{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 12021063NOA","title":"EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION — Notice of Amendment","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2021-11-18","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.303.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12021063noa.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12021063noa.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12021063noa","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/12021063NOA","body":"Notice of Amendment involving EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.303. The case was opened on 2021-11-18 and is reported as closed as of 2022-02-22. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n12021063NOA_Closure Letter_02222022_(20-172495).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021063NOA/12021063NOA_Closure%20Letter_02222022_(20-172495).pdf\n\n12021063NOA_Closure Letter_02222022_(20-172495)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021063NOA/12021063NOA_Closure%20Letter_02222022_(20-172495)_text.pdf\n\n12021063NOA_Notice of Amendment_11182021_(20-172495).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021063NOA/12021063NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_11182021_(20-172495).pdf\n\n12021063NOA_Notice of Amendment_11182021_(20-172495)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021063NOA/12021063NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_11182021_(20-172495)_text.pdf\n\n12021063NOA_Operator Response to Notice_12162021_(20-172495).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12021063NOA/12021063NOA_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_12162021_(20-172495).pdf\n\n12021063NOA_Notice of Amendment_11182021_(20-172495)_text.pdf\n\nNOTICE OF AMENDMENT\nOVERNIGHT EXPRESS DELIVERY\nNovember 18, 2021\nMr. Gregg West\nVice President, Midstream Operations\nEquitrans Midstream Corporation\n2200 Energy Drive\nCanonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317\nCPF 1-2021-063-NOA\nDear Mr. West:\nFrom July 20, 2021 to July 21, 2021, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) inspected\nEquitrans Midstream Corporation’s (EQT) design and construction procedures for the Mountain\nValley Pipeline in Beckley, West Virginia.\nOn the basis of the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacy found within EQT’s\nplans or procedures, as described below:\n1. § 192.303 Compliance with specifications or standards.\nEach transmission line or main must be constructed in accordance\nwith comprehensive written specifications or standards that are consistent\nwith this part.\nEQT’s standards for constructing transmission lines were inadequate to ensure safe operation of a\npipeline facility. Specifically, EQT’s MVP construction standards for coating inspection did not\nadequately address the requirements of § 192.307,1 § 192.309,2 and § 192.461(e),3 as required by §\n192.303.\nDuring the inspection, PHMSA requested EQT’s procedures for assessing coating and remediating\ndamage that may have occurred as a result of installation by boring, driving, horizontal directional\ndrilling, or other similar methods. EQT provided Sections 10.2 and 10.4 of its MVP Design and\nConstruction Manual. However, these procedures did not address inspecting and assessing pipe that\nemerges in the exit pit for indication of damage. Additionally, the procedures did not include\nrequirements to remediate damage that may have occurred during installation.\n\n\n\nCPF 1-2021-063-NOA\nTherefore, EQT failed to prepare written standards to be followed during transmission line or main\nconstruction that were consistent with the requirements of Part 192, as required by § 192.303. EQT\nmust revise its procedures to specifically address the requirements of § 192.307, § 192.309, and §\n192.416(e).\nResponse to this Notice\nThis Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. Enclosed as part\nof this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement\nProceedings.\nPlease refer to this document and note the response options. Be advised that all material you submit\nin response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that\nany portion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b),\nalong with the complete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the\nportions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe\nthe redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).\nFollowing the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised procedures,\nor a request for a hearing under § 190.211. If you do not respond within 30 days of receipt of this\nNotice, this constitutes a waiver of your right to contest the allegations in this Notice and authorizes\nthe Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to find facts as alleged in this Notice without further\nnotice to you and to issue an Order Directing Amendment. If your plans or procedures are found\ninadequate as alleged in this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans or procedures to correct\nthe inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.206). If you are not contesting this Notice, we propose that you\nsubmit your amended procedures to my office within 30 days of receipt of this Notice. This period\nmay be extended by written request for good cause. Once the inadequacies identified herein have been\naddressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement action will be closed.\nIt is requested (not mandated) that EQT maintain documentation of the safety improvement costs\nassociated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision of plans, procedures) and\nsubmit the total to Robert Burrough, Director, Eastern Region, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration, 840 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300, West Trenton, NJ 08628. In correspondence\nconcerning this matter, please refer to CPF 1-2021-063-NOA and, for each document you submit,\nplease provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible. Smaller files may be emailed to\nrobert.burrough@dot.gov. Larger files should be sent on USB flash drive accompanied by the original\npaper copy to the Eastern Region Office.\nSincerely,\nRobert Burrough\nDirector, Eastern Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nEnclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings\n12021063NOA_Notice of Amendment_11182021_(20-172495)_text Page 2 of 3\n\n\n\nCPF 1-2021-063-NOA\n1 § 192.307 Inspection of materials.\nEach length of pipe and each other component must be visually inspected at the site of installation to ensure that it\nhas not sustained any visually determinable damage that could impair its serviceability.\n2 § 192.309 Repair of steel pipe.\n(a) Each imperfection or damage that impairs the serviceability of a length of steel pipe must be repaired or\nremoved. …\n3 § 192.461 External corrosion control: Protective coating.\n(a) …\n(e) If coated pipe is installed by boring, driving, or other similar method, precautions must be taken to minimize\ndamage to the coating during installation.\n12021063NOA_Notice of Amendment_11182021_(20-172495)_text Page 3 of 3\n\n12021063NOA_Closure Letter_02222022_(20-172495)_text.pdf\n\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: GWest@equitransmidstream.com\nFebruary 22, 2022\nMr. Gregg West\nVice President, Midstream Operations\nEquitrans Midstream Corporation\n2200 Energy Drive\nCanonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317\nCPF 1-2021-063-NOA\nDear Mr. West:\nFrom July 20, 2021 to July 21, 2021, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.)\ninspected Equitrans Midstream Corporation's (EQT) design and construction procedures for the\nMountain Valley Pipeline in Beckley, West Virginia. As a result of the inspection, EQT was issued\na Notice of Amendment on November 18, 2021, which proposed an amendment of your\nprocedures.\nEQT submitted its amended procedures on December 16, 2021. My staff has reviewed the\namended procedures, and it appears that the modifications incorporated into your MVP\nconstruction standard have been implemented and amended adequately to address the inadequacy.\nThis letter is to inform you no further action is necessary and this case is now closed. Thank you\nfor your cooperation.\nSincerely,\nRobert Burrough\nDirector, Eastern Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","truncated":false,"body_characters":8163}