# EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS, LLC — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 12026001WL
- **title:** EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS, LLC — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2026-04-29
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 192.161(a)(1), 192.161(c)(3), 192.706(a).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12026001wl.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12026001wl.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12026001wl
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/12026001WL
**body:**

Warning Letter involving EAST TENNESSEE NATURAL GAS, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.161(a)(1),  192.161(c)(3),  192.706(a). The case was opened on 2026-04-29 and is reported as closed as of 2026-04-29. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

12026001WL_Warning Letter_04292026_(25-329586).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12026001WL/12026001WL_Warning%20Letter_04292026_(25-329586).pdf

12026001WL_Warning Letter_04292026_(25-329586)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12026001WL/12026001WL_Warning%20Letter_04292026_(25-329586)_text.pdf

12026001WL_Warning Letter_04292026_(25-329586)_text.pdf

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
840 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300
West Trenton, NJ 08628
609.771.7800
WARNING LETTER
VIA EMAIL TO: matthew.akman@enbridge.com
April 29, 2026
Matthew Akman
EVP & President GTM
East Tennessee Natural Gas LLC
915 North Eldridge Parkway
Houston, TX 77079
CPF 1-2026-001-WL
Dear Mr. Akman:
From March 31 through December 11, 2025, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Eastern Region,
pursuant to Chapter 601 of Title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), inspected East Tennessee Natural
Gas LLC’s (ETNG) plans, procedures, records, and facilities in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas,
Tennessee, and Virginia.
As a result of the inspection, Eastern Region alleges that ETNG has committed probable violations
of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 192. The
items inspected and the probable violations are:
1. § 192.161 Supports and anchors.
(a) Each pipeline and its associated equipment must have enough
anchors or supports to:
(1) Prevent undue strain on connected equipment;
(b) …
(c) Each support or anchor on an exposed pipeline must be made of
durable, noncombustible material and must be designed and installed
as follows:
(1) …
(3) Movement of the pipeline may not cause disengagement of the
support equipment.



CPF 1-2026-001-WL
ETNG failed to have enough pipeline support to prevent undue strain on connected equipment and
failed to ensure each support was designed and installed such that movement of the pipeline did
not cause disengagement of the support equipment. Specifically, ETNG failed to ensure pipeline
supports across the following 17 locations were in accordance with sections 192.161(a)(1) and
192.161(c)(3):
1. Boyds Creek Compressor Station: support not engaged with pipeline.
2. Dixon Springs Compressor Station: inadequate support due to movement
of soil and/or pipeline.
3. Monterey Compressor Station: inadequate support due to movement of
soil and/or pipeline.
4. Ridgetop Compressor Station: support not engaged with pipeline.
5. Tracy City Compressor Station: supports not engaged with pipeline.
6. Madisonville Compressor Station: supports not engaged with pipeline
due to movement of soil and/or pipeline.
7. VS 3100-1 & M&R 59084: apparent missing support.
8. M&R 59313: support not engaged with pipeline.
9. MLV 3312 -1 & 2: apparent missing support.
10. M&R 59130: support corroded.
11. M&R 59102: apparent missing supports.
12. M&R 59099: apparent missing supports.
13. M&R 59040: apparent missing supports.
14. M&R 59134: apparent missing supports; supports not engaged with
pipeline.
15. M&R 59177: apparent missing supports; supports not engaged with
pipeline.
16. M&R 59026: supports not engaged with pipeline.
Page 2 of 4



CPF 1-2026-001-WL
17. M&R 59054: apparent missing supports.
Therefore, ETNG failed to have enough pipeline support to prevent undue strain on connected
equipment and failed to ensure each support was designed and installed such that movement of the
pipeline did not cause disengagement of the support equipment in accordance with sections
192.161(a)(1) and 192.161(c)(3).
2. § 192.706 Transmission lines: Leakage surveys.
Leakage surveys of a transmission line must be conducted at intervals
not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year.
However, in the case of a transmission line which transports gas in
conformity with § 192.625 without an odor or odorant, leakage surveys
using leak detector equipment must be conducted—
(a) In Class 3 locations, at intervals not exceeding 7 ½ months, but
at least twice each calendar year; []
ETNG failed to conduct leakage surveys of transmission lines which transport gas in conformity
with § 192.625, without an odor or odorant, in Class 3 locations at intervals not exceeding 7 ½
months, but at least twice each calendar year. Specifically, ETNG failed to conduct surveys during
calendar years 2022 through 2024 on its pipeline designated 3200-1, in accordance with section
192.706(a).
During the inspection, the Eastern Region inspector requested leakage survey records of Class 3
areas for Line 3200-1 for calendar years 2022, 2023, and 2024. For calendar year 2023, ETNG
only produced Work Order 14870861 (10/31/2023) for the Line 3200-1 Class 3 segment between
mileposts 12.562 and 12.678. This record failed to demonstrate that ETNG conducted a leakage
survey at least twice in 2023 for this transmission line. For calendar years 2022 and 2024, ETNG
failed to produce any records.
Therefore, ETNG failed to conduct leakage surveys of transmission lines which transport gas in
conformity with § 192.625, without an odor or odorant, in Class 3 locations at intervals not
exceeding 7 ½ months, but at least twice each calendar year in accordance with section
192.706(a).
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
$272,926 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,729,245 for a related
series of violations. For violations occurring on or after December 28, 2023 and before December
30, 2024 the maximum penalty may not exceed $266,015 per violation per day the violation
persists, up to a maximum of $2,660,135 for a related series of violations. For violations occurring
on or after January 6, 2023 and before December 28, 2023 the maximum penalty may not 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 violations occurring on or after March 21, 2022 and before January 6, 2023
Page 3 of 4



CPF 1-2026-001-WL
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 violations 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
violations 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 violations 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.
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 items identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in ETNG
being subject to additional enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to 1-
2026-001-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
cc: Michael Koby, SVP & CEO, GTM, ETNG, michael.koby@enbridge.com
Peter Seydewitz, Dir., Operational Excellence, ETNG, peter.seydewitz@enbridge.com
Page 4 of 4
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 8606