{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 12025012WL","title":"TEXAS EASTERN TRANSMISSION, LP — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2025-05-28","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.12(b)(2).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12025012wl.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12025012wl.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12025012wl","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/12025012WL","body":"Warning Letter involving TEXAS EASTERN TRANSMISSION, LP. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.12(b)(2). The case was opened on 2025-05-28 and is reported as closed as of 2025-05-28. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n12025012WL_Warning Letter_05282025_(24-296371).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12025012WL/12025012WL_Warning%20Letter_05282025_(24-296371).pdf\n\n12025012WL_Warning Letter_05282025_(24-296371)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12025012WL/12025012WL_Warning%20Letter_05282025_(24-296371)_text.pdf\n\n12025012WL_Warning Letter_05282025_(24-296371)_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: cynthia.hansen@enbridge.com\nMay 28, 2025\nMs. Cynthia Hansen\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\nTransmission and Midstream\nEnbridge Inc.\n915 North Eldridge Parkway\nHouston, Texas 77079\nCPF 1-2025-012-WL\nDear Ms. Hansen:\nFrom August 20 to August 22, 2024, of the on-site inspection, a representative of the Pipeline and\nHazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States\nCode (U.S.C.) inspected Texas Eastern Gas Transmission’s1 (Texas Eastern) Accident\nUnderground Natural Gas Storage in Garrett, Maryland.\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. § 192.12 Underground natural gas storage facilities.\n(a) . . .\n(b) Depleted hydrocarbon and aquifer reservoir UNGSFs.\n(1) . . .\n(2) Each UNGSF that uses a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir or an\naquifer reservoir for natural gas storage and was constructed on or\nbefore July 18, 2017, must meet the provisions of API RP 1171\n(incorporated by reference, see §192.7), sections 8, 9, 10, and 11, and\nparagraph (c) of this section, by January 18, 2018, and must meet all\nprovisions of paragraph (d) of this section by March 13, 2021.\n1 Texas Eastern Gas Transmission is a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc.\n\n\n\nTexas Eastern failed to meet the provisions of American Petroleum Institute Recommended\nPractice 1171 (API RP 1171), Section 9. Specifically, Texas Eastern failed to document the annual\noperation of the master valve pursuant to API RP 1171, Section 9.3.2 (Section 9.3.2) in accordance\nwith its own procedures and pursuant to API RP 1171, Section 9.8.1 (Section 9.8.1).\nSection 9.3.2 states in part, “The operator shall test the operation of the master valve and wellhead\npipeline isolation valve at least annually for proper function and ability to isolate the well.”\nSection 9.8.1 states, “Inspections, tests, patrols, or analyses shall be documented according to the\noperator’s procedures.”\nTexas Eastern’s procedure Records Retention Schedule (version 5, 8/1/2023), Section 4 Retention\nRules and Matrix indicated records pertaining to Asset Management within Commodities and\nFacilities are kept for life of the asset plus 10 years.\nDuring the inspection, PHMSA reviewed Texas Eastern’s valve records for the wells at the\nAccident Storage facility. For calendar year 2023, there were no test records for nine wells\npertaining to testing the operation of their master valve for proper function and ability to isolate\nthe well. These nine wells are Bach #1, Doerr #1, Frazee Bro #1, Friend #1, Hanlin #5, Margroff\n#1, Margroff #2, Mcculough #1, and Whiteface #2.\nTherefore, Texas Eastern failed to meet the provisions of Section 9.8.1.\nUnder 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed\n$272,926 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,729,245 for a related\nseries of violations. For violation occurring on or after December 28, 2023 and before December\n30, 2024, the maximum penalty may not exceed $266,015 per violation per day the violation\npersists, up to a maximum of $2,660,135 for a related series of violations. For violation occurring\non or after January 6, 2023 and before December 28, 2023, the maximum penalty may not exceed\n$257,664 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,576,627 for a related\nseries of violations. For violation occurring on or after March 21, 2022 and before January 6, 2023,\nthe maximum penalty may not exceed $239,142 per violation per day the violation persists, up to\na maximum of $2,391,142 for a related series of violations. For violation occurring on or after\nMay 3, 2021 and before March 21, 2022, the maximum penalty may not exceed $225,134 per\nviolation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,251,334 for a related series of\nviolations. For violation occurring on or after January 11, 2021 and before May 3, 2021, the\nmaximum penalty may not exceed $222,504 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a\nmaximum of $2,225,034 for a related series of violations. For violation occurring on or after July\n31, 2019 and before January 11, 2021, the maximum penalty may not exceed $218,647 per\nviolation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,186,465 for a related series of\nviolations.\nWe have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents involved in this case, and have\ndecided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this\ntime. We advise you to correct the item identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Texas\nEastern Transmission, LP being subject to additional enforcement action.\n\n\n\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to\nCPF 1-2025-012-WL. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement\naction is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your\nresponsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b), along with the\ncomplete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions\nyou believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the\nredacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b).\nSincerely,\nRobert Burrough\nDirector, Eastern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","truncated":false,"body_characters":6353}