# SOUTHEAST SUPPLY HEADER, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 220111007
- **title:** SOUTHEAST SUPPLY HEADER, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-09-21
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 190.203(f).
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220111007
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/220111007
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving SOUTHEAST SUPPLY HEADER, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 190.203(f). The case was opened on 2011-09-21 and is reported as closed as of 2013-05-01. Proposed civil penalty: $26,800. Assessed civil penalty: $26,800. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

220111007_closure letter_05012013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220111007/220111007_closure%20letter_05012013.pdf

220111007_closure letter_05012013_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220111007/220111007_closure%20letter_05012013_text.pdf

220111007_Final Order_06122012.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220111007/220111007_Final%20Order_06122012.pdf

220111007_Final Order_06122012_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220111007/220111007_Final%20Order_06122012_text.pdf

220111007_nopv_pcp_pco_09212011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220111007/220111007_nopv_pcp_pco_09212011.pdf

220111007_nopv_pcp_pco_09212011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220111007/220111007_nopv_pcp_pco_09212011_text.pdf

220111007_Operator Response Notice_11012011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220111007/220111007_Operator%20Response%20Notice_11012011.pdf

220111007_closure letter_05012013_text.pdf

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
May 1, 2013
Mr. Pete M. Kirsch
Division Sr. VP Pipeline Ops & Engr.
Southeast Supply Header, L.L.C.
1111 Louisiana
Houston, TX 77002
CPF 2-2011-1007
Dear Mr. Kirsch:
On June 12, 2012, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),
Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) issued to the Southeast Supply Header, L.L.C. (SESH) a
Final Order in the above-referenced case. The Order included a Compliance Order and an
assessed civil penalty.
The OPS Southern Region received and reviewed SESH’s April 1, 2013, written response to
the compliance items in the Order. Based on our review of SESH’s response and our
confirmation that SESH has paid the civil penalty, we have determined that SESH has
complied with the terms of the Order. Accordingly, this case is now closed and no further
action is necessary with respect to the matters involved in this case.
Please be advised that this letter refers only to the above described order (CPF 2-2011-1007)
and not to any other PHMSA pending cases.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Wayne T. Lemoi
Director, Office of Pipeline Safety
PHMSA Southern Region

220111007_Final Order_06122012_text.pdf

JUNE 12, 2012
Mr. Pete M. Kirsch
Division Senior Vice-President
Pipeline Operations & Engineering
Southeast Supply Header, LLC
P. O. Box 4567
Houston, TX 77210
Re: CPF No. 2-2011-1007
Dear Mr. Kirsch:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of
violation, assesses a civil penalty of $26,800, and specifies actions that need to be taken by
Southeast Supply Header, LLC, to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. This letter
acknowledges receipt of the full penalty amount, by wire transfer, dated November 2, 2011.
When the terms of the compliance order have been completed, as determined by the Director,
Southern Region, this enforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order by
certified mail is deemed effective upon the date of mailing, or as otherwise provided under 49
C.F.R. § 190.5.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey D. Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Enclosure
cc: Mr. David M. McClanahan, President, CenterPoint Energy, Inc., P. O. Box 4567,
Houston, TX 77210
Mr. Wayne Lemoi, Southern Region Director, OPS
Mr. Alan Mayberry, Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations, OPS
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
____________________________________
)
In the Matter of )
)
Southeast Supply Header, LLC, ) CPF No. 2-2011-1007
)
Respondent. )
____________________________________)
FINAL ORDER
On July 17, 2008, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118(c), the Associate Administrator, Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued a
special permit to Southeast Supply Header, LLC (SESH), waiving compliance with certain
PHMSA regulations1 in connection with the construction and operation of a 274-mile natural gas
transmission pipeline from Delhi, Louisiana, to Coden, Alabama, and known generally as “Line
100” (Special Permit). Line 100 is a joint venture between subsidiaries of CenterPoint Energy,
Inc., and Spectra Energy Corporation.2 The Special Permit imposed 47 conditions on the portion
of Line 100 that SESH proposed to operate above 72% of the specified minimum yield strength
(SMYS) of the line, to ensure that pipeline safety would not be compromised.3
On May 3-7, 2010, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a PHMSA representative conducted an on-
site pipeline safety inspection of SESH’s records and procedures in Shreveport, Louisiana. On
August 2-5, 2010, OPS conducted a second inspection of the company’s pipeline facilities from
Delhi, Louisiana, to Coden, Alabama. As a result of the inspections, the Director, Southern
Region, OPS (Director), issued to Respondent, by letter dated September 21, 2011, a Notice of
Probable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order (Notice), alleging
non-compliance with certain conditions of the Special Permit. In accordance with
49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice proposed finding that SESH had violated the conditions of the
Special Permit and assessing a civil penalty of $26,800 for the alleged violations.
1 49 C.F.R. §§ 192.111 and 192.201.
2 See http://www.spectraenergy.com and http://www.centerpointenergy.com (last assessed 5/4/2012).
3 See Docket # PHMSA 2007-27607 in the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) located on the Internet at
http://wwww.regulations.gov.



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SESH responded to the Notice by letter dated November 1, 2011 (Response). The company did
not contest the allegations of violation and paid the proposed civil penalty of $26,800, as
provided in 49 C.F.R. § 190.227. Payment of the penalty serves to close the case with prejudice
to Respondent.
FINDINGS OF VIOLATION
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated Special Permit Condition 13, which states:
13) Temperature Control: The compressor station discharge temperature must
be limited to 120º Fahrenheit. A temperature above this maximum
temperature of 120º Fahrenheit may be approved if SESH technical
coating operating tests show that the pipe coating will properly withstand
the higher operating temperature for long term operations. If the
temperature exceeds 120º Fahrenheit SESH must also institute a coating
monitoring program in these areas using ongoing Direct Current Voltage
Gradient (DCVG) surveys or Alternating Current Voltage Gradient
(ACVG) surveys or other testing to demonstrate the integrity of the
coating. This program and results must be provided to the regional
offices of PHMSA where the pipe is in service.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated Condition 13 of the Special Permit by failing to
limit discharge temperatures to 120º F or less at five compressor stations. Specifically, the
Notice alleged that the temperatures of the discharged natural gas at the Delhi, Gwinville,
Collins, Petal, and Lucedale compressor stations exceeded 120º F on various occasions between
the date the pipeline began operating under the Special Permit (November 8, 2008) and March
31, 2010. Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a
review of all of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated Condition 13 of the Special Permit
by failing to limit discharge temperatures to 120º F at five compressor stations at various times
between the dates shown above.
Item 3: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated Special Permit Condition 43, which states,
in relevant part:
43) Anomaly Evaluation and Repair: Anomaly evaluations and repairs in the
special permit area, regardless of HCA status, must be performed based
upon the following:
a) . . .
d) Anomaly Assessment Methods . . .
– Dents in the pipe in the special permit area must be evaluated and
repaired per 49 C.F.R. § 192.309(b) for the baseline geometry tool run
and per 49 C.F.R. § 192.933(d) for future ILI. Pipe must be evaluated



3
for out-of-roundness on the baseline geometry tool run and all
indications in the pipeline above 6% out-of-roundness must be
remediated.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated Condition 43 of the Special Permit by failing to
adequately evaluate and repair a dent in Line 100, in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 192.309(b),
and that had been discovered through a baseline geometry tool run. Specifically, the Notice
alleged that SESH had run the in-line inspection (ILI) tool on Line 100 and had received a final
report from the vendor dated August 21, 2008. The report showed a 5.3% dent (Feature No.
218) that SESH failed to evaluate and repair. Condition 43 required SESH to evaluate and repair
a dent that exceeded “more than 2% of the nominal pipe diameter,” per § 192.309(b)(3)(ii).
The Notice further alleged that SESH had failed to adequately evaluate the data from the same
ILI tool run on Line 100 for indications of out-of-roundness. It alleged that in May 2010, SESH
had received another report from its contract auditor stating that Features No. 127 and 134 (as
shown in the ILI vendor’s August 3, 2008 final report) exceeded 6% out of roundness, but that
the company failed to properly evaluate this data or promptly remediate the anomalies.
4
Respondent did not contest these allegations of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of
all of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated Condition 43 of the Special Permit by failing
to adequately evaluate and repair a dent on Line 100 per § 192.309(b) and to properly evaluate
and remediate two features that exceeded 6% out of roundness.
ASSESSMENT OF PENALTY
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122, Respondent is subject to an administrative 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. In determining the amount of a civil penalty under
49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 C.F.R. § 190.225, I must consider the following criteria: the nature,
circumstances, and gravity of the violation, including adverse impact on the environment; the
degree of Respondent’s culpability; the history of Respondent’s prior offenses; the Respondent’s
ability to pay the penalty and any effect that the penalty may have on its ability to continue doing
business; and the good faith of Respondent in attempting to comply with the pipeline safety
regulations. In addition, I may consider the economic benefit gained from the violation without
any reduction because of subsequent damages, and such other matters as justice may require.
The Notice proposed a total civil penalty of $26,800 for the violations cited above.
Item 1: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $13,700 for Respondent’s violation of Special
Permit Condition 13, for failing to limit compressor station discharge temperatures to 120º F at
five compressor stations. SESH neither contested the allegation nor presented any evidence or
argument justifying a reduction in the proposed penalty. In order for a pipeline operator to
receive, and continue to operate under, a waiver of the pipeline safety regulations, it is essential
4 Feature 127 indicated 6.17% out-of-roundness and Feature 134 indicated 6.98%.



4
that the operator scrupulously adhere to the conditions in the special permit. Accordingly,
having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I assess Respondent a civil
penalty of $13,700, which was remitted on November 2, 2011.
Item 3: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $13,100 for Respondent’s violation of Special
Permit Condition 43, for failing to adequately evaluate and repair a dent in Line 100, per
49 C.F.R. § 192.309(b), and to properly evaluate and remediate two features that exceeded 6%
out of roundness. SESH neither contested the allegation nor presented any evidence or argument
justifying a reduction in the proposed civil penalty. As noted above, in order for a pipeline
operator to receive, and continue to operate under, a waiver of the pipeline safety regulations, it
is essential that the operator scrupulously adhere to the conditions in a special permit.
Accordingly, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I assess
Respondent a civil penalty of $13,100, which amount was remitted on November 2, 2011.
In summary, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria for each of the
Items cited above, I assess Respondent a total civil penalty of $26,800.
COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to Item 1 in the Notice for violating
Condition 13 of the Special Permit. Under 49 U.S.C. § 60118(a), each person who engages in
the transportation of gas or who owns or operates a pipeline facility is required to comply with
the applicable safety standards established under chapter 601. Pursuant to the authority of
49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217, Respondent is ordered to take the following
actions to ensure compliance with the pipeline safety regulations applicable to its operations:
1. With respect to Item 1 of the Notice (Special Permit Condition 13), pertaining to the
failure of SESH to limit the discharge temperatures to 120º F at the Delhi, Gwinville,
Collins, Petal, and Lucedale compressor stations, SESH must either:
a. modify its compressor station operations, procedures, and/or facilities to
ensure that the discharge temperature at each of the five compressor stations
on Line 100 does not exceed 120º F, as required by Special Permit Condition
13;
OR
b. notify the Director in writing of its intent to operate Line 100 at discharge
temperatures above 120º F. To do so, SESH must provide PHMSA with
technical coating operating tests to show that the pipe coating can properly
withstand the higher operating temperatures for long-term operations and
must institute and provide to PHMSA a coating monitoring program, as
described in Special Permit Condition 13.



5
SESH must complete either Compliance Item 1(a) or 1(b) above within 60 days of
receipt of the Final Order or PHMSA may issue a show cause letter modifying,
revoking, or suspending the Order issued under PHMSA-2007-27607.
2. With respect to Item 1 of the Notice (Special Permit Condition 13), pertaining to the
failure of SESH to limit the compressor station discharge temperatures to 120º F at
five compressor stations, and notwithstanding Compliance Order Item 1 above, SESH
must develop and implement a coating assessment program downstream of the five
compressor stations on Line 100 to ensure the coating has not been damaged or
compromised. This assessment must be completed using:
- Direct Current Voltage Gradient (DCVG) surveys;
- Alternating Current Voltage Gradient surveys; or
- Other testing to demonstrate the integrity of the coating.
In its coating assessment program, SESH must address the following:
a. The coating on the pipe for at least five miles downstream of each of the five
compressor stations or to a point on each pipeline where the actual or
predicted temperature consistently dropped below 120º F, whichever is further
downstream;
b. A technical analysis to determine or predict the highest temperature that Line
100 experienced, or was projected to experience, immediately downstream of
each of the five compressor stations, and to determine a point on each pipeline
where the actual or predicted temperature consistently dropped below 120º F;
c. Technical coating operating tests to show the pipe coating could properly
withstand the operating temperatures determined or predicted;
d. If using DCVG and/or ACVG, define threshold survey indication values
(% IR for DCVG and dBµV for ACVG). The values should represent the
mid-range of the “Moderate” category in the severity classification used to
characterize survey indications;
e. Excavation and remediation of all indications found above the threshold
values;
f. A calibration dig on at least one anomaly classified as “Minor,” to ensure
findings that all indications found above the threshold values in the
remediation plan are not detrimental to the pipeline;
g. Perform holiday voltage tests (jeep) and coating adhesion tests at all
excavations;
h. Disbonded, blistered or coating with cracking and/or other damage that could
compromise cathodic protection found during excavations must be removed
and new coating applied;
i. The coating assessment must be completed no later than six months after the
date of this Compliance Order; and
j. Submit the results of the coating assessment to the Director for review and
approval no later than 90 days after the coating assessment is complete but not



6
later than nine months after the date of this Compliance Order.
SESH must complete the work listed above within nine months of receipt of the Final
Order or PHMSA may issue a show cause letter modifying, revoking, or suspending
the Order issued under PHMSA-2007-27607.
3. It is requested (not mandated) that SESH maintain documentation of the safety
improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Compliance Order and submit the
total to the Director, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA Southern Region. It is
requested that these costs be reported in two categories: 1) total cost associated with
preparation/revision of plans, procedures, studies and analyses; and 2) total cost
associated with replacements, additions and other changes to pipeline infrastructure.
The Director may grant an extension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a
written request timely submitted by the Respondent and demonstrating good cause for an
extension.
Failure to comply with this Order may result in the administrative assessment of civil penalties
not to exceed $100,000 for each violation for each day the violation continues or in referral to the
Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States.
WARNING ITEM
With respect to Item 2, the Notice alleged a probable violation of Special Permit Condition 36
but did not propose a civil penalty or compliance order for this item. Therefore, this is
considered to be a warning item. The warning was for:
Item 2 (Special Permit Condition 36) ─ Respondent’s alleged failure to comply
with Special Permit Condition 36, as set forth in the Special Permit Order of July
17, 2008. SESH did not employ line-of-sight markings on the pipeline in the
Special Permit area.
SESH presented information in its Response showing that it had taken certain actions to address
this item. If OPS finds a violation of this Condition 36 in a subsequent inspection, Respondent
may be subject to future enforcement action or revocation of the Special Permit.
Under 49 C.F.R. § 190.215, Respondent has a right to submit a Petition for Reconsideration of
this Final Order. The petition must be sent to: Associate Administrator, Office of Pipeline
Safety, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC
20590, with a copy sent to the Office of Chief Counsel, PHMSA, at the same address. PHMSA
will accept petitions received no later than 20 days after receipt of service of this Final Order by
the Respondent, provided they contain a brief statement of the issue(s) and meet all other
requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 190.215. The filing of a petition automatically stays the payment of
any civil penalty assessed. Unless the Associate Administrator, upon request, grants a stay, all



7
other terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon service in accordance with
49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
Issuance of this Final Order does not preclude PHMSA from seeking modification, suspension or
revocation of the Special Permit issued under PHMSA 2007-27607 at any time, as provided in
49 C.F.R. § 190.341(h)(1)(v). If such action is taken, PHMSA will provide SESH with the
opportunity to show cause why the proposed action should not be taken.
The terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon service in accordance with
49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
___________________________________ __________________________
Jeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
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