# MOBIL  PIPE  LINE COMPANY — Corrective Action Order

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 120055002H
- **title:** MOBIL  PIPE  LINE COMPANY — Corrective Action Order
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2005-02-04
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED corrective action order.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-120055002h.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-120055002h.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-120055002h
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/120055002H
**body:**

Corrective Action Order involving MOBIL  PIPE  LINE COMPANY. The dataset does not identify a cited regulation for this case. The case was opened on 2005-02-04 and is reported as closed as of 2005-12-21. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

120055002H_Amendment to Corrective Action Order_02102005.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120055002H/120055002H_Amendment%20to%20Corrective%20Action%20Order_02102005.pdf

120055002h_amendment to corrective action order_02102005_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120055002H/120055002h_amendment%20to%20corrective%20action%20order_02102005_text.pdf

120055002H_CAO_02042005.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120055002H/120055002H_CAO_02042005.pdf

cpf120055002H.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120055002H/cpf120055002H.pdf

CPF_120055002H.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120055002H/CPF_120055002H.pdf

120055002h_amendment to corrective action order_02102005_text.pdf

U5 Department
of Transportation
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
Mr Patrick Doolan
Vice President of Operations
Mobil Pipehne
800 Bell Street
Houston, Texas 77002
400 Seventh St S W
Washington D C 20590
I-FI" 10 POX
Re CPF No. 1-2005-5002H
Dear Mr. Doolan:
Enclosed is an Amendment to Corrective Action Order issued by the Associate Administrator
for Pipehne Safety in the above-referenced case This Amendment revises the Corrective Action
Order that was issued to Mobil Pipehne (Respondent) on February 4, 2005 by mandatmg a change in
the pressure reduction. The February 4, 2005 Order restricted operating pressure and mandated other
corrective actions on Respondent's hazardous hquids pipehne that runs from Malvern, PA to
Syracuse, NY and Buffalo, NY. Following further discussions with Respondent and the submission
of additional information by Respondent, this Amendment now modifies Item 2 of the Order.
Service is being made by certified mail and facsimile. Your receipt of this Corrective Action Order
constitutes service of that document under 49 C. F. R. $ 190. 5, The terms and conditions of this
Amendment to Corrective Action Order are effective upon receipt.
~ erety,
J s Reynolds
Pipehne Compliance Registry
Office of Pipehne Safety
Enclosure
cc John DuPre
Operations Manager - Northern Operations
Mobil Pipeline
3225 Gallows Road
Room 2134
Fairfax, VA 22037
VIA RTIFR AIL RETURN RECEIPT RE UESTED AND TELECOPY



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, DC 20590
In the Matter of
Mobil Pipehne Company,
Respondent
CPF No. 1-2005-5002H
AMENDMENT TO CORRECTIVE ACTION ORDER
Pu ose and Back ound
On February 4, 2005, the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety issued a Corrective Action
Order m this case finding that continued operation by Mobil Pipeline Company (Respondent or
Mobil) of its Malvern to New York pipehne would be hazardous to the public, property, and the
environment without corrective measures. The February 4, 2005 Order was issued as a result of the
February 1, 2005 pipehne failure at the Allentown Junction, 0. 5 miles from Allentown,
Pennsylvania The Order restricts the operating pressure of the pipeline to 426 psig and requires
Mobil to develop and submit a protocol for mechanical and metallurgical testmg of the failed
pipehne sections and a plan for corrective measures for approval to the Office of Pipehne Safety
(OPS). In a letter dated February 10, 2005, Respondent requested that the pressure restriction be
changed from 426 psig at the Allentown Junction to 1000 psig at the Malvern Pump Station m order
to start the pipehne
Additional Information
Prehminary inspection of the failure site indicates that the most hkely failure point is a valve or
fitting, or is possibly related to a drain line. The initial indication is that the failure may not be
pressure related, and that hne pipe was not involved in this incident.



The Malvern Pump Station and Terminal is the only point at which product enters this pipehne
system The product travels 26, 3 miles from the Malvern Pump Station through the Reading
Junction (valve site) prior to reaching the Allentown Junction (valve site), approximately 43. 1 miles
downstream from the Malvern Pump Station. The upstream valve setting of the Reading Junction
had all of its valves replaced after 1998. The valve settings at the Allentown Junction will be
completely replaced prior to starting the pipeline.
Upon further discussions with Respondent and the receipt of additional documentation through its
February 10, 2005 letter, OPS learned that Respondent's pipeline cannot be started with the
Allentown Junction 426 psig pressure restriction placed m the Order, due to the topography of the
area m which the pipeline is located. Furthermore, there are no pressure controls at the Allentown
Junction to adequately restrict the pressure at that point to 426 psig. The closest pressure controls to
the failure site are at the Malvern Pump Station. The discharge pressure at the Malvern Pump
Station was approximately 1000 psig at the time of failure, which is the lowest pressure required to
operate the pipeline considering the various petroleum products that it transports Ten days prior to
the mcident, the discharge pressure at the Malvern Pump Station was as high as 1336 psig.
Pressure restrictions at the Malvern Pump Station will reduce pressures at all points north of the
Station
Determination of Necessit for Corrective Action Order and Ri ht to Hearin
Section 60112 of Title 49, United States Code, provides for the issuance of a Corrective Action
Orders (and amendments), after reasonable notice and the opportunity for a hearing, requiring
corrective action, which may include the suspended or restricted use of a pipehne facihty, physical
inspection, testing, repair, replacement, or other action as appropriate. The basis for making the
determmation that a pipehne facihty is hazardous, requiring corrective action, is set forth both in the
above referenced statute and 49 C. F. R. g 190. 233, a copy of which is enclosed.
Section 60112, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, provides for the issuance of a Corrective
Action Order without prior opportunity for notice and hearing upon a findmg that failure to issue the
Order expeditiously will hkely result in serious harm to life, property or the environment. In such
cases, an opportunity for a hearing will be provided as soon as practicable after the issuance of the
Order.
The cause of this failure is still unknown. In hght o f this fact and the above additional information, I
continue to find that a pressure restriction is necessary at least until the failure analysis and the
related remediation plan is completed. Therefore, I continue to find that the contmued operation o f
the Malvern to New York pipehne without corrective measures would be would be hazardous to 4 fe,
property and the environment Additionally, after considering the proximity of the pipehne to
populated areas and waterways, the combustible nature of the products the pipehne transports, the
pressure required for transporting the material, and the ongoing investigation to determine the cause



of the failure, I find that a failure to expeditiously issue this Amendment would hkely result in
serious harm to life, property, or the environment.
Accordmgly, this Amendment mandating immediate corrective action is issued without prior notice
and opportunity for a hearing. The terms and conditions of this Amendment are effective upon
receipt
Withm 10 days of receipt of this Amendment, Respondent may request a hearing, to be held as soon
as practicable, by notifying the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety in writing, dehvered
personally, by mail or by telecopy at (202) 366-4566. The hearing will be held m Washmgton, DC
on a date that is mutually convenient to OPS and Respondent.
After receiving and analyzing additional data in the course of this mvestigation, OPS may identify
other corrective measures that need to be taken. In that event, Respondent will be notified of any
additional measures required and amendment of this Order will be considered. To the extent
consistent with safety, Respondent will be afforded notice and an opportunity for a hearing prior to
the imposition of any additional corrective measures.
Re uired Corrective Action
Pursuant to 49 U S. C. g 60112, I hereby amend the Order and require Respondent to immediately
take the following corrective action with respect to the Malvern, PA to Syracuse, NY and Buffalo,
NY segment of Respondent's Malvern to New York Pipeline system:
Item 2 is amended to read as follows:
2 Once the pipeline is restarted in accordance with Item 1, the operating discharge pressure at
the Malvern Pump Station is not to exceed 1000 psig, This pressure restriction will
remain m effect until written approval to increase the pressure or return the pipehne to its
pre-failure operating pressure is obtained from the Director, Eastern Region, OPS.
The terms of the February 4, 2005 Corrective Action Order, as modified by this Amendment, remam
m effect.
Respondent may appeal any decision of the Director to the Associate Administrator for Pipehne
Safety. Decisions of the Associate Administrator shall be final.
The corrective actions required by this Amendment are in addition to and do not waive any
requirements that apply to the pipehne under 49 C. F R. Part 195, including the integrity management
program regulations.



Failure to comply with this Order may result in the assessment of civil penalties of not more than
$100, 000 per day and in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in United States
District Court
)
( j
Stage Get ard
Assoc' te Administrator
for Pipehne Safety
Date Issued
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