{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 12026033NOA","title":"EQT MIDSTREAM COMPANY LLC — Notice of Amendment","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"current","official":true,"published_on":"2026-07-02","effective_on":null,"summary":"OPEN notice of amendment citing 192.616(a), 192.616(b).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12026033noa.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12026033noa.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-12026033noa","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/12026033NOA","body":"Notice of Amendment involving EQT MIDSTREAM COMPANY LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.616(a),  192.616(b). The case was opened on 2026-07-02 and is reported as open. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n12026033NOA_Notice of Amendment_07022026_(25-329692).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12026033NOA/12026033NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_07022026_(25-329692).pdf\n\n12026033NOA_Notice of Amendment_07022026_(25-329692)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12026033NOA/12026033NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_07022026_(25-329692)_text.pdf\n\n12026033NOA_Notice of Amendment_07022026_(25-329692)_text.pdf\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and\nHazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n840 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300\nWest Trenton, New Jersey 08628\n609.771.7800\nNOTICE OF AMENDMENT\nVIA EMAIL TO: toby.rice@eqt.com\nJuly 02, 2026\nToby Rice\nChief Executive Officer\nEQT Midstream Company LLC\n2071 Garards Fort Road\nWaynesburg, PA 15370\nCPF 1-2026-033-NOA\nDear Mr. Rice:\nFrom August 11 through August 20, 2025, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Eastern Region, pursuant to\nChapter 601 of Title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), inspected EQT Midstream Company LLC’s\n(EQT or Respondent) Public Awareness Program (PAP) records and procedures in Canonsburg,\nPennsylvania.\nAs a result of the inspection, PHMSA has identified apparent inadequacies in EQT’s plans or\nprocedures. The items inspected and the inadequacies are described below:\n1. § 192.616 Public awareness.\n(a) Except for an operator of a master meter or petroleum gas system\ncovered under paragraph (j) of this section, each pipeline operator\nmust develop and implement a written continuing public education\nprogram that follows the guidance provided in the American\nPetroleum Institute's (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162\n(incorporated by reference, see § 192.7).\nEQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to assure safe\noperation of a pipeline facility. Specifically, EQT failed to develop a written continuing public\neducation program that follows the guidance provided in sections 6.2 and 7.1 in API RP 1162\n\n\n\nCPF 1-2026-033-NOA\ngoverning program enhancements, in accordance with section 192.616(a).\nSection 6.2 in API RP 1162 required implementation of a step for assessing relevant factors along\nthe pipeline route included in the operator’s PAP to consider what components of the PAP should\nbe enhanced. Section 6.2 in API RP 1162 stated that it is recommended that the operator consider\neach of the following factors applied along the entire route of the pipeline system:\n− Potential hazards\n− High Consequence Areas\n− Population density\n− Land development activity\n− Land farming activity\n− Third-party damage incidents\n− Environmental considerations\n− Pipeline history in an area\n− Specific local situations\n− Regulatory requirements\n− Results from previous Public Awareness Program evaluations\n− Other relevant needs.\nSection 7.1, subsection f, in API RP 1162 required the written PAP to include\n“[i]dentification of program enhancements, beyond the baseline program, and the basis for\nimplementing such enhancements.”\nDuring the inspection, Eastern Region reviewed EQT’s PAP. Section 1.4, subsection 2, in EQT’s\nPAP assigned the Program Administrator the task of assessing considerations for supplemental\nprogram enhancements. However, EQT’s PAP failed to include a step for assessing the relevant\nfactors in API RP 1162 section 6.2 to consider what components of the PAP should be enhanced\nand failed to include the identification of program enhancements beyond the baseline program and\nthe basis for implementing such enhancements. Because this step, and the identification of and\nbasis for program enhancements beyond the baseline program, was not included in EQT’s PAP,\nEQT failed to develop a written continuing education program that follows the guidance provided\nin sections 6.2 and 7.1 in API RP 1162.\nTherefore, EQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to\nassure safe operation of a pipeline facility. PHMSA proposes that EQT revise its procedures to\naddress the above deficiency.\nPage 2 of 5\n\n\n\nCPF 1-2026-033-NOA\n2. § 192.616 Public awareness.\n(a) Except for an operator of a master meter or petroleum gas system\ncovered under paragraph (j) of this section, each pipeline operator\nmust develop and implement a written continuing public education\nprogram that follows the guidance provided in the American\nPetroleum Institute's (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162\n(incorporated by reference, see § 192.7).\n(b) The operator’s program must follow the general program\nrecommendations of API RP 1162 and assess the unique attributes and\ncharacteristics of the operator’s pipeline and facilities.\nEQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to assure safe\noperation of a pipeline facility. Specifically, EQT failed to develop a procedure that assesses the\nunique attributes and characteristics of its pipelines and facilities in accordance with section\n192.616(b).\nDuring the inspection, Eastern Region reviewed EQT’s PAP. The PAP failed to address how EQT\nhas and continues to assess any unique attributes of its pipelines and facilities, such as pipe\ncharacteristics, presence in highly populated areas, potential impact consequences, commodities\nbeing transported (natural gas versus hazardous liquids), and facility proximity to the affected\npublic audience group. In addition, the PAP did not assess the uniqueness of its pipeline\ncomponents and locations by considering things such as storage fields, farm taps, distant and High\nConsequence Area valve sites, compressor stations, metering stations, and odorant systems.\nAfter the inspection, on November 10, 2025, EQT provided a written response to Eastern Region’s\ninspection findings. In its response, EQT provided proposed draft language to add to its PAP\nregarding the identification of its pipelines and facilities included in the program. However, the\nproposed amendment language failed to include an assessment of the unique attributes and\ncharacteristics of its pipelines and facilities included in the program.\nTherefore, EQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to\nassure safe operation of a pipeline facility. PHMSA proposes that EQT revise its procedures to\naddress the above deficiency.\n3. § 192.616 Public awareness.\n(a) Except for an operator of a master meter or petroleum gas system covered under\nparagraph (j) of this section, each pipeline operator must develop and implement a\nwritten continuing public education program that follows the guidance provided in\nthe American Petroleum Institute's (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162\n(incorporated by reference, see § 192.7).\nPage 3 of 5\n\n\n\nCPF 1-2026-033-NOA\nEQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to assure safe\noperation of a pipeline facility. Specifically, EQT failed to develop a process in its PAP to\nperiodically evaluate the PAP’s effectiveness and implementation in accordance with section 8 in\nAPI RP 1162.\nSection 8 in API 1162 states the following, in part:\nThis section provides guidance to operators on how to periodically evaluate their\nPublic Awareness Programs. The overall written plan for the Public Awareness\nProgram should include a section describing the operator’s evaluation program that\nincludes the baseline elements described in the following paragraphs. Also included\nare suggestions for operators to consider in periodically supplementing their\nevaluation efforts in a particular segment, with a selected stakeholder audience or\nto provide greater depth of evaluation. This section includes only a brief\ndescription of each element. Appendix E provides additional explanations and\nexamples for operator personnel who are new to developing Public Awareness\nProgram evaluations.\nDuring the inspection, Eastern Region requested to review EQT’s Public Awareness Program\nevaluation procedures. EQT presented section 10 in their latest PAP. Section 10 failed to\nadequately describe the process that EQT would follow to conduct its PAP annual implementation\naudits and how the implementation of supplemental actions to improve the program would be\ntracked prior to the next evaluation cycle. In addition, regarding effectiveness evaluation, the PAP\nfailed to explain the four measurement elements found in section 8.4 in API RP 1162 in a structured\nmanner to ensure a consistent process for verifying the program’s effectiveness and to adequately\ncompare the measures against each well-defined criterion to develop supplemental actions to\nimprove the PAP.\nFor example, the methods used to obtain information relative to the performance measurement\nelements must be pre-tested in accordance with section 8.4.2 in API RP 1162. Appendix E.3.4 in\nAPI RP 1162 also provides further guidance on the subject. However, EQT’s PAP failed to include\nprocedures requiring pre-testing of the methods used to obtain information relative to the\nperformance measurements elements. Finally, section 10 in EQT’s PAP failed to discuss a\nmanagement of change process to effectively communicate any implemented actions to the proper\nresponsible personnel following the occurrence of a major redesign as required by section 8.5 in\nAPI RP 1162.\nTherefore, EQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to\nassure safe operation of a pipeline facility. PHMSA proposes that EQT revise its procedures to\naddress the above deficiency.\nResponse to this Notice\nThis Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 CFR § 190.206. Enclosed as part\nof this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement\nProceedings.\nPage 4 of 5\n\n\n\nCPF 1-2026-033-NOA\nPlease refer to this document and note the response options. Be advised that all material\nRespondent submits in response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly\navailable. If Respondent believes that any portion of its responsive material qualifies for\nconfidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b), along with the complete original document,\nRespondent must provide a second copy of the document with the portions Respondent believes\nqualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why Respondent believes the\nredacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b).\nFollowing the receipt of this Notice, Respondent has 30 days to submit written comments, revised\nprocedures, or a request for a hearing under § 190.211. If Respondent does not respond within 30\ndays of receipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of Respondent’s right to contest the\nallegations in this Notice and authorizes the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to find\nfacts as alleged in this Notice without further notice to Respondent and to issue an Order Directing\nAmendment. If Respondent’s plans or procedures are found inadequate as alleged in this Notice,\nRespondent may be ordered to amend its plans or procedures to correct the inadequacies\n(49 CFR § 190.206). If Respondent is not contesting this Notice, we propose that Respondent\nsubmit its amended procedures to my office within 30 days of receipt of this Notice. This period\nmay be extended by written request for good cause. Once the inadequacies identified herein have\nbeen addressed in Respondent’s amended procedures, this enforcement action will be closed.\nIt is requested (not mandated) that EQT Midstream Company LLC maintain documentation of the\nsafety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment\n(preparation/revision of plans, procedures) and submit the total to Robert Burrough, Director,\nEastern Region, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence\nconcerning this matter, please refer to CPF 1-2026-033-NOA and, for each document Respondent\nsubmits, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible.\nSincerely,\nRobert Burrough\nDirector, Eastern Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nEnclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings\ncc: Brett Butterworth, Compliance Officer, EQT, brett.butterworth@eqt.com\nJustin Trettel, Vice President, Midstream, EQT, justin.trettel@eqt.com\nPage 5 of 5","truncated":false,"body_characters":12578}