# COLUMBIA GAS TRANSMISSION, LLC — Notice of Amendment - **operation:** document - **citation:** CPF 12024029NOA - **title:** COLUMBIA GAS TRANSMISSION, LLC — Notice of Amendment - **source type:** enforcement - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** historical - **official:** true - **published on:** 2024-04-16 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.12(c). - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12024029noa.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12024029noa.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12024029noa - **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/12024029NOA **body:** Notice of Amendment involving COLUMBIA GAS TRANSMISSION, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.12(c). The case was opened on 2024-04-16 and is reported as closed as of 2024-06-18. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status. Official case documents: 12024029NOA_Closure Letter_06182024_(23-263997).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12024029NOA/12024029NOA_Closure%20Letter_06182024_(23-263997).pdf 12024029NOA_Closure Letter_06182024_(23-263997)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12024029NOA/12024029NOA_Closure%20Letter_06182024_(23-263997)_text.pdf 12024029NOA_Notice of Amendment_04162024_(23-263997).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12024029NOA/12024029NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_04162024_(23-263997).pdf 12024029NOA_Notice of Amendment_04162024_(23-263997)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12024029NOA/12024029NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_04162024_(23-263997)_text.pdf 12024029NOA_Operator Response to Notice_06142024_(23-263997).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12024029NOA/12024029NOA_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_06142024_(23-263997).pdf 12024029NOA_Notice of Amendment_04162024_(23-263997)_text.pdf NOTICE OF AMENDMENT OVERNIGHT EXPRESS DELIVERY April 16, 2024 Ms. Tina Faraca Executive Vice President and President U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, a subsidiary of TC Energy Corporation 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 700 Houston, Texas 77002 CPF 1-2024-029-NOA Dear Ms. Faraca: From September 19, 2023 to September 21, 2023, and December 5, 2023 to December 6, 2023, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) inspected Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC’s (CGT) procedures for the Lucas Storage Facility in Ashland County, Ohio. As a result of the inspection, PHMSA has identified an apparent inadequacy found within CGT’s plans or procedures. The item inspected and the inadequacy is described below: 1. § 192.12 Underground natural gas storage facilities. (a) …. (c) Procedural manuals. Each operator of a UNGSF must prepare and follow for each facility one or more manuals of written procedures for conducting operations, maintenance, and emergency preparedness and response activities under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. Each operator must keep records necessary to administer such procedures and review and update these manuals at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year. Each operator must keep the appropriate parts of these manuals accessible at locations where UNGSF work is being performed. Each operator must have written procedures in place before commencing operations or beginning an activity not yet implemented. CGT’s written procedures for underground natural gas storage were inadequate to assure the safe operation of a pipeline facility. Specifically, CGT’s Storage Well Site Inspection Task Package (WSITP), Section h (wellhead leak inspection) failed to contain adequate detail to satisfy the provisions of American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 1171 (API RP 1171) (2015), Section 9.3.2 required by the regulation. Section 9.3.2 of API RP 1171 states, in part, “The operator shall visually inspect each wellhead assembly at least annually for leaks.” Section h (wellhead leak inspection) of CGT’s WSITP stated, in part: Using visual and/or audible signals and smells; inspect for the presence of gas leaks on the wellhead equipment. 0) No evidence of a leak 1) Minor leak 2) Moderate leak 3) Major leak Note: Leaks can occur at various locations, including flanges, fittings, bull plugs, and ground level. Leak location and intensity should be considered. If there is a leak, it should be reported immediately. Documentation requirement: Complete the Sap Work Order. Ensure equipment/entity/device information is current. Record discrepancies in SAP Record relevant observations, deficiencies, anomalies, and repairs for each system inspected in SAP. Schedule any additional maintenance to be completed in a timely manner. During the inspection, PHMSA reviewed CGT’s WSITP, Section h (wellhead leak inspection) and CGT records of leaks documented in SAP in 2022. CGT’s Well Inspection Task, Section h (wellhead leak inspection) was found to lack adequate detail regarding how to conduct and document the visual inspections, including details on what constituted ‘no evidence of a leak’, a ‘minor’, a ‘moderate’, and a ‘major’ leak. The procedure also lacked details about the timeframe for repairing leaks, including consideration of the severity of the leak. The procedure only directed employees to schedule additional maintenance in a timely manner. Therefore, CGT’s written procedures required by § 192.12(c) pursuant to meeting the requirements of Section 9.3.2 were inadequate to assure public safety. CGT must revise its procedures to address the discrepancy outlined above. Response to this Notice This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. Enclosed as part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. 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). Following the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised procedures, or a request for a hearing under § 190.211. If you do not respond within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this 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 an Order Directing Amendment. If your plans or procedures are found inadequate as alleged in this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans or procedures to correct the inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.206). If you are not contesting this Notice, we propose that you submit your amended procedures to my office within 30 days of receipt of this Notice. This period may be extended by written request for good cause. Once the inadequacies identified herein have been addressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement action will be closed. It is requested (not mandated) that Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC maintain documentation of the safety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision of plans, procedures) and submit the total to Robert Burrough, Director, Eastern Region, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence concerning this matter, please refer to CPF 1-2024-029-NOA and, for each document you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible. Sincerely, Robert Burrough Director, Eastern Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Enclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings Cc: Daniel Cerkoney Amy Willis 12024029NOA_Closure Letter_06182024_(23-263997)_text.pdf OVERNIGHT EXPRESS DELIVERY June 18, 2024 Ms. Tina Faraca President and Chief Executive Officer Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 700 Houston, Texas 77002 CPF 1-2024-029-NOA Dear Ms. Faraca: From September 19, 2023 to September 21, 2023, and December 5, 2023 to December 6, 2023, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) inspected Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC’s (CGT) procedures for Lucas Storage Facility in Ashland County, Ohio. As a result of the inspection, CGT was issued a Notice of Amendment on April 16, 2024, which proposed amendment of your procedures. CGT submitted its amended procedures on June 14, 2024. My staff reviewed the amended procedures, and it appears that the inadequacies outlined in this Notice of Amendment have been corrected. This letter is to inform you no further action is necessary and this case is now closed. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, Robert Burrough Director, Eastern Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Cc: < amy_willis@tcenergy.com> - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 8898