# FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT, L.P. — Notice of Probable Violation

**Citation:** CPF 420203003  
**Type / status:** enforcement / historical  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2020-08-07

CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 191.3, 191.5(a), 191.5(b), 193.2011, 193.2503(b), 193.2515(c).

## Document text

Notice of Probable Violation involving FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT, L.P.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 191.3,  191.5(a),  191.5(b),  193.2011,  193.2503(b),  193.2515(c). The case was opened on 2020-08-07 and is reported as closed as of 2021-08-30. Proposed civil penalty: $263,347. Assessed civil penalty: $263,347. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

420203003_Closure Letter_08302021_(15-150389S).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420203003/420203003_Closure%20Letter_08302021_(15-150389S).pdf

420203003_Closure Letter_08302021_(15-150389S)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420203003/420203003_Closure%20Letter_08302021_(15-150389S)_text.pdf

420203003_Final Order_02172021.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420203003/420203003_Final%20Order_02172021.pdf

420203003_Final Order_02172021_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420203003/420203003_Final%20Order_02172021_text.pdf

420203003_NOPV PCP PCO_08072020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420203003/420203003_NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_08072020.pdf

420203003_NOPV PCP PCO_08072020_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420203003/420203003_NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_08072020_text.pdf

420203003_Operator Response to Notice_08252020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420203003/420203003_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_08252020.pdf

420203003_Closure Letter_08302021_(15-150389S)_text.pdf

ELECTRONIC MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
August 30, 2021
Michael S. Smith
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Freeport LNG Development, LP
333 Clay Street, Suite 5050
Houston, Texas 77002
CPF 4-2020-3003
Dear Mr. Smith:
On February 17, 2021, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
issued to Freeport LNG Development, L. P. (FLNG) a Final Order in the above-referenced case.
This Order included a Compliance Order and a Civil Penalty. Based on PHMSA’s review of the
documentation provided by FLNG and payment of the Civil Penaly, it has been determined that
FLNG 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.
Sincerely,
Mary L. McDaniel, P.E.
Director, Southwest Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
cc: Mr. Mark Mallet, Vice President, Operations and Engineering, Freeport LNG
Development, mmallet@freeportlng.com
Mr. Michael Stephenson, Regulatory Compliance Manager, Freeport LNG Development,
mstephenson@freeportlng.com

420203003_NOPV PCP PCO_08072020_text.pdf

NOTICE OF PROBABLE VIOLATION
PROPOSED CIVIL PENALTY
and
PROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER
ELECTRONIC MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
August 7, 2020
Michael S. Smith
Chairman & CEO
Freeport LNG Development, L. P.
333 Clay Street, Suite 5050
Houston, Texas 77002
CPF 4-2020-3003
Dear Mr. Smith:
On August 7, 2019, 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 the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility (Facility) operated
by Freeport LNG Development, LP (FLNG), in Quintana, Texas. PHMSA initiated its
investigation following an August 1, 2019 unintended release of natural gas after a piping failure
occurred at the Facility during commissioning. On that date, FLNG was performing a “cool down”
operation as part of the steps to commission Train 1, when it experienced a failure as it attempted
to reduce the time required to properly cool down the Facility. FLNG flowed high-pressure,
chilled natural gas at approximately 917 pounds per square inch (psig) through bypass piping into
piping designed for a maximum operating pressure of 90 psig. The bypass line consequently failed
around the area where a branch weld joined the pipes. The failure of the bypass line resulted in an
unintended release of roughly 315 million cubic feet of natural gas and an estimated property
damage of $76,220.1
Separate from this enforcement action, PHMSA issued to FLNG a Notice of Proposed Safety
Order (NOPSO) [CPF No. 4-2019-3002S] on August 29, 2019. As a result of the NOPSO and
subsequent discussions between PHMSA and FLNG pursuant to 49 CFR §190.239, the parties
entered into a Consent Agreement and Order, dated January 21, 2020, whereby FLNG agreed to
take corrective measures aimed at addressing certain safety issues raised by the incident. The
Consent Agreement and Order remains open.
1 Exhibit B.4 - PHMSA Form F 7100.3 Incident Report LNG 20190005 at 2.



2
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. § 193.2011 Reporting.
Incidents, safety-related conditions, and annual pipeline summary data for LNG
plants or facilities must be reported in accordance with the requirements of Part 191
of this subchapter.
§ 191.5 Immediate notice of certain incidents.
(a) At the earliest practicable moment following discovery, but no later than one
hour after confirmed discovery, each operator must give notice in accordance with
paragraph (b) of this section of each incident as defined in §191.3.
(b) Each notice required by paragraph (a) of this section must be made to the
National Response Center either by telephone to 800-424-8802 (in Washington, DC,
202 267-2675) or electronically at http://www.nrc.uscg.mil and must include the
following information: . . .
§ 191.3 Definitions.
As used in this part and the PHMSA Forms referenced in this part-
. . .
Incident means any of the following events:
(1) An event that involves a release of gas from a pipeline, gas from an
underground natural gas storage facility, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum
gas, refrigerant gas, or gas from an LNG facility, and that results in one or more of
the following consequences:
(i) A death, or personal injury necessitating in-patient hospitalization;
(ii) Estimated property damage of $50,000 or more, including loss to the operator
and others, or both, but excluding cost of gas lost; or
(iii) Unintentional estimated gas loss of three million cubic feet or more.
(2) An event that results in an emergency shutdown of an LNG facility or an
underground natural gas storage facility. Activation of an emergency shutdown
system for reasons other than an actual emergency does not constitute an incident.
(3) An event that is significant in the judgment of the operator, even though it did
not meet the criteria of paragraph (1) or (2) of this definition.
Freeport LNG Development, L.P. (FLNG) failed to notify the National Response Center
(NRC) of an incident that occurred at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility on Quintana
Island, Texas on August 1, 2019. The release was caused by the failure of a 2-inch bypass
pipe at the connection to a 6-inch flare header during initial startup operations. The incident
was not reported to the NRC as required by §191.5 that resulted in estimated costs (i.e. cost
of repairs) exceeding $50,000 and unintentional gas loss of 300 million cubic feet. FLNG
also initiated an emergency shutdown of the facility following discovery of the release.
FLNG’s own procedures, Appendix L PHMSA Incident Reporting Requirements, require
that FLNG notify the NRC following “an event that results in an emergency shutdown of



3
an LNG facility.” PHMSA first learned of the incident from the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) on August 6, 2019, five days after the incident occurred. PHMSA
further determined that FLNG had reported the incident to FERC on August 1, 2020, in the
hours following the failure, as a significant event. Therefore, despite the failure of a 2-inch
bypass pipe meeting the requirements of an incident under §191.5, FLNG failed to notify
the NRC of the incident within one hour of the release, as required by §191.5 and
§193.2011, as well as the requirements of FLNG’s own procedures.
2. § 193.2503 Operating procedures.
Each operator shall follow one or more manuals of written procedures to provide
safety in normal operation and in responding to an abnormal operation that would
affect safety. The procedures must include provisions for:
(a) . . .
(b) Startup and shutdown, including for initial startup, performance testing to
demonstrate that components will operate satisfactory in service.
FLNG failed to follow its written procedure for the startup of its Quintana Island LNG
facility. As noted above, on August 1, 2019, during the commencement of a cooldown
process on Train 1, FLNG experienced a failure resulting in a hydrocarbon release at the
connection of a 2-inch purging/depressurizing line and a 6-inch flare header.
PHMSA’s investigation revealed that FLNG had deviated from its startup procedures by
performing an operation for which FLNG did not have a written procedure. Specifically,
at the time of the failure, FLNG used the 2-inch line for an operation outside of the design
specifications for the piping in an effort to reduce the cool down time. FLNG’s written
procedure did not account for this operation, nor did it permit FLNG to deviate from the
procedures to perform an operation outside the design specifications, during the startup of
the LNG facility. Therefore, FLNG failed to follow its written procedures for startup as
required by §193.2503.
3. § 193.2515 Investigations of failures.
(a) . . .
(c) If the Administrator or relevant state agency under the pipeline safety laws
(49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq.) investigates an incident, the operator involved shall make
available all relevant information and provide reasonable assistance in conducting
the investigation. Unless necessary to restore or maintain service, or for safety, no
component involved in the incident may be moved from its location or otherwise
altered until the investigation is complete or the investigating agency otherwise
provides. Where components must be moved for operational or safety reasons, they
must not be removed from the plant site and must be maintained intact to the extent
practicable until the investigation is complete or the investigating agency otherwise
provides.



4
FLNG failed to make available to PHMSA all relevant information and provide reasonable
assistance to PHMSA's investigation following the incident that occurred on August 1,
2019. Specifically, on the morning of August 7, 2019, PHMSA communicated to FLNG
the agency's intent to investigate the incident via a telephone conversation and follow-up
email. However, FLNG removed the failed component from the site just prior to PHMSA's
arrival at the site later that same morning. PHMSA had provided no instruction to FLNG
to move or otherwise alter the component in order to restore or maintain service or for
safety purposes, and neither had FLNG communicated the need to remove the components
for those reasons prior to removal. Therefore, FLNG violated §193.2515 (c) by failing to
provide reasonable assistance while PHMSA conducted its investigation.
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. Also,
for each violation involving LNG facilities, and additional penalty of not more than $79,875
occurring on or after July 31, 2019 may be imposed. For each violation involving LNG
facilities, an additional penalty of not more than $77,910 occurring on or after November 27,
2018 and before July 31, 2019 may be imposed. For each violation involving LNG facilities
occurring on or after November 2, 2018 and before November 27, 2018, an additional penalty of
not more than $76,352 may be imposed. For each violation involving LNG facilities occurring
prior to November 2, 2015, an additional penalty of not more than $75,000 may be imposed. 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 $263,347 as
follows:
Item number
PENALTY
1
$44,700
2
$218,647
Proposed Compliance Order
With respect to item 3, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
L. case restration ross 0 CompliCe prier, Wich to reset 12 made a pamorthis
Notice.



5
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 4-2020-3003 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
cc: Mr. Mark Mallet, Vice President, Operations & Engineering, Freeport Development, L.P.
Mr. Mark Roscoe, FERC Regulatory Compliance and Warranty Manager, Freeport LNG
Development, L.P.



6
PROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER
Pursuant to 49 United States Code § 60118, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) proposes to issue to Freeport LNG Development, L. P. (FLNG) a
Compliance Order incorporating the following remedial requirements to ensure the compliance of
FLNG with the pipeline safety regulations:
1. 2. 3. In regard to Item Number 3 of the Notice pertaining to the operator’s removal of
failed components from the Terminal prior to direction from PHMSA, the operator
shall ensure that its procedures for investigations of failures within the LNG facility
clearly demonstrate alignment with the requirements of §193.2515. If in its review,
the operator determines revision are required, pertinent personnel must be made
aware of any changes to the processes.
FLNG must submit all procedures and necessary revisions to the PHMSA
Southwest Region Director within 30 days of issuance of the Final Order.
It is requested (not mandated) that Freeport LNG Development, L. P. maintain
documentation of the safety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this
Compliance Order and submit the total to Mary McDaniel, Director, Southwest,
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.

420203003_Final Order_02172021_text.pdf

February 17, 2021
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: msmith@freeportlng.com
Mr. Michael S. Smith
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Freeport LNG Development, LP
333 Clay Street, Suite 5050
Houston, TX 77002
Re: CPF No. 4-2020-3003
Dear Mr. Smith:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of
violation, assesses a civil penalty of $263,347, and specifies actions that need to be taken by
Freeport LNG Development, LP to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. The penalty
payment terms are set forth in the Final Order. 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
Enclosure
cc: Ms. Mary McDaniel., Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA
Mr. Mark Mallet, Vice President, Operations and Engineering, Freeport LNG Development,
mmallet@freeportlng.com
Mr. Michael Stephenson, Regulatory Compliance Manager, Freeport LNG Development,
mstephenson@freeportlng.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 )
)
Freeport LNG Development, LP, ) CPF No. 4-2020-3003
)
Respondent. )
____________________________________)
FINAL ORDER
On August 7, 2019, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a representative of the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS),
conducted an on-site pipeline safety inspection of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility
(Facility) operated by Freeport LNG Development, LP (FLNG or Respondent), in Quintana,
Texas. PHMSA initiated its inspection following an August 1, 2019 unintended release of
natural gas related to a piping failure that occurred at the Facility during commissioning. The
Facility includes three new liquefaction trains (Trains 1, 2 and 3) positioned in parallel and
occupying a 2,140-foot-long by 860-foot-wide rectangular footprint west of the existing Facility
area. Each train would be capable of producing 4.4 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) of
LNG for export, which equates to a total liquefaction capacity of approximately 1.8 Bcf/d of
natural gas. Each train would produce 4.48 mtpa of LNG; beyond the 4.4 mtpa that would be
available for export, the remaining 0.08 mtpa would become boil-off gas (BOG).1
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Southwest Region, OPS (Director), issued to
Respondent, by letter dated August 7, 2020, a Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Civil
Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order (Notice). In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the
Notice proposed finding that FLNG had committed three violations of 49 C.F.R. Part 193 and
proposed assessing a civil penalty of $263,347 for the alleged violations. The Notice also
proposed ordering Respondent to take certain measures to correct the alleged violations.
FLNG responded to the Notice by letter dated August 25, 2020 (Response). The company did
not contest the allegations of violation but provided an explanation of its actions and requested
that the proposed civil penalty be reduced. FLNG did not request a hearing and therefore has
waived its right to one.
1 Pipeline Violation Safety Report (on file with PHMSA). Separate from this matter, PHMSA issued to FLNG a
Notice of Proposed Safety Order (NOPSO) (CPF No. 4-2019-3002S) on August 29, 2019. As a result of the
NOPSO, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.239, the parties entered into a Consent Agreement and Order, dated February
14, 2020, whereby FLNG agreed to take corrective measures to address safety issues raised by the incident.



CPF No. 4-2020-3003
Page 2
FINDINGS OF VIOLATION
In its Response, FLNG did not contest the allegations in the Notice that it violated 49 C.F.R. Part
193, as follows:
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 193.2011, which states:
§ 193.2011 Reporting.
Incidents, safety-related conditions, and annual pipeline summary data
for LNG plants or facilities must be reported in accordance with the
requirements of Part 191 of this subchapter.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 193.2011 by failing to notify the
National Response Center (NRC) of an incident that occurred at its LNG facility on Quintana
Island, Texas on August 1, 2019. Specifically, the Notice alleged that the incident resulted in
estimated property damage (including cost of repairs) exceeding $50,000 and unintentional
estimated gas loss of more than 300 million cubic feet, and was therefore required to be reported
to the NRC as soon as practicable, but not later than one hour after discovery, pursuant to
§§ 191.3 and 191.5.2 Furthermore, the Notice alleged that FLNG failed to comply with its own
procedures, Appendix L PHMSA Incident Reporting Requirements, which requires FLNG to
notify the NRC following “an event that results in an emergency shutdown of an LNG facility.”
Finally, the Notice alleged that PHMSA first learned of the incident from another Federal agency
five days after the incident occurred.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation, but offered additional information and
corrections to either reduce or eliminate the proposed civil penalty. I discuss the additional
information below with respect to the proposed civil penalty. Accordingly, based upon a review
of all of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 193.2011 by failing to notify
the NRC as soon as practicable but not later than one hour after discovery of an incident that
occurred at its LNG facility on Quintana Island, Texas on August 1, 2019.
Item 2: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 193.2503(b), which states:
§ 193.2503 Operating procedures.
Each operator shall follow one or more manuals of written procedures
to provide safety in normal operation and in responding to an abnormal
operation that would affect safety. The procedures must include provisions
for:
(a) ….
(b) Startup and shutdown, including for initial startup, performance
testing to demonstrate that components will operate satisfactory in service.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 193.2503(b) by failing to follow its
2 A reportable incident includes, among other things, an event that involves a release of gas from an LNG facility
that results in estimated property damage of $50,000 or more, or unintentional estimated gas loss of 3 million cubic
feet or more. § 191.3.



CPF No. 4-2020-3003
Page 3
written procedure for the startup of its Quintana Island LNG facility. Specifically, Respondent
performed an operation for which it did not have a written procedure. Respondent did not
contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all of the evidence, I
find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 193.2503(b) by failing to follow its written procedure
by using a 2-inch line for an operation outside of the design specifications for the piping in an
effort to reduce the cool down time.
Item 3: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 193.2515(c), which states:
§ 193.2515 Investigation of failures.
(a) ….
(c) If the Administrator or relevant state agency under the pipeline
safety laws (49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq.) investigates an incident, the operator
involved shall make available all relevant information and provide
reasonable assistance in conducting the investigation. Unless necessary to
restore or maintain service, or for safety, no component involved in the
incident may be moved from its location or otherwise altered until the
investigation is complete or the investigating agency otherwise provides.
Where components must be moved for operational or safety reasons, they
must not be removed from the plant site and must be maintained intact to
the extent practicable until the investigation is complete or the investigating
agency otherwise provides.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 193.2515(c) by failing to make
available to PHMSA all relevant information and provide reasonable assistance to PHMSA’s
investigation following the incident that occurred on August 1, 2019. Specifically, Respondent
removed the failed component from the incident site, without PHMSA permission, after being
informed PHMSA was investigating the incident.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all
of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 193.2515(c) by failing to provide
reasonable assistance while PHMSA conducted its investigation.
These findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement
action taken against Respondent.
ASSESSMENT OF PENALTY
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122, Respondent is subject to an administrative civil penalty not to exceed
$200,000 per violation for each day of the violation, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for any
related series of violations.3 In determining the amount of a civil penalty under 49 U.S.C.
§ 60122 and 49 C.F.R. § 190.225, I must consider the following criteria: the nature,
circumstances, and gravity of the violation, including adverse impact on the environment; the
3 These amounts are adjusted annually for inflation. See 49 C.F.R. § 190.223.



CPF No. 4-2020-3003
Page 4
degree of Respondent’s culpability; the history of Respondent’s prior offenses; any effect that
the penalty may have on its ability to continue doing business; and the good faith of Respondent
in attempting to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. In addition, I may consider the
economic benefit gained from the violation without any reduction because of subsequent
damages, and such other matters as justice may require. The Notice proposed a total civil
penalty of $263,347 for the violations cited above.
Item 1: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $44,700 for Respondent’s violation of 49 C.F.R.
§ 193.2011, for failing to notify the NRC of an incident that occurred at its LNG facility on
Quintana Island, Texas on August 1, 2019.
In its Response, FLNG argued that the proposed civil penalty should be reduced or eliminated.
FLNG based its position on several arguments. First, FLNG asserted that the Notice contains a
factual inaccuracy regarding the amount of gas released. The Notice alleged that 315 million
cubic feet (MMCF) of gas was released when the correct amount was 315 thousand cubic feet
(MCF), possibly due to an inadvertent conversion from MCF to MMCF. FLNG argued that this
factual inaccuracy warrants a reduction in the civil penalty amount. FLNG is correct that the
volume of gas released identified in the Notice is inaccurate. The amount of gas released was
315 MCF, not 315 MMCF. However, the amount of gas released was not a factor considered in
the calculation of the proposed civil penalty.4 Therefore, the correction to the record regarding
the amount of gas released does not warrant a reduction or withdrawal of the proposed civil
penalty for this Item.
FLNG’s second argument is directed at the allegations in the Notice that support the underlying
violation. Specifically, FLNG argued that within one hour of the event, it did not know that the
event met the definition of “incident” under § 191.3.5 The three prongs of the definition that are
particularly relevant to this event, as argued by Respondent, are: (1) whether the event resulted in
estimated property damage of $50,000 or more, including the loss to the operator and others, or
both; (2) whether the event is significant in the judgment of the operator, even though it did not
meet the other criteria of “incident”; and (3) whether the event resulted in an emergency
shutdown of an LNG facility.6 According to FLNG, because it did not believe that any of these
prongs were met within one-hour of the release, it should not be subject to such a high civil
penalty for its admitted non-compliance. I note that Respondent did not make this argument with
respect to the underlying allegation of violation, which FLNG did not contest and therefore
waived its right to challenge.7
The relevant considerations when determining a proposed civil penalty are the civil penalty
4 Moreover, the Violation Reported recognized this violation as “minimally” affecting pipeline safety.
5 Response, at 2-4.
6 Respondent also noted that the incident did not result in death or personal injury necessitating in-patient
hospitalization; however, I note that the Notice never alleged either of those had occurred.
7 See id. at 1 (“While FLNG does not believe that a violation of these regulations has occurred, as a matter of
administrative economy, we have determined not to contest the alleged violation itself . . . .”).



CPF No. 4-2020-3003
Page 5
assessment considerations set forth in § 190.225. At best, the argument put forward by FLNG
regarding its failure to report to the NRC is directed at its good faith in attempting to achieve
compliance.8 Even when viewed in this regard, however, FLNG’s argument does not warrant a
reduction of the proposed civil penalty.
Under the regulation, operators are required to report an incident to the NRC on the basis of an
estimated property damage cost, not the actual costs. Furthermore, an operator may not delay an
incident report to the NRC based on the amount of time it takes to calculate the actual dollar
amount of any property damage. The release occurred on August 1, 2019. FLNG’s first
notification to PHMSA about the release was not made until August 19, 2019. In that report,
FLNG underestimated the property damage as $35,500. On August 23, 2019, FLNG filed a
supplemental report and increased the property damage to $45,500. It was not until October
2019 that FLNG eventually reported the actual costs of the incident to PHMSA which was
determined to be $76,221.80. FLNG underestimated the property damage costs by more than
110 percent from its initial report to its final report. Further, FNLG did not provide its final
estimate of the costs associated with the release until after nearly two months and several
exchanges between PHMSA and FLNG to confirm the property damage costs. Under these
facts, I am not persuaded that FLNG acted in good faith in underestimating the costs associated
with the release. Respondent should have estimated that the $50,000 threshold had been met and
reported the incident to the NRC accordingly.
In addition, while FLNG failed to submit a timely notification to NRC under PHMSA’s
regulation, it did actively notify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other
entities, including an office of Quintana, Texas, within hours following the release. FLNG
asserts that even though it notified FERC and other entities of the release, it did not view the
release as “significant,” creating any obligation to notify the NRC. The release resulted in a
complete failure and separation of piping, as well as a shutdown of its LNG facility that was
caused by the operator’s improper deviation from its startup procedures. The facts in the record
demonstrate that Respondent should have viewed this release as “significant” and notified the
NRC, notwithstanding that it failed to properly estimate the related property damage and costs.
Finally, FLNG argues that an emergency shutdown of its LNG facility did not occur as a result
of the release. In making this argument, FLNG asserts that it only initiated a “controlled”
shutdown of the facility by slowing the refrigeration compressors down to a safe shutdown point
in the control system and then manually taking the facility offline. According to FLNG, this is
not an emergency shutdown of an LNG facility that triggers a notification to the NRC. I
disagree. The facts show that the incident resulted in an emergency shutdown of the facility as a
direct result of the release. Specifically, the operations in the Main Cryogenic Heat Exchanger
were suspended immediately after the failure due to the release, and, as FLNG admits, the entire
facility was taken offline.
All of the above facts taken together rebut any argument that FLNG acted in good faith when it
did not believe the event triggered a requirement to make an NRC report within one-hour of the
release. FLNG presented no evidence or argument to rebut any of the other penalty assessment
8 § 190.225(a)(4).



CPF No. 4-2020-3003
Page 6
considerations selected by the Director in the Violation Report that were used to calculate the
proposed civil penalty for this Item.
Accordingly, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I assess
Respondent a civil penalty of $44,700 for violation of 49 C.F.R. § 193.2011.
Item 2: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $218,647 for Respondent’s violation of 49
C.F.R. § 193.2503(b), for failing to follow its written procedure for the startup of its Quintana
Island LNG facility. This violation was found to be causal to the incident. FLNG neither
contested the allegation nor presented any evidence or argument justifying a reduction in or
elimination of the proposed penalty, and stated that it would pay the proposed civil penalty as
directed. I find that the penalty assessment criteria selected by the Director that were used to
calculate the proposed civil penalty are supported by the record and unchallenged by
Respondent. Accordingly, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I
assess Respondent a civil penalty of $218,647 for violation of 49 C.F.R. § 193.2503(b).
In summary, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria for each of the
Items cited above, I assess Respondent a total civil penalty of $263,347.
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
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 $263,347 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
The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to Item 3 in the Notice for violation of 49
C.F.R. § 193.2515(c). Under 49 U.S.C. § 60118(a), each person who engages in the
transportation of liquefied natural gas or who owns or operates a pipeline facility is required to
comply with the applicable safety standards established under chapter 601. Pursuant to the
authority of 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217, Respondent is ordered to take the
following actions to ensure compliance with the pipeline safety regulations applicable to its
operations:



CPF No. 4-2020-3003
Page 7
1. With respect to the violation of § 193.2515(c) (Item 3), Respondent must:
A. In regard to Item Number 3 of the Notice pertaining to the operator’s removal
of failed components from the Terminal prior to direction from PHMSA, the
operator shall ensure that its procedures for investigations of failures within
the LNG facility clearly demonstrate alignment with the requirements of
§ 193.2515. If in its review, the operator determines revision are required,
pertinent personnel must be made aware of any changes to the processes.
B. FLNG must submit all procedures and necessary revisions to the PHMSA
Southwest Region Director within 30 days of issuance of this Final Order.
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.
It is requested (not mandated) that Respondent maintain documentation of the safety
improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Compliance Order and submit the total to the
Director. 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.
Failure to comply with this Order may result in the administrative assessment of civil penalties
not to exceed $200,000, as adjusted for inflation (49 C.F.R. § 190.223), for each violation for
each day the violation continues or in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in a
district court of the United States.
Under 49 C.F.R. § 190.243, Respondent may submit a Petition for Reconsideration of this Final
Order to the Associate Administrator, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE, East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590, with a copy sent to the Office of
Chief Counsel, PHMSA, at the same address, no later than 20 days after receipt of service of this
Final Order by Respondent. Any petition submitted must contain a statement of the issue(s) and
meet all other requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 190.243. The filing of a petition automatically stays
the payment of any civil penalty assessed. The other terms of the order, including corrective
action, remain in effect unless the Associate Administrator, upon request, grants a stay.
The terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon service in accordance with 49
C.F.R. § 190.5.
February 17, 2021
___________________________________ __________________________
Alan K. Mayberry Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420203003>
- Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement`
- SHA-256: `4e2b9df9c506fbcd7f1f9a79eba81a6101ee996e28122dc3bae745bd67b4ae81`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T23:04:10.443Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-420203003`

### Source metadata

```json
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  "operator": "FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT, L.P.",
  "region": "Southwest",
  "pipelineType": "INTERSTATE LNG ONSHORE",
  "caseStatus": "CLOSED",
  "citedSections": [
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    "193.2011",
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    "193.2515(c)"
  ],
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}
```