# EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 120151018
- **title:** EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2015-08-06
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.163(d).
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- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/120151018
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.163(d). The case was opened on 2015-08-06 and is reported as closed as of 2016-01-13. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

120151018_Final Order_01132016.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120151018/120151018_Final%20Order_01132016.pdf

120151018_Final Order_01132016_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120151018/120151018_Final%20Order_01132016_text.pdf

120151018_NOPV_PCO_08062015.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120151018/120151018_NOPV_PCO_08062015.pdf

120151018_NOPV_PCO_08062015_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120151018/120151018_NOPV_PCO_08062015_text.pdf

120151018_Operator Response to Notice_09222015.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120151018/120151018_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_09222015.pdf

120151018_Final Order_01132016_text.pdf

January 13, 2016
Mr. David L. Porges
Chairman & CEO
EQT Midstream
625 Liberty Avenue
Suite 1700
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Re: CPF No. 1-2015-1018
Dear Mr. Porges:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes one finding
of violation and finds that EQT Midstream, a subsidiary of EQT Corporation, has completed the
actions specified in the Notice to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. Therefore, this
case is now closed. Service of the Final Order by certified mail is deemed effective upon the
date of mailing, or as otherwise provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey D. Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Enclosure
cc: Mr. Byron Coy, P.E., Director, Eastern Region, PHMSA, OPS
Mr. Robert Cooper, Vice President of Engineering, EQT Midstream
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN 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 )
)
EQT Midstream, ) CPF No. 1-2015-1018
a subsidiary of EQT Corporation, )
)
Respondent. )
____________________________________)
FINAL ORDER
On July 17, 2014, 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 facilities and records of EQT Midstream (EQT or
Respondent), a subsidiary of EQT Corporation, in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. Respondent
provides natural gas gathering, transmission, and storage services to EQT Production and other
independent third-parties.
1 Respondent operates approximately 123 miles of gathering lines and
935 miles of transmission pipeline throughout Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.2
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Eastern Region, OPS (Director), issued to Respondent,
by letter dated August 6, 2015, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Compliance Order
(Notice). In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice proposed finding that EQT had
violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.163 and ordering Respondent to take certain measures to correct the
alleged violation.
EQT responded to the Notice by letter dated September 22, 2015 (Response). The company did
not contest the allegation of violation but provided information and photographs concerning the
corrective actions it had taken. Respondent did not request a hearing and therefore has waived
its right to one.
FINDING OF VIOLATION
In its Response, EQT did not contest the allegation in the Notice that it violated 49 C.F.R.
1 EQT Corporation, website, available at https://www.eqt.com/our-business/midstream (last accessed December 15,
2015).
2 Pipeline Safety Violation Report (Violation Report), (May 1, 2015) (on file with PHMSA), at 1.



CPF No. 1-2015-1018
Page 2
Part 192, as follows:
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.163(d), which states:
§ 192.163 Compressor stations: Design and construction.
(a) . . .
(d) Fenced areas. Each fence around a compressor station must have
at least two gates located so as to provide a convenient opportunity for
escape to a place of safety, or have other facilities affording a similarly
convenient exit from the area. Each gate located within 200 feet (61
meters) of any compressor plant building must open outward and, when
occupied, must be openable from the inside without a key.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.163(d) by failing to have a fence
around each compressor station, with at least two gates so as to provide a convenient opportunity
for escape to a place of safety. Specifically, the Notice alleged that Respondent’s Wall
Compressor Station fence had one escape gate on the west side, one escape gate on the south
side, one locked vehicle gate on the west side, and one locked vehicle gate on the east side.
However, the south-side escape gate opened out onto a narrow landing, approximately four feet
wide, with a pathway that was heavily overgrown and 1bordered by a steep decline into a creek.
Under such conditions, the south-side gate allegedly did not provide a convenient opportunity for
escape.
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. § 192.163(d) by failing to have at least
two gates located so as to provide a convenient opportunity to escape to a place of safety.
This finding of violation 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 1 in the Notice for violation of
49 C.F.R. § 192.163(d). Under 49 U.S.C. § 60118(a), each person who engages in the
transportation of gas or who owns or operates a pipeline facility is required to comply with the
applicable safety standards established under chapter 601. The Director indicates that
Respondent has taken the following actions specified in the proposed compliance order:
1. With respect to the violation of § 192.163(d) (Item 1), Respondent has:
A. Provided at least two gates at the Wall Compressor Station in Elizabeth,
Pennsylvania that provide a convenient opportunity for escape to a place
of safety; and
B. Completed and provided documentation that supports compliance with the



CPF No. 1-2015-1018
Page 3
action stipulated in the above item within 120 days after receipt of a Final
Order.
Therefore, the compliance terms proposed in the Notice are not included in this Order.
In addition, pursuant to the authority of 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217,
Respondent is requested (not mandated) to take the following action:
EQT should maintain documentation of the safety improvement costs associated with
fulfilling this Compliance Order and submit the total to Mr. Byron Coy, P.E.,
Director, Eastern 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.
The terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon service in accordance with
49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
___________________________________ __________________________
Jeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
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