{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 12026016WL","title":"DANVILLE, CITY OF — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2026-01-21","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.747(b).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12026016wl.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12026016wl.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12026016wl","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/12026016WL","body":"Warning Letter involving DANVILLE, CITY OF. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.747(b). The case was opened on 2026-01-21 and is reported as closed as of 2026-01-21. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n12026016WL_Warning Letter_01212026_(25-354261).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12026016WL/12026016WL_Warning%20Letter_01212026_(25-354261).pdf\n\n12026016WL_Warning Letter_01212026_(25-354261)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12026016WL/12026016WL_Warning%20Letter_01212026_(25-354261)_text.pdf\n\n12026016WL_Warning Letter_01212026_(25-354261)_text.pdf\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and\nHazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n840 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300\nWest Trenton, NJ 08628\n609.771.7800\nWARNING LETTER\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: greyjc@danvilleva.gov\nJanuary 21, 2026\nMr. Jason Grey\nDirector of Utilities\nCity of Danville\n1040 Monument Street\nDanville, Virginia 24540\nCPF 1-2026-016-WL\nDear Mr. Grey:\nOn October 16, 2024, an inspector from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Division of\nPipeline Safety (VA SCC), acting as an agent for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), conducted\nan inspection of the City of Danville’s (City) pipeline in Danville, Virginia.\nAs a result of the inspection, it is alleged that City has 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. § 192.747 Valve maintenance: Distribution systems.\n(a) . . .\n(b) Each operator must take prompt remedial action to correct any\nvalve found inoperable, unless the operator designates an alternative\nvalve.\nThe City failed to take prompt remedial action to correct any valve found inoperable, in accordance\nwith section 192.747(b). Specifically, the City failed to take remedial action after a critical valve\nwas found inoperable at its facility near Stony Mill Road.\nDuring the inspection, the VA SCC inspector observed City personnel attempt to operate a critical\nvalve on October 17, 2024 at its facility near Stony Mill Road. The valve is designed so that one\n\n\n\nCPF 1-2026-016-WL\nperson may operate the valve. However, the inspector observed that the valve required five City\ntechnicians with two “cheater bars”1 for additional leverage in order for the valve to actuate.\nThe City’s Natural Gas Operations and Maintenance Plan, chapter II, section G-9, section 3.2\n(06/05/2023) (O&M), states in part: “When conducting inspections to any critical valves within\nthe Division’s distribution system, personnel shall ensure that the valve is operable. To determine\noperability, personnel shall partially operate the valve to ensure operability in the event of an\nemergency. If the valve is found to be inoperable, prompt (with little or no delay; immediately)\nremedial action shall be taken to correct it. If no adequate solution is available, a suitable\nalternative valve may be designated as a critical valve by the Water and Gas Chief Engineer and\nthe newly identified critical valve shall be promptly inspected.”\nThis valve is critical and must be operated promptly by a single person during an emergency.\nHowever, inspection revealed it requires five people to properly operate the valve. Therefore, the\nCity should have considered the valve inoperable and taken the remedial actions outlined in its\nO&M.\nTherefore, the City failed to take prompt remedial action to correct any valve found inoperable, in\naccordance with section 192.747(b)\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\n1 Cheater bars are often pieces of metal pipe or rods that are used to provide additional length, torque, and leverage.\nSee Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Inspection Detail, Inspection: 311066856 - Tesoro Refining And\nMarketing Company, https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=311066856.\n12026016WL_Warning Letter_01212026_(25-354261) Page 2 of 3\n\n\n\nCPF 1-2026-016-WL\ntime. We advise you to correct the item identified in this letter. Failure to do so may result in the\nCity of Danville being subject to additional enforcement action.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to\nCPF 1-2026-016-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\n12026016WL_Warning Letter_01212026_(25-354261) Page 3 of 3","truncated":false,"body_characters":6939}