# EQT MIDSTREAM COMPANY LLC — Notice of Amendment

- **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:** Not available
- **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.

Official case documents:

12026033NOA_Notice of Amendment_07022026_(25-329692).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/12026033NOA/12026033NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_07022026_(25-329692).pdf

12026033NOA_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

12026033NOA_Notice of Amendment_07022026_(25-329692)_text.pdf

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
840 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300
West Trenton, New Jersey 08628
609.771.7800
NOTICE OF AMENDMENT
VIA EMAIL TO: toby.rice@eqt.com
July 02, 2026
Toby Rice
Chief Executive Officer
EQT Midstream Company LLC
2071 Garards Fort Road
Waynesburg, PA 15370
CPF 1-2026-033-NOA
Dear Mr. Rice:
From August 11 through August 20, 2025, representatives 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 EQT Midstream Company LLC’s
(EQT or Respondent) Public Awareness Program (PAP) records and procedures in Canonsburg,
Pennsylvania.
As a result of the inspection, PHMSA has identified apparent inadequacies in EQT’s plans or
procedures. The items inspected and the inadequacies are described below:
1. § 192.616 Public awareness.
(a) Except for an operator of a master meter or petroleum gas system
covered under paragraph (j) of this section, each pipeline operator
must develop and implement a written continuing public education
program that follows the guidance provided in the American
Petroleum Institute's (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162
(incorporated by reference, see § 192.7).
EQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to assure safe
operation of a pipeline facility. Specifically, EQT failed to develop a written continuing public
education program that follows the guidance provided in sections 6.2 and 7.1 in API RP 1162



CPF 1-2026-033-NOA
governing program enhancements, in accordance with section 192.616(a).
Section 6.2 in API RP 1162 required implementation of a step for assessing relevant factors along
the pipeline route included in the operator’s PAP to consider what components of the PAP should
be enhanced. Section 6.2 in API RP 1162 stated that it is recommended that the operator consider
each of the following factors applied along the entire route of the pipeline system:
− Potential hazards
− High Consequence Areas
− Population density
− Land development activity
− Land farming activity
− Third-party damage incidents
− Environmental considerations
− Pipeline history in an area
− Specific local situations
− Regulatory requirements
− Results from previous Public Awareness Program evaluations
− Other relevant needs.
Section 7.1, subsection f, in API RP 1162 required the written PAP to include
“[i]dentification of program enhancements, beyond the baseline program, and the basis for
implementing such enhancements.”
During the inspection, Eastern Region reviewed EQT’s PAP. Section 1.4, subsection 2, in EQT’s
PAP assigned the Program Administrator the task of assessing considerations for supplemental
program enhancements. However, EQT’s PAP failed to include a step for assessing the relevant
factors in API RP 1162 section 6.2 to consider what components of the PAP should be enhanced
and failed to include the identification of program enhancements beyond the baseline program and
the basis for implementing such enhancements. Because this step, and the identification of and
basis for program enhancements beyond the baseline program, was not included in EQT’s PAP,
EQT failed to develop a written continuing education program that follows the guidance provided
in sections 6.2 and 7.1 in API RP 1162.
Therefore, EQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to
assure safe operation of a pipeline facility. PHMSA proposes that EQT revise its procedures to
address the above deficiency.
Page 2 of 5



CPF 1-2026-033-NOA
2. § 192.616 Public awareness.
(a) Except for an operator of a master meter or petroleum gas system
covered under paragraph (j) of this section, each pipeline operator
must develop and implement a written continuing public education
program that follows the guidance provided in the American
Petroleum Institute's (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162
(incorporated by reference, see § 192.7).
(b) The operator’s program must follow the general program
recommendations of API RP 1162 and assess the unique attributes and
characteristics of the operator’s pipeline and facilities.
EQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to assure safe
operation of a pipeline facility. Specifically, EQT failed to develop a procedure that assesses the
unique attributes and characteristics of its pipelines and facilities in accordance with section
192.616(b).
During the inspection, Eastern Region reviewed EQT’s PAP. The PAP failed to address how EQT
has and continues to assess any unique attributes of its pipelines and facilities, such as pipe
characteristics, presence in highly populated areas, potential impact consequences, commodities
being transported (natural gas versus hazardous liquids), and facility proximity to the affected
public audience group. In addition, the PAP did not assess the uniqueness of its pipeline
components and locations by considering things such as storage fields, farm taps, distant and High
Consequence Area valve sites, compressor stations, metering stations, and odorant systems.
After the inspection, on November 10, 2025, EQT provided a written response to Eastern Region’s
inspection findings. In its response, EQT provided proposed draft language to add to its PAP
regarding the identification of its pipelines and facilities included in the program. However, the
proposed amendment language failed to include an assessment of the unique attributes and
characteristics of its pipelines and facilities included in the program.
Therefore, EQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to
assure safe operation of a pipeline facility. PHMSA proposes that EQT revise its procedures to
address the above deficiency.
3. § 192.616 Public awareness.
(a) Except for an operator of a master meter or petroleum gas system covered under
paragraph (j) of this section, each pipeline operator must develop and implement a
written continuing public education program that follows the guidance provided in
the American Petroleum Institute's (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162
(incorporated by reference, see § 192.7).
Page 3 of 5



CPF 1-2026-033-NOA
EQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to assure safe
operation of a pipeline facility. Specifically, EQT failed to develop a process in its PAP to
periodically evaluate the PAP’s effectiveness and implementation in accordance with section 8 in
API RP 1162.
Section 8 in API 1162 states the following, in part:
This section provides guidance to operators on how to periodically evaluate their
Public Awareness Programs. The overall written plan for the Public Awareness
Program should include a section describing the operator’s evaluation program that
includes the baseline elements described in the following paragraphs. Also included
are suggestions for operators to consider in periodically supplementing their
evaluation efforts in a particular segment, with a selected stakeholder audience or
to provide greater depth of evaluation. This section includes only a brief
description of each element. Appendix E provides additional explanations and
examples for operator personnel who are new to developing Public Awareness
Program evaluations.
During the inspection, Eastern Region requested to review EQT’s Public Awareness Program
evaluation procedures. EQT presented section 10 in their latest PAP. Section 10 failed to
adequately describe the process that EQT would follow to conduct its PAP annual implementation
audits and how the implementation of supplemental actions to improve the program would be
tracked prior to the next evaluation cycle. In addition, regarding effectiveness evaluation, the PAP
failed to explain the four measurement elements found in section 8.4 in API RP 1162 in a structured
manner to ensure a consistent process for verifying the program’s effectiveness and to adequately
compare the measures against each well-defined criterion to develop supplemental actions to
improve the PAP.
For example, the methods used to obtain information relative to the performance measurement
elements must be pre-tested in accordance with section 8.4.2 in API RP 1162. Appendix E.3.4 in
API RP 1162 also provides further guidance on the subject. However, EQT’s PAP failed to include
procedures requiring pre-testing of the methods used to obtain information relative to the
performance measurements elements. Finally, section 10 in EQT’s PAP failed to discuss a
management of change process to effectively communicate any implemented actions to the proper
responsible personnel following the occurrence of a major redesign as required by section 8.5 in
API RP 1162.
Therefore, EQT’s written continuing public education program procedures were inadequate to
assure safe operation of a pipeline facility. PHMSA proposes that EQT revise its procedures to
address the above deficiency.
Response to this Notice
This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 CFR § 190.206. Enclosed as part
of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement
Proceedings.
Page 4 of 5



CPF 1-2026-033-NOA
Please refer to this document and note the response options. Be advised that all material
Respondent submits in response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly
available. If Respondent believes that any portion of its responsive material qualifies for
confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b), along with the complete original document,
Respondent must provide a second copy of the document with the portions Respondent believes
qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why Respondent believes the
redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b).
Following the receipt of this Notice, Respondent has 30 days to submit written comments, revised
procedures, or a request for a hearing under § 190.211. If Respondent does not respond within 30
days of receipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of Respondent’s 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 Respondent and to issue an Order Directing
Amendment. If Respondent’s plans or procedures are found inadequate as alleged in this Notice,
Respondent may be ordered to amend its plans or procedures to correct the inadequacies
(49 CFR § 190.206). If Respondent is not contesting this Notice, we propose that Respondent
submit its 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 Respondent’s amended procedures, this enforcement action will be closed.
It is requested (not mandated) that EQT Midstream Company 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 1-2026-033-NOA and, for each document Respondent
submits, 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: Brett Butterworth, Compliance Officer, EQT, brett.butterworth@eqt.com
Justin Trettel, Vice President, Midstream, EQT, justin.trettel@eqt.com
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