# ANR PIPELINE CO — Notice of Probable Violation **Citation:** CPF 420201010 **Type / status:** enforcement / historical **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2020-11-16 CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.616(a), 192.727(b). ## Document text Notice of Probable Violation involving ANR PIPELINE CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.616(a), 192.727(b). The case was opened on 2020-11-16 and is reported as closed as of 2021-10-07. Proposed civil penalty: $36,200. Assessed civil penalty: $36,200. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status. Official case documents: 420201010_ NOPV PCP PCO_11162020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_%20NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_11162020.pdf 420201010_ NOPV PCP PCO_11162020_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_%20NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_11162020_text.pdf 420201010_Closure Letter_10072021_(18-163745S).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_Closure%20Letter_10072021_(18-163745S).pdf 420201010_Closure Letter_10072021_(18-163745S)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_Closure%20Letter_10072021_(18-163745S)_text.pdf 420201010_Final Order_01282021.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_Final%20Order_01282021.pdf 420201010_Final Order_01282021_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_Final%20Order_01282021_text.pdf 420201010_Final Order_01282021_text.pdf January 28, 2021 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: stanley chapman iii@tcenergy.com Mr. Stanley G. Chapman III Executive NP & President U.S. Pipelines ANR Pipeline Company 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 700 Houston, Texas 77002 Re: CPF No. 4-2020-1010 Dear Mr. Chapman: Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case to TC Energy’s subsidiary, ANR Pipeline Company. It makes one finding of violation, assesses a civil penalty of $36,200, and specifies actions that need to be taken to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. When the civil penalty has been paid and the terms of the compliance order completed, as determined by the Director, Southwest Region, this enforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order by electronic mail is effective upon the date of transmission as provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Alan K. Mayberry Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety Enclosures (Final Order and NOPV) cc: Ms. Mary McDaniel, Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA Mr. Lee Romack, Director, U.S. Regulatory Compliance, TC Energy Corporation, lee_romack@tcenergy.com Mr. Francois Poirier, President, TC Energy Corporation, francois_poirier@tcenergy.com CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 _____________________________________ In the Matter of ) ANR Pipeline Company, ) CPF No. 4-2020-1010 a subsidiary of TC Energy Corporation, ) ) ) ) Respondent. ) _____________________________________) FINAL ORDER On November 16, 2020, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation (Notice) to ANR Pipeline Company (Respondent), a subsidiary of TC Energy Corporation. The Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated the pipeline safety regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 192. The Notice also proposed certain measures to correct the violation. Respondent did not contest the allegations of violation, the proposed civil penalty, or the corrective measures. Based upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find that Respondent violated the pipeline safety regulation listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is incorporated by reference: 49 C.F.R. § 192.616 (Item 1) ─ Respondent failed to implement the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162 in the company’s Public Awareness Program (PAP): specifically, with respect to the implementation of two recommendations regarding the company’s System Wide Risk Assessment data plan, and an internal audit process for communication related to the company’s PAP effectiveness reviews and communication best practices. In addition, the company failed to complete a timely PAP effectiveness review, and conducted a 2018 PAP effectiveness study that contained numerous errors and mistakes. This finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action taken against Respondent. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, I assess Respondent a total civil penalty of $36,200. Payment of the civil penalty must be made within 20 days of service. Federal regulations (49 C.F.R. § 89.21(b)(3)) require such payment to be made by wire transfer through the Federal Reserve Communications System (Fedwire), to the account of the U.S. Treasury. Detailed CPF No. 4-2020-1010 Page 2 instructions are contained in the enclosure. Questions concerning wire transfers should be directed to: Financial Operations Division (AMK-325), Federal Aviation Administration, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 S MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 79169. The Financial Operations Division telephone number is (405) 954-8845. Failure to pay the $36,200 civil penalty will result in accrual of interest at the current annual rate in accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 3717, 31 C.F.R. § 901.9 and 49 C.F.R. § 89.23. Pursuant to those same authorities, a late penalty charge of six percent (6%) per annum will be charged if payment is not made within 110 days of service. Furthermore, failure to pay the civil penalty may result in referral of the matter to the Attorney General for appropriate action in a district court of the United States. COMPLIANCE ORDER Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217, Respondent is ordered to take the actions proposed in the enclosed Notice to correct the violation. The Director may grant an extension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a written request timely submitted by the Respondent and demonstrating good cause for an extension. Upon completion of ordered actions, Respondent may request that the Director close the case. Failure to comply with this Order may result in the assessment of civil penalties under 49 C.F.R. § 190.223 or in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States. WARNING ITEM With respect to Item 2, the Notice alleged probable violations of 49 C.F.R. § 192.727, but did not propose a civil penalty or compliance order for this item. Therefore, this is considered to be a warning item. If OPS finds a violation of this provision in a subsequent inspection, Respondent may be subject to future enforcement action. The terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.5. January 28, 2021 ___________________________________ _________________________ Alan K. Mayberry Date Issued Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety 420201010_Closure Letter_10072021_(18-163745S)_text.pdf ELECTRONIC MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED October 7, 2021 Stanley G. Chapman, III Executive NP & President U.S. Pipelines ANR Pipeline Company 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 700 Houston, Texas 77002 CPF 4-2020-1010 Dear Mr. Chapman: On January 28, 2021, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued to ANR Pipeline Company a Final Order in the above-referenced case. This Order included a Compliance Order requirement, a Civil Penalty, and a Warning Item. Based on PHMSA’s review of the documentation provided by ANR and confirmation of payment of the civil penalty, it has been determined that ANR has complied with the terms of the Final Order. Accordingly, this case is now closed and no further action is contemplated with respect to the matters involved in this case. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Mary L. McDaniel, P.E. Director, Southwest Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 420201010_ NOPV PCP PCO_11162020_text.pdf NOTICE OF PROBABLE VIOLATION PROPOSED CIVIL PENALTY and PROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER ELECTRONIC MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED November 16, 2020 Stanley Chapman III Executive VP & President U.S. Pipelines ANR Pipeline Company 700 Louisiana Street Houston, Texas 77002 CPF 4-2020-1010 Dear Mr. Chapman: From March 8, 2019 through January 8, 2020, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) inspected your natural gas pipeline and associated facilities for ANR Pipeline Company’s Southwest North (Mid America Region - Southeast Mainline) Pipelines, Loop Lines 501, 1-501, and 2-501, and System 1168 in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. As a result of the inspection, it is alleged that you have committed probable violations of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The items inspected and the probable violations are: 1. §192.616 Public Awareness (a) Except for an operator of a master meter or petroleum gas system covered under paragraph (j) of this section, each pipeline operator must develop and implement a written continuing public education program that follows the guidance provided in the American Petroleum Institute's (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162 (incorporated by reference, see § 192.7). 2 ANR Pipeline Company’s (ANR) Public Awareness Program (PAP), dated September 13, 2019, failed to follow the guidance provided in the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162 as required by §192.616(a). Specifically, ANR failed to follow general program recommendations in Section 8 of API RP 1162 in implementing its PAP. First, ANR failed to implement Sections 11 and 12 of its PAP, which follows the guidance in API RP 1162, Section 8.3, Measuring Program Implementation. ANR failed to implement two recommendations from the 2015 Management Review for improvements into their 2016 PAP. In response to a request for information regarding ANR’s incorporation of recommendations into its 2016 PAP, ANR was unable to provide any documentation that it had implemented the following two recommendations into its 2016 PAP: Recommendation One – ANR’s System Wide Risk Assessment data plan; and Recommendation Two - An internal audit process for all communication related to the execution of recommendations from the effectiveness studies and implementation of communication best practices. Second, ANR failed to assess the effectiveness of its PAP every four years, in accordance with Section 8.4, Measuring Program Effectiveness, and Table 8-1, Summary of Baseline Evaluation Program, of API RP 1162 and Sections 6, 11, and 12 of its PAP. ANR conducted an effectiveness review in 2014 and did not conduct a subsequent effectiveness review until 2019. Therefore, ANR exceeded the four-year interval requirement prescribed in API RP 1162 and its own procedures by one year. Additionally, prior to performing an effectiveness review, ANR contracted a third-party vendor to prepare an effectiveness study to be utilized for and incorporated into ANR’s effectiveness review. However, this 2018 effectiveness study contained numerous inaccuracies, errors, and erroneous data, such as references to non-ANR assets and data from outside the required four-year interval. The effectiveness review of the PAP, which ANR eventually completed in 2019, relied upon the inaccuracies and erroneous data from the 2018 effectiveness study. The effectiveness review also failed to incorporate certain information required by Section 12 of ANR’s PAP, such as the operator’s monthly and quarterly Employee Health and Safety Management – Incident Tracking Tool (EHSM) reports. 2. §192.727 Abandonment or deactivation of facilities. (a) . . . (b) Each pipeline abandoned in place must be disconnected from all sources and supplies of gas; purged of gas; in the case of offshore pipelines, filled with water or inert materials; and sealed at the ends. However, the pipeline need not be purged when the volume of gas is so small that there is no potential hazard. 2 3 ANR failed to abandon its pipeline in accordance with §192.727(b) and its operation and maintenance (O&M) Procedure 003864117 Section 4.4 titled, Deactivation or Abandonment. Specifically, ANR failed to properly abandon its VGR pipeline at the Madisonville Kentucky Compressor Station by disconnecting the pipeline from all gas sources, purging, filling the pipeline with an inert material, and sealing the ends of the pipeline. At the time of inspection, ANR’s Madisonville Kentucky Compressor Station site plan/maps showed a 2”-3” VGR pipeline as having been abandoned in-place on August 26, 2019. Upon further investigation, PHMSA learned the operator had only closed a valve with the line still under pressure even though the pipeline was marked on ANR’s site plan/station maps as abandoned. PHMSA reviewed the regulatory requirements and the O&M Procedure with ANR, who agreed that the requirements for abandonment had not been followed and corrected the pipeline designation on September 11, 2019, from abandoned to active on the site plan/maps. Proposed Civil Penalty Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are 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 violation 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 violation 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 documentation involved for the above probable violation(s) and recommend that you be preliminarily assessed a civil penalty of $36,200 as follows: Item number PENALTY 1 $36,200 Warning Item With respect to item 2, 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 promptly correct this item. Failure to do so may result in additional enforcement action. 3 4 Proposed Compliance Order With respect to item 1, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposes to issue a Compliance Order to ANR Pipeline Company. Please refer to the Proposed Compliance Order, which is enclosed and made a part of this Notice. Response to this Notice Enclosed as part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. All material you submit in response to this enforcement action may be 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, or request a hearing under 49 CFR § 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 and authorizes the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to find facts as alleged in this Notice without further notice to you and to issue a Final Order. If you are responding to this Notice, we propose that you submit your correspondence to my office within 30 days from receipt of this Notice. This period may be extended by written request for good cause. In your correspondence on this matter, please refer to CPF 4-2020-1010 and, for each document you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible. Sincerely, Mary L. McDaniel, P.E. Director, Southwest Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Enclosures: Proposed Compliance Order Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings 4 5 PROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER Pursuant to 49 United States Code § 60118, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposes to issue to ANR Pipeline Company (ANR) a Compliance Order incorporating the following remedial requirements to ensure the compliance of ANR with the pipeline safety regulations: 1. 2. 3. In regard to Item 1 of the Notice pertaining to the ANR’s 2018 Four-year Effectiveness Study and Review, ANR must provide PHMSA with documentation that they have corrected and validated their 2018 Effectiveness Review and Study to ensure it accurately reflects the requirements of API RP 1162. If ANR is unable to make corrections to its 2018 Effectiveness Review and Study to meet the requirements of API RP 1162, ANR must conduct and complete a new Effectiveness Review and Study of its PAP. ANR must submit documentation to Mary McDaniel, Director, Southwest Region, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Item 1 within 180 days of receipt of the Final Order. It is requested (not mandated) that ANR maintain documentation of the safety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Compliance Order and submit the total to Mary McDaniel, Director, Southwest Region, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. It is requested that these costs be reported in two categories: 1) total cost associated with preparation/revision of plans, procedures, studies and analyses, and 2) total cost associated with replacements, additions and other changes to pipeline infrastructure. 5 ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement` - SHA-256: `6e2961a537fe9e5c45efc9e0d34a3324ca128a71576ea6de3f1a48dd6ba35553` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z - Exported: 2026-08-23T02:27:29.599Z - Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-420201010` ### Source metadata ```json { "cpf": "420201010", "operator": "ANR PIPELINE CO", "region": "Southwest", "pipelineType": "GAS INTERSTATE ONSHORE", "caseStatus": "CLOSED", "citedSections": [ "192.616(a)", "192.727(b)" ], "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM", "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04", "attachmentCount": 6, "attachments": [ { "name": "420201010_ NOPV PCP PCO_11162020.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_%20NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_11162020.pdf", "bytes": 328242, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "420201010_ NOPV PCP PCO_11162020_text.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_%20NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_11162020_text.pdf", "bytes": 181351, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "420201010_Closure Letter_10072021_(18-163745S).pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_Closure%20Letter_10072021_(18-163745S).pdf", "bytes": 245332, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "420201010_Closure Letter_10072021_(18-163745S)_text.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_Closure%20Letter_10072021_(18-163745S)_text.pdf", "bytes": 78816, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "420201010_Final Order_01282021.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_Final%20Order_01282021.pdf", "bytes": 378222, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "420201010_Final Order_01282021_text.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201010/420201010_Final%20Order_01282021_text.pdf", "bytes": 112379, "category": "agency_document" } ], "extractedAgencyDocumentCount": 3, "attachmentPolicy": "Official attachment links are retained. 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