# PLAINS PIPELINE, L.P. — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 220085001W
- **title:** PLAINS PIPELINE, L.P. — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2008-02-07
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 195.402(c)(13), 195.404(a)(2), 195.432, 195.573(a)(2), 195.583.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220085001w.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220085001w.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220085001w
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/220085001W
**body:**

Warning Letter involving PLAINS PIPELINE, L.P.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.402(c)(13),  195.404(a)(2),  195.432,  195.573(a)(2),  195.583. The case was opened on 2008-02-07 and is reported as closed as of 2008-02-07. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

220085001W_warning letter_02072008.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220085001W/220085001W_warning%20letter_02072008.pdf

220085001w_warning letter_02072008_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220085001W/220085001w_warning%20letter_02072008_text.pdf

220085001w_warning letter_02072008_text.pdf

U. S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration
233 Peachtree Street Ste. 600
Atlanta, GA 30303
WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT RE UESTED
February 7, 2008
Mr. Troy E. Valenzula
Vice President
Environmental Health rfc Safety
Plains Pipeline, L. P.
333 Clay Street Suite 1600
Houston, TX 77210
CPF 2-2008-5001W
Dear Mr. Valenzula:
On July 17 - 21, 2006, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected your
hazardous liquid pipeline facilities and reviewed records in Mississippi and Alabama.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed probable violations of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and
the probable violations are:
tj195. 573 What must I do to monitor external corrosion control?
(a) Protected pipelines. You must do the following to determine whether cathodic
protection required by this subpart complies with tj195. 571:
(2) Identify before December 29, 2003 or not more than 2 years after cathodic
protection is installed, whichever comes later, the circumstances in which a close-
interval survey or comparable technology is practicable and necessary to
accomplish the objectives of paragraph 10. 1. 1. 3 of NACE Standard RP0169-96
(incorporated by reference, see tj195. 3).



3. Plains did not provide a record of this evaluation. Post inspection PHMSA received a
response from operator regarding this code. This response did not provide verification
that Plains had identified circumstances in which a close-interval survey or comparable
technology would be practicable and necessary to accomplish the objectives of
paragraph 10. 1. 1. 3 of NACE standard RP0169-96.
(1195. 432 Inspection of in-service breakout tanks.
(b) Each operator shall inspect the physical integrity of in-service atmospheric and
low pressure steel aboveground breakout tanks according to section 4 of API
Standard 653. However, if structural conditions prevent access to the tank
bottom, the bottom integrity may be assessed according to a plan included in the
operations and maintenance manual under (1195. 402(c)(3).
(d) The intervals of inspection specified by documents referenced in paragraphs
(b) and (c) of this section begin on May 3, 1999, or on the operator's last recorded
date of the inspection, whichever is earlier.
Plains did not provide API 653 evaluation reports for 14 breakout tanks during the
inspection. In addition, API 653 report provided for tank 1193 at Lumberton
station was dated August 1999 and outside of the required 5 year time period.
I'1195. 404 Maps and records.
(a) Each operator shall maintain current maps and records of its pipeline systems
that include at least the following information:
(2) All crossings of public roads, railroads, rivers, buried utilities, and foreign
pipelines.
Plains did not provide a recent survey map or record for its pipeline showing public
roads, railroads, rivers, buried utilities and foreign pipelines. The map provided was
over 30 years old with no updates and only covered a portion of the pipeline.
(1195. 583 What must I do to monitor atmospheric corrosion control?
(a) You must inspect each pipeline or portion of pipeline that is exposed to the
atmosphere for evidence of atmospheric corrosion, as follows:
(b) During inspections you must give particular attention to pipe at soil-to-air
interfaces, under thermal insulation, under disbonded coatings, at pipe supports,
in splash zones, at deck penetrations, and in spans over water.
(c) If you find atmospheric corrosion during an inspection, you must provide
protection against the corrosion as required by (1195. 581.
11195. 581 Which pipelines must I protect against atmospheric corrosion and what
coating material may I use?
(a) You must clean and coat each pipeline or portion of pipeline that is exposed to
the atmosphere, except pipelines under paragraph (c) of this section.
(b) Coating material must be suitable for the prevention of atmospheric corrosion.



Records provided during the inspection were insufficient to address issues found in
the field — rusting, need for cleaning and coating of mainline valves and aboveground
station piping.
(j195. 402 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies.
(c) Maintenance and normal operations. The manual required by paragraph (a) of
this section must include procedures for the following to provide safety during
maintenance and normal operations:
(13) Periodically reviewing the work done by operator personnel to determine the
effectiveness of the procedures used in normal operation and maintenance and
taking corrective action where deficiencies are found.
(d) Abnormal operation. The manual required by paragraph (a) of this section
must include procedures for the following to provide safety when operating design
limits have been exceeded:
(5) Periodically reviewing the response of operator personnel to determine the
effectiveness of the procedures controlling abnormal operation and taking
corrective action where deficiencies are found.
Plains did not provide a record verifying periodic review of personnel work normal
and abnormal operations to determine effectiveness of procedures.
Under 49 United States Code, $ 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
$100, 000 for each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of $1, 000, 000
for any 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 Plains Pipeline, L. P. being subject to additional
enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to
CPF 2-2008-5001W. 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).
Smcarely,
Mohammed Shoaib
Acting Director, Southern Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
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