metadata ```json { "cpf": "420145031W", "operator": "TC OIL PIPELINE OPERATIONS INC", "region": "Southwest", "pipelineType": "INTERSTATE LIQUID ONSHORE", "caseStatus": "CLOSED", "citedSections": [ "195.132(b)(3)" ], "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM", "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04", "attachmentCount": 2, "attachments": [ { "name": "420145031W_Warning_12032014.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420145031W/420145031W_Warning_12032014.pdf", "bytes": 92930, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "420145031W_Warning_12032014_text.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420145031W/420145031W_Warning_12032014_text.pdf", "bytes": 9216, "category": "agency_document" } ], "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": "TC OIL PIPELINE OPERATIONS INC" } ```