{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 12021045NOPV","title":"COLUMBIA GAS TRANSMISSION, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2021-12-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 191.5(a), 192.473(b), 192.5(b)(3)(ii), 192.9(d)(2).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12021045nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12021045nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12021045nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/12021045NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving COLUMBIA GAS TRANSMISSION, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 191.5(a),  192.473(b),  192.5(b)(3)(ii),  192.9(d)(2). The case was opened on 2021-12-22 and is reported as closed as of 2023-05-04. Proposed civil penalty: $1,064,400. Assessed civil penalty: $1,064,400. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n12021045NOPV_Closure Letter_05042023_(19-151550).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021045NOPV/12021045NOPV_Closure%20Letter_05042023_(19-151550).pdf\n\n12021045NOPV_Closure Letter_05042023_(19-151550)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021045NOPV/12021045NOPV_Closure%20Letter_05042023_(19-151550)_text.pdf\n\n12021045NOPV_Final Order_04222022_(19-151550).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021045NOPV/12021045NOPV_Final%20Order_04222022_(19-151550).pdf\n\n12021045NOPV_Final Order_04222022_(19-151550)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021045NOPV/12021045NOPV_Final%20Order_04222022_(19-151550)_text.pdf\n\n12021045NOPV_Operator Response to Notice_02202022_(19-151550).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021045NOPV/12021045NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_02202022_(19-151550).pdf\n\n12021045NOPV_PCO PCP_12222021_(19-151550).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021045NOPV/12021045NOPV_PCO%20PCP_12222021_(19-151550).pdf\n\n12021045NOPV_PCO PCP_12222021_(19-151550)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021045NOPV/12021045NOPV_PCO%20PCP_12222021_(19-151550)_text.pdf\n\n12021045NOPV_Final Order_04222022_(19-151550)_text.pdf\n\nApril 22, 2022\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: stanley chapman iii@tcenergy.com\nMr. Stanley Chapman\nExecutive Vice President & President, US NG Pipelines\nColumbia Gas Transmission, LLC\n7000 Louisiana Street\nHouston, Texas 77002\nRe: CPF No. 1-2021-045-NOPV\nDear Mr. Chapman:\nEnclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of\nviolation, assesses a civil penalty of $1,064,400, and specifies actions that need to be taken to\ncomply with the pipeline safety regulations. When the civil penalty has been paid and the terms\nof the compliance order are completed, as determined by the Director, Eastern Region, this\nenforcement action will be closed. Service of this decision by electronic mail is effective upon\nthe date of transmission and acknowledgment of receipt as provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.\nThank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nAlan K. Mayberry\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\nEnclosures (Final Order and NOPV)\ncc: Mr. Robert Burrough, Director, Eastern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nMs. Wendy West, Vice President, Safety, Quality & Compliance, TC Energy Corporation,\nwendy_west@tcenergy.com\nMr. Lee Romack, Director, Regulatory Compliance, TC Energy Corporation,\nlee_romack@tcenergy.com\nCONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED\n\n\n\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nOFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20590\n____________________________________\nIn the Matter of )\nColumbia Gas Transmission, LLC, ) CPF No. 1-2021-045-NOPV\na subsidiary of TC Energy Corp., )\n)\n)\n)\nRespondent. )\n____________________________________)\nFINAL ORDER\nOn December 22, 2021, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Eastern Region, Office of\nPipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation (Notice) to Columbia Gas\nTransmission, LLC (Respondent), a subsidiary of TC Energy Corporation. The Notice proposed\nfinding that Respondent violated the pipeline safety regulations in 49 C.F.R. Parts 191 and 192\nand proposed a civil penalty of $1,064,400. The Notice also proposed certain measures to\ncorrect the violation of § 192.5(b)(3)(ii). Respondent did not contest the allegations of violation,\ncorrective measures, or proposed civil penalty.\nBased upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the\npipeline safety regulations listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is\nincorporated by reference:\n49 C.F.R. § 191.5(a) (Item 1) ─ Respondent failed to notify the National\nResponse Center at the earliest practicable moment following discovery, but no\nlater than one hour after confirmed discovery, of the fire/explosion at a residence\nlocated on the property of Kemmer’s Greenhouse and Farm Market (Kemmer’s)\nin Mayport, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.\n49 C.F.R. § 192.473(b) (Item 2) ─ Respondent failed to design and install the\nimpressed current type cathodic protection system or galvanic anode system on\nLine 134 in the vicinity of Kemmer’s so as to minimize any adverse effects on\nexisting adjacent underground metallic structures.\n49 C.F.R. § 192.5(b)(3)(ii) (Item 3) ─ Respondent failed to classify a segment of\nLine 4010 and Line 134 near Kemmer’s as a Class 3 location.\nThese findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement\n\n\n\nCPF No. 1-2021-045-NOPV\nPage 2\naction taken against Respondent. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, I assess Respondent a\ntotal civil penalty of $1,064,400.\nPayment of the civil penalty must be made within 20 days of service. Federal regulations (49\nC.F.R. § 89.21(b)(3)) require such payment to be made by wire transfer through the Federal\nReserve Communications System (Fedwire), to the account of the U.S. Treasury. Detailed\ninstructions are contained in the enclosure. Questions concerning wire transfers should be\ndirected to: Financial Operations Division (AMK-325), Federal Aviation Administration, Mike\nMonroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 S MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 79169.\nThe Financial Operations Division telephone number is (405) 954-8845.\nFailure to pay the $1,064,400 civil penalty will result in accrual of interest at the current annual\nrate in accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 3717, 31 C.F.R. § 901.9 and 49 C.F.R. § 89.23. Pursuant to\nthose same authorities, a late penalty charge of six percent (6%) per annum will be charged if\npayment is not made within 110 days of service. Furthermore, failure to pay the civil penalty\nmay result in referral of the matter to the Attorney General for appropriate action in a district\ncourt of the United States.\nCompliance Actions\nPursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217, Respondent is ordered to take the\nactions proposed in the enclosed Notice to correct the violation of § 192.5(b)(3)(ii). The\nDirector may grant an extension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a written\nrequest timely submitted by the Respondent and demonstrating good cause for an extension.\nUpon completion of ordered actions, Respondent may request that the Director close the case.\nFailure to comply with this Order may result in the assessment of civil penalties under 49 C.F.R.\n§ 190.223 or in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the\nUnited States.\nWarning Item\nWith respect to Item 4, the Notice alleged probable violations of 49 C.F.R. § 192.9(d)(2), but did\nnot propose a civil penalty or compliance order for this item. Therefore, this is considered a\nwarning item. If OPS finds a violation of this provision in a subsequent inspection, Respondent\nmay be subject to future enforcement action.\nThe terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R.\n§ 190.5.\nApril 22, 2022\n___________________________________ _________________________\nAlan K. Mayberry Date Issued\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\n\n12021045NOPV_Closure Letter_05042023_(19-151550)_text.pdf\n\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: stanley chapman iii@tcenergy.com\nMay 4, 2023\nMr. Stanley G. Chapman, III\nExecutive Vice President and President\nU.S. Natural Gas Pipelines\nTC Energy Corporation\n700 Louisiana Street\nHouston, TX 77002\nCPF 1-2021-045-NOPV\nDear Mr. Chapman:\nOn April 22, 2022, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued\nto Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, a subsidiary of TC Energy Corporation, a Final Order in the\nabove-referenced case. This Order included a Compliance Order and Civil Penalty assessment.\nBased on our review of the documentation you provided and confirmation of payment of the civil\npenalty, it has been determined that you have complied with the terms of this Order.\nAccordingly, this case is now closed, and no further action is contemplated with respect to the\nmatters involved in this case. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nRobert Burrough\nDirector, Eastern Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","truncated":false,"body_characters":8755}