# TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 120161012
- **title:** TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2016-11-21
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.605(a).
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- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/120161012
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.605(a). The case was opened on 2016-11-21 and is reported as closed as of 2018-11-29. Proposed civil penalty: $34,500. Assessed civil penalty: $0. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

120161012_Final Order_11292018.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120161012/120161012_Final%20Order_11292018.pdf

120161012_Final Order_11292018_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120161012/120161012_Final%20Order_11292018_text.pdf

120161012_NOPV PCP PCO_11212016.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120161012/120161012_NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_11212016.pdf

120161012_NOPV PCP PCO_11212016_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120161012/120161012_NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_11212016_text.pdf

120161012_Operator Response to Notice and Request for Hearing_12092016.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120161012/120161012_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice%20and%20Request%20for%20Hearing_12092016.pdf

120161012_NOPV PCP PCO_11212016_text.pdf

NOTICE OF PROBABLE VIOLATION
PROPOSED CIVIL PENALTY
and
PROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER
OVERNIGHT EXPRESS DELIVERY
November 21, 2016
Mr. Gary Buchler
Chief Operating Officer, Natural Gas Pipelines
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
1001 Louisiana Street, Suite 1001
Houston, TX 77002-5089
CPF 1-2016-1012
Dear Mr. Buchler:
From August 18, 2015 to October 8, 2015, 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 inspected Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company’s (TGP) (a subsidiary
of Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals, LLC) pipeline facilities in Units 2911 Div E/Mercer
District #219 - PA and 2701 Div F/Hopkinton District #267 - MA/NH/RI.
As a result of the inspection, it is alleged that you have committed a probable violation of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and the
probable violation is:
1. §192.605 Procedural Manual for Operations, Maintenance, and Emergencies.
(a) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of written
procedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities and for emergency
response. . . .
(b) Maintenance and normal operations. The manual required by paragraph (a) of this
section must include procedures for the following, if applicable, to provide safety during
maintenance and operations.



1-2016-1012
(1) . . .
(2) Controlling corrosion in accordance with the operations and maintenance
requirements of Subpart I of this part.
TGP’s procedure for monitoring atmospheric corrosion failed to provide specific guidance on
how to give particular attention to pipe at pipe supports in accordance with §192.481(b).
During the inspection, the PHMSA inspector reviewed Kinder Morgan O&M Procedure
918, Inspecting for Atmospheric Corrosion, revised 2013-06-01. Section 3.2, Atmospheric
Corrosion Monitoring and Inspection Frequency, states in part that:
“ . . .During inspection, give particular attention to the following components:
 . . .
 Pipe supports and wear pads
 . . .
Pipe that is not visually accessible (e.g. pipe under insulation, under clamps or supports, piping
through walls or floors, etc.) and where evidence of atmospheric corrosion would not be apparent
if present must be inspected visually by removing clamps, supporting the pipe while the pipe
supports are removed, etc. In these cases a program may be developed where pipe is visually
inspected in selected critical areas or using predetermined inspection locations (i.e. inspection
ports) until a minimal risk level is determined. These programs must be reviewed and approved
by the appropriate Division Corrosion Supervisor. Alternately, jacketing or other obstructions
may be removed and the total system visually inspected. In lieu of visual inspection, an NDE
method approved by the Manager, Corrosion Control that would detect the presence of
atmospheric corrosion may be used. . . ”
The procedure failed to provide:
a. Details such as:
i. Criteria for selecting the method for inspecting pipe at pipe supports and wear
pads when the pipe is not visually accessible.
ii. Individual(s) responsible for making the decision on what method to use.
iii. Documentation of the selected method.
iv. Communication of selected method to personnel conducting the inspection.
b. Details for minimizing the risk if a line is lifted off the supports, or if the supports are
removed to permit inspection, such as reducing pressure in the line.
c. Requirements for documenting inspection of pipe at pipe supports and wear pads.
Proposed Civil Penalty
Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $205,638
per violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,056,380 for a related series of
violations. For violations occurring between January 4, 2012 and August 1, 2016, 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. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012,
the maximum penalty may not exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty
not to exceed $1,000,000 for related series of violations. The Compliance Officer has reviewed
120161012_NOPV PCP PCO_11212016 Page 2 of 4



1-2016-1012
the circumstances and supporting documentation involved in the above probable violation, and
has recommended that you be preliminarily assessed a civil penalty of $34,500 as follows:
Item number PENALTY
1 $34,500
Proposed Compliance Order
With respect to Item Number 1, pursuant to 49 United States Code § 60118, PHMSA proposes to
issue a Compliance Order to TGP. Please refer to the Proposed Compliance Order, which is
enclosed and made a part of this Notice.
Response to this Notice
Enclosed as part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators
in Compliance 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). Failure to respond within 30 days of receipt of this Notice
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.
In your correspondence on this matter, please refer to CPF 1-2016-1012 and for each document
you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible.
Sincerely,
Byron Coy, PE
Director, Eastern Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Enclosures: Proposed Compliance Order
Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings
120161012_NOPV PCP PCO_11212016 Page 3 of 4



1-2016-1012
PROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER
Pursuant to 49 United States Code § 60118, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) proposes to issue to [Company name] a Compliance Order
incorporating the following remedial requirements to ensure Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company’s
(TGP) compliance with the pipeline safety regulations:
1. With regard to Item Number 1 of the Notice pertaining to TGP’s failure to
provide specific guidance for performing inspections at pipe supports in
accordance with §192.481(b), TGP must update its procedures to provide
guidance for performing atmospheric corrosion inspections on pipelines at pipe
supports. The procedures shall be revised within 60 days of receipt of the Final
Order.
2. TGP shall inspect the piping at pipe supports in Units 2911 Div E/Mercer District
#219 - PA and 2701 Div F/Hopkinton District #267 - MA/NH/RI (see map for
unit boundaries) in accordance with the revised procedures, within 12 months of
issuance of the Final Order.
3. TGP must complete the requirements as outlined above. All documentation
demonstrating compliance with each of the items outlined in this proposed
compliance order must be submitted to Byron Coy, PE, Director, Eastern Region,
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Suite 103, Bear Tavern
Road, West Trenton, NJ, within the time frames stated for each item.
4. It is requested (not mandated) that TGP maintain documentation of the safety
improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Compliance Order, and submit
the total to Byron Coy, PE, 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.
120161012_NOPV PCP PCO_11212016 Page 4 of 4

120161012_Final Order_11292018_text.pdf

November 29, 2018
Mr. Gary Buchler
Chief Operating Officer, Natural Gas Pipelines
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
1001 Louisiana Street, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77002
Re: CPF No. 1-2016-1011; 1-2016-1012
Dear Mr. Buchler:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced cases. It withdraws the
allegations of violation for both Notices, the associated civil penalties, and compliance orders.
These cases are now closed. Service of the Final Order by certified mail is effective upon the
date of mailing 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: Mr. Robert Burrough, Director, Eastern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA
Ms. Jessica Toll, Esq., Assistant General Counsel, Kinder Morgan, 370 Van Gordon
Street, Lakewood, CO 80228
Ms. Catherine D. Little, Esq., Bank of America Plaza, Suite 4100, 600 Peachtree Street,
N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308
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 )
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, ) CPF No. 1-2016-1011; 1-2016-1012
)
)
)
Respondent. )
____________________________________)
FINAL ORDER
From August - October 2015, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, representatives 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 Tennessee Gas
Pipeline Company (Tennessee Gas or Respondent). Tennessee Gas operates approximately
13,900 miles of pipeline from the Gulf coast in Texas and Louisiana through Arkansas,
Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Eastern Region, OPS (Director), issued to Respondent,
by letters dated November 10, 2016, and November 21, 2016, two Notices of Probable Violation,
Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order (Notices). In accordance with 49
C.F.R. § 190.207, each Notice proposed finding that Tennessee Gas violated 49 C.F.R. §192.605
and proposed assessing a civil penalty of $34,500 for the alleged violation. The Notices also
proposed ordering Respondent to take certain measures to correct the alleged violations.
Tennessee Gas responded to the Notice by letter dated December 9, 2016 (Response). The
company contested the allegations and requested a hearing. A hearing was subsequently held on
April 26, 2017, in West Trenton, New Jersey. At the hearing, Respondent was represented by
counsel.
WITHDRAWAL OF ALLEGATION- 1-2016-1011
At the hearing, Tennessee Gas contested the allegation in the Notice that it violated 49 C.F.R.
Part 192, as follows:
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.605, which states:
§ 192.605 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and
emergencies.



CPF No. 1-2016-1011; 1-2016-1012
Page 2
(a) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each
pipeline, a manual of written procedures for conducting operations and
maintenance activities and for emergency response. . .
(b) Maintenance and normal operations. The manual required by
paragraph (a) of this section must include procedures for the following,
if applicable, to provide safety during maintenance and operations.
(1) Operating, maintaining, and repairing the pipeline in
accordance with each of the requirements of this subpart and subpart M
of this part.
(2) Controlling corrosion in accordance with the operations and
maintenance requirements of subpart I of this part.
§ 192.481 Atmospheric corrosion control: General.
(a) Each operator must inspect each pipeline or portion of pipeline
that is exposed to the atmosphere for evidence of atmospheric corrosion,
as follows….
(b) During inspections the operator must give particular attention to
pipe at soil-to-air interfaces, under thermal insulation, under disbanded
coatings, at pipe supports, in splash zones, at deck penetrations, and in
spans over water.
(c) If atmospheric corrosion is found during an inspection, the
operator must provide protection against the corrosion as required by
§192.479.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.605 by failing to prepare and
follow for each pipeline, a manual of written procedures for operating, maintaining, and
repairing the pipeline to control corrosion in accordance with the requirements of § 192.481(b).
Specifically, the Notice alleged that the Tennessee Gas procedure for monitoring atmospheric
corrosion, O&M Procedure 918, failed to provide specific guidance on how to give particular
attention to pipe under thermal insulation. OPS argued that the Respondent’s procedure failed to
give sufficient detail such that a corrosion technician could adequately detect the presence of
atmospheric corrosion during an inspection. In the Notice, OPS stated that the procedure “failed
to provide . . . details such as … i. Criteria for selecting the option. ii. Individual(s) responsible
for selecting the method. iii. Documentation of the selected method…..”1
Tennessee Gas strongly objected to OPS’ decision to issue an NOPV based on the circumstances
presented by this case. The Respondent referred to OPS’ Part 192 Corrosion Enforcement
Guidance. Tennessee Gas argued that, while not legally enforceable, PHMSA guidance does not
support either (1) the use of a Notice of Probable Violation to address the level of detail in
existing procedures; or (2) enforcement actions that allege two offenses for a single violation that
is based on the same evidence.2 Additionally, Tennessee Gas refuted OPS’ allegation that its
1 Notice of Probable Violation 1-2016-1011 (Notice), (November 10, 2016) (on file with PHMSA), at 1.
2 “Based on PHMSA procedural Part 190 rules, internal Agency enforcement procedures, and prior Agency
enforcement, PHMSA should have issued a single NOA in this instance.” Tennessee Gas Post- Hearing Brief, at 7.



CPF No. 1-2016-1011; 1-2016-1012
Page 3
procedure failed to provide sufficient detail for a corrosion technician to perform an inspection.
Respondent argued that O&M Procedure 918 allows for a corrosion technician to elect between
visually inspecting pipes by removing insulation or clamps or developing a program whereby
visual inspections occur in select critical areas or predetermined inspection locations (emphasis
added). The Respondent argued that this flexibility is allowed by the regulation, and comports
with the requirement that its O&M Manual include procedures that mandate particular attention
be paid to pipe under thermal insulation.
In its post-hearing brief, Tennessee Gas ascribed particular significance to the fact that the
Notice only alleged a deficiency in its procedures, and not the actual inspections conducted
pursuant to those procedures. At the hearing, OPS conceded this point, and stated that it was not
alleging that Tennessee Gas either failed to conduct the required corrosion control inspections or
that corrosion was found during inspections conducted pursuant to the allegedly deficient
procedures.
Therefore, the only question required for decision is whether Tennessee Gas’ actual procedure is
so lacking in detail as to violate § 192.605 or § 192.481. In reading the plain language of these
regulations, I find that TGP’s procedure comports with these regulations. Tennessee Gas’
procedure states “during the inspection, give particular attention to the following components. . .
pipe under thermal or noise abatement insulation…pipe that is not visually accessible.” The
procedure further explicates how to inspect pipes that are not visually accessible. From a plain
reading of the regulation, O&M Procedure 918 meets the threshold set by the regulation. At the
hearing, OPS conceded that it cannot require the operator to have any particular language in its
procedural manual – that is left to the discretion of the operator, within the confines of the
regulatory language. There is no language in this regulation that requires the operator to provide
the level of detail in its procedures cited in this Notice.
Accordingly, based upon a review of the evidence, I find that Respondent did not violate 49
C.F.R. § 192.605, as alleged in the Notice, and therefore withdraw Item 1.
WITHDRAWAL OF ALLEGATION- 1-2016-1012
At the hearing, Tennessee Gas contested the allegation in the Notice that it violated 49 C.F.R.
Part 192, as follows:
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.605, which states:
§ 192.605 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and
emergencies.
(a) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each
pipeline, a manual of written procedures for conducting operations and
maintenance activities and for emergency response. . .
PHMSA Pipeline Safety Enforcement Procedures Section 4, p. 25, 27 (Mar. 23, 2016) (inspectors should “use
caution before citing the same code or subsection for more than one Item in a NOPV letter because if the items are
based on the same evidence, it may result in a single violation being inappropriately alleged as multiple violations”)



CPF No. 1-2016-1011; 1-2016-1012
Page 4
(b) Maintenance and normal operations. The manual required by
paragraph (a) of this section must include procedures for the following, if
applicable, to provide safety during maintenance and operations.
(1) Operating, maintaining, and repairing the pipeline in accordance
with each of the requirements of this subpart and subpart M of this part.
(2) Controlling corrosion in accordance with the operations and
maintenance requirements of subpart I of this part.
§ 192.481 Atmospheric corrosion control: General.
(a) Each operator must inspect each pipeline or portion of pipeline
that is exposed to the atmosphere for evidence of atmospheric corrosion,
as follows….
(b) During inspections the operator must give particular attention to
pipe at soil-to-air interfaces, under thermal insulation, under disbanded
coatings, at pipe supports, in splash zones, at deck penetrations, and in
spans over water.
(c) If atmospheric corrosion is found during an inspection, the
operator must provide protection against the corrosion as required by
§192.479.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.605 by failing to prepare and
follow for each pipeline, a manual of written procedures for operating, maintaining, and
repairing the pipeline. Specifically, the Notice alleged that Tennessee Gas’ procedure for
monitoring atmospheric corrosion, O&M Procedure 918, failed to provide specific guidance on
how to give particular attention to pipe at pipe supports in accordance with §192.481(b).
Respondent contested this allegation of violation. I am adopting the arguments set forth in my
consideration of the violation in 1-2016-1011. Accordingly, based upon a review of all of the
evidence, I find that Respondent did not violate 49 C.F.R. § 192.605, as alleged in the Notice,
and therefore withdraw Item I.
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
degree of Respondent’s culpability; the history of Respondent’s prior offenses; and 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
3 These amounts are adjusted annually for inflation. See, e.g., Pipeline Safety: Inflation Adjustment of Maximum
Civil Penalties, 82 Fed. Reg. 19325 (April 27, 2017).



CPF No. 1-2016-1011; 1-2016-1012
Page 5
civil penalty of $69,000 for the violations cited in 1-2016-1011 and 1-2016-1012.
1-2016-1011 Item 1: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $34,500 for Respondent’s violation
of 49 C.F.R. § 192.605, for failing to prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of written
procedures for operating, maintaining, and repairing the pipeline. For the reasons discussed
above, I find that the Respondent did not violate this regulation. Accordingly, having reviewed
the record, I withdraw the civil penalty of $34,500.
1-2016-1012 Item 1: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $34,500 for Respondent’s violation
of 49 C.F.R. § 192.605, for failing to prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of written
procedures for operating, maintaining, and repairing the pipeline. For the reasons discussed
above, I find that the Respondent did not violate this regulation. Accordingly, having reviewed
the record, I withdraw the civil penalty of $34,500.
COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed compliance orders with respect to Item 1 in Notice 1-2016-1011 and Item 1
in Notice 1-2016-1012 for violation of 49 C.F.R. §§ 192.605.
As stated above, I am withdrawing both Notices. Therefore, the compliance terms proposed in
the Notice are also withdrawn.
The terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon service in accordance with 49
C.F.R. § 190.5.
November 29, 2018
___________________________________ __________________________
Alan K. Mayberry Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
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