{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 120205006W","title":"EASTERN GAS TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE, INC. — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2020-04-07","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 195.420(a).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-120205006w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-120205006w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-120205006w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/120205006W","body":"Warning Letter involving EASTERN GAS TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE, INC.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 195.420(a). The case was opened on 2020-04-07 and is reported as closed as of 2020-04-07. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n120205006W_Operator Response to Notice_05142020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120205006W/120205006W_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_05142020.pdf\n\n120205006W_Warning Letter_04072020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120205006W/120205006W_Warning%20Letter_04072020.pdf\n\n120205006W_Warning Letter_04072020_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/120205006W/120205006W_Warning%20Letter_04072020_text.pdf\n\n120205006W_Warning Letter_04072020_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nOVERNIGHT EXPRESS DELIVERY\nApril 7, 2020\nMatt Lamb\nVice President, Eastern Pipeline Operations\nDominion Energy Transmission, Inc.\n925 White Oaks Boulevard\nBridgeport, WV 26330\nCPF 1-2020-5006W\nDear Mr. Lamb:\nFrom July 16-18, 2019, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), inspected\nDominion Energy Transmission, Inc.’s (Dominion) propane pipeline system in Pennsylvania and\nWest Virginia.\nAs a result of the inspection, it is alleged that you have committed a probable violation of the\nPipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The item inspected and\nthe probable violation is:\n1. § 195.420 Valve Maintenance\n(a) Each operator shall maintain each valve that is necessary for the\nsafe operation of its pipeline systems in good working order at all times.\nDominion failed to maintain a valve that is necessary for safe operation of its pipeline systems in\ngood working order at all times. Specifically, a vapor leak was evident at Dominion’s Lower Run\nGate Valve (GA-20) at the time of the inspection and was identified as having been present for\napproximately one month prior.\nDuring the field inspection on July 16, 2019, the PHMSA inspectors observed a vapor leak at GA-\n20 on the isolation valve between the launcher/receiver trap and the main line. When Dominion\nwas questioned about the vapor leak, the response was that there had been an on-going problem\n\n\n\nCPF 1-2020-5006W\nwith leakage since the valve was installed and pressurized approximately one month prior.\nDominion then stated that the line was scheduled for blow down within a week, and the repair or\nreplacement would be attempted at that time. This demonstrates that Dominion was aware of the\ncondition of the valve but neither disclosed it to PHMSA nor took steps to immediately mitigate\nthe leak.\nTherefore, Dominion failed to maintain its isolation valve at GA-20 in safe working order at all\ntimes, as required by § 195.420(a).\nUnder 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed\n$218,647 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,186,465 for a related\nseries of violations. For violation occurring on or after November 27, 2018 and before July 31,\n2019, the maximum penalty may not exceed $213,268 per violation per day, with a maximum\npenalty not to exceed $2,132,679. For violation occurring on or after November 2, 2015 and before\nNovember 27, 2018, the maximum penalty may not exceed $209,002 per violation per day, with a\nmaximum penalty not to exceed $2,090,022. For violations occurring prior to November 2, 2015,\nthe maximum penalty may not exceed $200,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty\nnot to exceed $2,000,000 for a related series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances\nand supporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional\nenforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the\nitem(s) identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc.\nbeing subject to additional enforcement action.\nBe advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement action is subject to being\nmade publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for\nconfidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the complete original document you must\nprovide a second copy of the document with the portions you believe qualify for confidential\ntreatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for\nconfidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, please submit all correspondence in this\nmatter to Robert Burrough, Director, PHMSA Eastern Region, 840 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300,\nWest Trenton, NJ 08628. Please refer to CPF 1-2020-5006W on each document you submit, and\nwhenever possible provide a signed PDF copy in electronic format. Smaller files may be emailed\nto robert.burrough@dot.gov. Larger files should be sent on USB flash drive accompanied by the\noriginal paper copy to the Eastern Region Office.\nSincerely,\nRobert Burrough\nDirector, Eastern Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n120205006W_Warning Letter_04072020_text Page 2 of 2","truncated":false,"body_characters":5296}