# EQUITRANS INC — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 120031003
- **title:** EQUITRANS INC — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2003-05-01
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.745.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-120031003.json
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- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/120031003
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving EQUITRANS INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.745. The case was opened on 2003-05-01 and is reported as closed as of 2005-07-19. Proposed civil penalty: $5,000. Assessed civil penalty: $5,000. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

120031003_Final Order_07192005.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120031003/120031003_Final%20Order_07192005.pdf

120031003_Final Order_07192005.pdf

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@
U.S. Deporlment
of Tronsporlolion
Plpellne ond
Hozqrdou! l oferiols sofety
Admlnistrotion
400 Sevenlh Streel, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
JUL 1 I 2005
Ed Nolan
Vice President Operations
Equitable Resources
225 North Shore Drive, 4'n Floor
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 5212-5861
Re: CPFNo. 1-2003-1003
Dear Mr. Nolan:
Enclosed is the Final Order issued by the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety in the
above-referenced case. It makes findings ofviolation and assesses a civil penalty of$5'000. It
further finds that you have completed the actions specified in the Notice required to complywith the
pipeline safety regulations. I acknowledge receipt of your wire transfer dated May 29,2003, fot
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as payment in full of the civil penalty assessed in this Final Order. This case is now closed.
your receiot of the Final Order constitutes service of that document under 49 C.F.R. $ 190.5.
Sincerely,
*,* fi"--
James Reynolds
Pipeline Compliance Registry
Office of Pipeline SafetY
Enclosure
William Gute, Region Director
Eastern Region, OPS



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERTALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON. DC 20590
In the Matter of
Equitrans, L.P.,
Respondent.
CPF No. l-2003-1003
FINAL ORDER
On September 15 - 17,2002, pursuant 49 U.S.C. $ 60117, a representative of the Eastem Region,
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) and a representative of the West Virginia Public Service
Commission (?SC), as agent for the Ofiice of Pipeline Safety (OPS) conducted an on-site pipeline
safetyinspection of Respondent's facilities and records ofthe Carnegie Interstate Pipeline Company
(CIPCO) systems located in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. As a result of the inspection, the
Director, Eastem Region, OPS' issued to Respondent, by letter dated May 1,2003,, a Notice of
Probable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty and Proposed Compliance Order. In accordance with
49 C.F.R. $ 190.207, the Notice proposed a civil penalty of $5,000 for a certain alleged violation of
Part 792, and proposed specific actions that Respondent must take to correct the alleged violation.
Respondent responded to the Notice by letter dated May 28,2003 (Response). Respondent did not
contest the allegations of violation but provided information conceming the corrective actions it has
taken. Respondent submitted a wire transfer in the amount of the proposed civil penalty ($5,000),
waiving further right to respond, and authorizing the entry of this Final Order.
FINDINGS OF VIOLATION
In its Response, Respondent did not contest the alleged violations in the Notice. Accordingly, I find
that Respondent violated the following section of 49 C.F.R. Part 192, as more fully described in the
Notice:
49 C.F.R. 5 192.'745 failing to inspect each transmission line vaive that might be required
during any emergency, specificallyblow-offvalves, a 10-inch mainline valve, and emergency
valves, at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year.
This frnding ofviolation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action
taken against Respondent.



COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to item 2 in the Notice. Under 49 U.S.C.
$ 601 1 8(a), each person who engages in the transportation of gas or who owns or operates a pipeline
facilityisrequiredtocomplywiththeapplicablesafetystandardsestablishedunderchapter60l. The
Regional Director has indicated that Respondent has taken the following actions specified in the
proposed compliance order:
1.
Conducted a review ofits system to ensure that all emergency valves have been identified;
z .
Submitted a report outlining the results; and
-J.
Insnected a!1 emersencv valves.
Accordingly, since compliance has been achieved with respect to this violation, the compliance
terms are not included in this Order.
WARNINGITEMS
The Notice did not propose a civil penalty or corrective action for the Item 1, for Respondent failing
to provide evidence that it conducted continuing educational programs to the public in the vicinity
of the CIPCO pipeline facilities in Pennsylvania, but warned Respondent that it should take
appropriate corrective action to correct this item. Respondent presented information in its response
showing that it is addressing the cited items. Respondent is again wamed that if OPS finds a
violation for any of these items in a subsequent inspection, enforcement action will be taken.
Under 49 C.F.R. $ lg}.zls,Respondent has a right to submit a Petition for Reconsideration of this
Final Order. The petition must be received within 20 days of Respondent's receipt of this Final
Order and must contain a brief statement of the issue(s). The terms of the order, including any
required comective action, remain in full effect unless the Associate Administrator, upon lequest,
grants a stay. The terms and conditionff this Final Order are effective on receipt.
I
I
JUL 1 I 2005
Date Issued
Stacey L. GerardAssociate Administrator
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- **body characters:** 5597
