# GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC — Warning Letter

**Citation:** CPF 520116007W  
**Type / status:** enforcement / historical  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2011-05-17

CLOSED warning letter citing 195.440(c).

## Document text

Warning Letter involving GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 195.440(c). The case was opened on 2011-05-17 and is reported as closed as of 2011-05-17. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520116007W_Operator Response and Request for Time Extension_06072011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520116007W/520116007W_Operator%20Response%20and%20Request%20for%20Time%20Extension_06072011.pdf

520116007W_Warning Letter_05172011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520116007W/520116007W_Warning%20Letter_05172011.pdf

520116007W_Warning Letter_05172011.pdf

VIA UPS GROUND - 1Z WR2 588 03 9347 6829
May 17,2011
Mr. Alexander Gajdos
Principal Partner
Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc.
758 Illinois Street
P.O. Box 71249
Fairbanks, AK 99707
CPF 5-2011-6007W
Dear Mr. Gajdos:
On April 25, 2011, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected
Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc.'s (GVEA) Public Awareness Program in Fairbanks.
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 violations are:
§195.440 Public awareness
(c) The operator must follow the general program recommendations, including
baseline and supplemental requirements of API RP 1162, unless the operator
provides justification in its program or procedural manual as to why compliance
with all or certain provisions of the recommended practice is not practicable and
not necessary for safety.
GVEA did not perform the following program effectiveness evaluations as
indentified in API RP 1162, Section 8.4 through 8.4.4:



Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
$100,000 for each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of
$1,000,000 for any 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 items identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in GVEA Pipelines 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 5-2011-6007W and send all documents to our location at 188 W. Northern Lights
Blvd., Suite 520, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. 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,
Dennis WHenral
Dennis Hinnah
Deputy Director, Western Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
CC:
PHP-60 Compliance Registry
PHP-500 B. Flanders (#134343)
2

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520116007W>
- Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement`
- SHA-256: `435c4f4fa640734befb40596a029ddb289cb06b312e90b365a56deb21f3d2c6c`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T23:28:51.765Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-520116007w`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cpf": "520116007W",
  "operator": "GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC",
  "region": "Western",
  "pipelineType": "INTRASTATE LIQUID ONSHORE",
  "caseStatus": "CLOSED",
  "citedSections": [
    "195.440(c)"
  ],
  "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM",
  "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04",
  "attachmentCount": 2,
  "attachments": [
    {
      "name": "520116007W_Operator Response and Request for Time Extension_06072011.pdf",
      "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520116007W/520116007W_Operator%20Response%20and%20Request%20for%20Time%20Extension_06072011.pdf",
      "bytes": 46425,
      "category": "party_submission"
    },
    {
      "name": "520116007W_Warning Letter_05172011.pdf",
      "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520116007W/520116007W_Warning%20Letter_05172011.pdf",
      "bytes": 61022,
      "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": "GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC"
}
```
