# CHARLOTTESVILLE, CITY OF — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 12023059WL
- **title:** CHARLOTTESVILLE, CITY OF — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2023-09-26
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 192.161(c).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12023059wl.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12023059wl.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12023059wl
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/12023059WL
**body:**

Warning Letter involving CHARLOTTESVILLE, CITY OF. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.161(c). The case was opened on 2023-09-26 and is reported as closed as of 2023-09-26. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

12023059WL_Warning Letter_09262023_(23-272590).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12023059WL/12023059WL_Warning%20Letter_09262023_(23-272590).pdf

12023059WL_Warning Letter_09262023_(23-272590)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12023059WL/12023059WL_Warning%20Letter_09262023_(23-272590)_text.pdf

12023059WL_Warning Letter_09262023_(23-272590)_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
OVERNIGHT EXPRESS DELIVERY
September 26, 2023
Ms. Lauren Hildebrand
Public Utilities Manager
City of Charlottesville
305 4th Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
CPF 1-2023-059-WL
Dear Ms. Hildebrand:
From February 10, 2023, to April 11, 2023, an inspector from the Virginia State Corporation
Commission, Division of Pipeline Safety (VA SCC), acting as Agent for the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United
States Code (U.S.C.) inspected a pipeline facility located near West Main Street, Charlottesville,
VA operated by the City of Charlottesville (City).
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 (CFR). The item inspected and
the probable violation is:
1. § 192.161 Supports and anchors.
(a) …
(c) Each support or anchor on an exposed pipeline must be made of
durable, noncombustible material and must be designed and installed
as follows:
During the inspection, VA SCC observed a meter supported by wooden posts along West Main
Street in Charlottesville, Virginia. The meter was directly set upon concrete blocks. The concrete
blocks were supported by wooden posts stacked underneath them. VA SCC notified the City of
the observation, and the City immediately replaced the wooden supports with cinder blocks.
Additionally, the City took additional measures to prevent reoccurrence.



Therefore, the City failed to design each support or anchor on an exposed pipeline to be made of
durable, noncombustible material in accordance with § 192.161(c).
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
$257,664 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,576,627 for a related
series of violations. For violation occurring on or after March 21, 2022, and before January 6,
2023, the maximum penalty may not exceed $239,142 per violation per day the violation persists,
up to a maximum of $2,391,142 for a related series of violations. For violation occurring on or
after May 3, 2021, and before March 21, 2022, the maximum penalty may not exceed $225,134
per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,251,334 for a related series of
violations. For violation occurring on or after January 11, 2021, and before May 3, 2021, the
maximum penalty may not exceed $222,504 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a
maximum of $2,225,034 for a related series of violations. For violation occurring on or after July
31, 2019, and before January 11, 2021, the maximum penalty may not exceed $218,647 per
violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,186,465 for a related series of
violations. For violation occurring on or after November 27, 2018, and before July 31, 2019, the
maximum penalty may not exceed $213,268 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to
exceed $2,132,679. For violation occurring on or after November 2, 2015, and before November
27, 2018, the maximum penalty may not exceed $209,002 per violation per day, with a maximum
penalty not to exceed $2,090,022.
We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents involved in this case, and have
decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this
time. We advise you to correct the item identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in City
of Charlottesville being subject to additional enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to
CPF 1-2023-059-WL. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement
action is subject to being 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).
Sincerely,
Robert Burrough
Director, Eastern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
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