# EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 220041006
- **title:** EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2004-04-22
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 191.17(a), 192.465(a), 192.603(b), 192.605(a), 192.615(b)(2), 192.615(c), 192.616, 192.705, 192.706(a).
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**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving EQUITRANS MIDSTREAM CORPORATION. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 191.17(a),  192.465(a),  192.603(b),  192.605(a),  192.615(b)(2),  192.615(c),  192.616,  192.705,  192.706(a). The case was opened on 2004-04-22 and is reported as closed as of 2005-05-05. Proposed civil penalty: $4,500. Assessed civil penalty: $4,500. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

220041006_Final Order_05052005.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220041006/220041006_Final%20Order_05052005.pdf

cpf_220041006.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220041006/cpf_220041006.pdf

220041006_Final Order_05052005.pdf

I
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U.5. Deportment
of Tronsportotion
Plpeline ond
Hozqrdous frlofiedqls gotefy
Admlnbtrollon
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
l\,|AY - 5 2005
Mr. Robert J. Cooper
Compliance Manager
Equitable Production
I 7 I 0 Pennsylvania Avenue
Charleston, WV 25302
RE: CPF No. 2-2004-1006 (Nora Transmission Pipeline)
Dear Mr. Cooper:
Enclosed is the Final Order issued by the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety in the
above-referenced case. It makes findings of violation and assesses a civil penalty of $4,500. I
acknowledge receipt of, and accept Equitable Production Company's paltnent datedJwte29,2004
in the amognt of $4,500 as payment in full of the civil penalty assessed against Nora Transmission
Pipeline, an affiliate of Equitable Production, in the Final Order. This case is now closed. Your
receipt of the Final order constitutes service of that document under 49 q.F.R. $ 190'5.
Sincerely,
$-.'^ fi+--
James Relmolds
PiPeline ComPliance Registry
Office of PiPeline SafetY
Enclosure
cc: Ms. Linda Daugherty, Director, OPS Southern Region
o



DEPARTMENT OF' TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AI\D HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OF'F'ICE OF' PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON. DC 20590
In the Matter of
NORA TRANSMISSION PIPELINE
An Affiliate of Equitable Production
Respondent.
CPFNo. 2-2004-1006
FINAL ORDER
During Octob er29-30,2003, pursuantto 49U.S.C. $ 60117, representatives ofthe Office ofPipeline
Safety (OPS), Southem, conducted an inspection an on-site pipeline safety inspection of Nora
Transmission Pipeline, an affiliate ofEquitable Production, facilities and records in Big Stone Gap'
Virginia. As a result of the inspection, the Director, Southem Region, OPS, issued to Respondent,
by fetter dated Apil2Z,Z004, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Civil Penalty (Notice)' '
In accordance with 49 C.F.R. $ 190.207, the Notice proposed finding that Respondent had
committed violations of 49 C.F.R. Parts 191 and, 192 and proposed assessing a civil penalty of
$4,500 for the alleged violations.
Respondent requested an extension of time on May 18, 2004 to respond to the Notice. OnMay 26,
2004, Respondent was granted an extension until June 30, 2004 to submit a response to the Notice.
Respondent responded io the Notice by letter dated June 15,2004 (Response). Respondent did not
coniest the allegations ofviolation. Respondent did not request a hearing, consequently Respondent
waived its right to one.
FINDINGS OFVIOLATION
Urucontested
Respondentdidnotcontesttheallegedviolationsof$$191.17(a),192.465(a),192'615(c),192;791
1g2.706(a)intheNotice. Accordingly,IfindthatRespondentviolated4gC.F.R.Partsl9landl92'
as more ful$ described in the Notice:
rThi,
however, is no longer before RSPA for decision. Effective February 20,2005,1he Pipeline ard
"ur.,
Hazardous Materials Safety Adminishation (PHMSA) was created to further the highest degree of safety in pipeline
transportation and hazardous materials transiortation. See' section 108 of the Norman Y' Mineta Research and
Special Programs lmprovement Act (Public iaw 108-426,,118 Stat' 2423-2429 (November 30' 2004))' See also', 70
ria, n"g. sill 1r.uruury r a, igos) ieaetegating the pipeline safety fiurctions to the Administrator' PHMSA'



2
49 C.F.R. §191.17(a)- failure to submit an annual report, Form RSPA 7100.2-1, for
its system within the required interval for calendar year 2000.
49 C.F.R. §192.465(a) - failure to monitor its cathodic protection systems at least
once each calendar year, as there were no records of annual monitoring during the
years of 2001 and 2002.
49 C.F.R. §192.615(c) - failure to maintain records in sufficient detail to demonstrate
it established an effective liaison program with fire, police and other public
emergency response officials.
49 C.F.R. §192.705 - failure to have records to show that it patrolled its pipelines
during calendar year 2003 to observe surface conditions on and adjacent to the
transmission line right-of-way for indications of leaks, construction activity, and
other factors affecting safety and operation.
49 C.F.R. §192.706(a) - failure to maintain records in sufficient detail to demonstrate
that it performed leakage surveys with leak detector equipment within the required
interval, as there was no date on the form.
These findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement action
taken against Respondent.
ASSESSMENT OF PENALTY
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122, Respondent is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100,000 per
violation for each day of the violation up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for any related series of
violations.
49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 C.F.R. § 190.225 require that, in determining the amount of the civil
penalty, I consider the following criteria: nature, circumstances, and gravity of the violation, degree
of Respondent's culpability, history of Respondent's prior offenses, Respondent's ability to pay the
penalty, good faith by Respondent in attempting to achieve compliance, the effect on Respondent's
ability to continue in business, and such other matters as justice may require. The Notice proposed
a total civil penalty of $4,500 for violation of 49 CFR §§191.17(a), 192.465(a), 192.615(c), 192.705,
and 192 706(a). The Notice proposed a total civil penalty of $4,500.
The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $1,000 for Item 1, $1,000 for Item 2, $1,000 for item 6,
$1,000 for Item 8, and $500 for Item 9. Respondent did not contest the violations or the civil
penalty. Accordingly, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I assess
Respondent a civil penalty of $4,500, already paid by the Respondent.



WARI{INGITEM
The Notice did not propose a civil penalty or corrective action for Items 3, 4,5, and 7 but wamed
Respondent that it should take appropriate corrective action to correct the items. Respondent
presented information in its response showing that it has addressed the cited items. Respondent is
again wamed that if OPS finds a violation in a subsequent inspection, enforcement action will be
taken.
The terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective on receipt.
? /qh,rleMAY - 5 ?005
Stacey Gerard
Associ ate Adminishator
for Pipeline Safety
Date Issued
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