# MARKWEST RANGER PIPELINE COMPANY, L.L.C. — Notice of Amendment

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 220115004M
- **title:** MARKWEST RANGER PIPELINE COMPANY, L.L.C. — Notice of Amendment
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-03-14
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of amendment citing 195.402(c)(13), 195.505(c), 195.571, 195.577(a).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220115004m.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220115004m.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220115004m
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/220115004M
**body:**

Notice of Amendment involving MARKWEST RANGER PIPELINE COMPANY, L.L.C.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.402(c)(13),  195.505(c),  195.571,  195.577(a). The case was opened on 2011-03-14 and is reported as closed as of 2011-06-14. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

220115004M_closure letter_06142011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220115004M/220115004M_closure%20letter_06142011.pdf

220115004M_closure Letter_06142011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220115004M/220115004M_closure%20Letter_06142011_text.pdf

220115004M_notice of amendment_03142011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220115004M/220115004M_notice%20of%20amendment_03142011.pdf

220115004M_notice of amendment_03142011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220115004M/220115004M_notice%20of%20amendment_03142011_text.pdf

220115004M_Operator response_04222011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220115004M/220115004M_Operator%20response_04222011.pdf

220115004M_closure Letter_06142011_text.pdf

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
June 14, 2011
John C. Mollenkopf
Sr. Vice President and COO
MarkWest Energy Appalachia, LLC
1515 Arapahoe Street, Tower 2, Suite 700
Denver, CO 80202
CPF 2-2011-5004M
Dear Mr. Mollenkopf:
Between November 29 and December 3, 2010, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) inspected the MarkWest Energy Appalachia, LLC
(MarkWest) procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies at your office
in Ashland, Kentucky, pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code. As a result of the
inspection, PHMSA issued a Notice of Amendment (NOA) to MarkWest on March 14, 2011.
The PHMSA Southern Region received MarkWest’s initial response to the NOA in a letter
dated April 22, 2011. On May 3, 2011, we explained to you by return letter that we had
reviewed the initial response to the NOA and found it inadequate. We have since received
and reviewed MarkWest’s second response to the NOA dated May 26, 2011.
This letter is to inform you that MarkWest has complied with the terms of the NOA and that
no further action is necessary with regards to the NOA. This case is now closed.
Please be advised that this letter refers only to the NOA (CPF 2-2011-5004M) and not to any
other PHMSA pending cases. Also be advised that nothing herein states or implies that the
above described procedural manual meets the requirements of the federal pipeline safety
regulations or that the procedural manual is approved. The MarkWest pipeline system and the
procedural manual remain subject to inspection by PHMSA.
Sincerely,
Wayne T. Lemoi
Director, Office of Pipeline Safety
PHMSA Southern Region

220115004M_notice of amendment_03142011_text.pdf

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
March 14, 2011
John C. Mollenkopf,
Sr. Vice President and COO
Markwest Energy Appalachia, LLC
1515 Arapahoe Street, Tower 2, Suite 700
Denver, CO 80202
CPF 2-2011-5004M
Dear Mr. Mollenkopf:
Between November 29 and December 3, 2010, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) inspected the Markwest Energy Appalachia, LLC
(Markwest) procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies at your pipeline
office in Ashland, Kentucky, pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code.
On the basis of the inspection, PHMSA has identified apparent inadequacies found within
Markwest’s procedures, as described below:
1. § 195.402 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.
Markwest's operations and maintenance (O&M) procedures were inadequate because
they did not include specific procedure(s) covering the periodic review of work done
by Markwest or contractor personnel to determine the effectiveness of the procedures
used in maintenance and operations, and for taking corrective action if and when
deficiencies were found.
In discussions with the operator during the inspection, it appeared the operator was
having difficulties differentiating personnel performance from the effectiveness of the
O&M procedures themselves.



2. § 195.505 Qualification program.
Each operator shall have and follow a written qualification program. The
program shall include provisions to:
… (c) Allow individuals that are not qualified pursuant to this subpart to
perform a covered task if directed and observed by an individual that is
qualified;
Markwest’s Operator Qualification (OQ) procedures were inadequate because
Markwest did not include provisions to allow individuals that are not OQ qualified to
perform a covered task, if directed, and observed by an individual that is OQ qualified.
Specifically, Markwest did not address in its procedures the unique factors that
influence the span of control for each covered task, but instead applied a span of
control of 7-to-1 to all covered tasks.
3. § 195.571 What criteria must I use to determine the adequacy of cathodic
protection?
Cathodic protection required by this Subpart must comply with one or more of
the applicable criteria and other considerations for cathodic protection contained
in paragraphs 6.2 and 6.3 of NACE SP 0169 (incorporated by reference, see
§195.3).
Markwest’s corrosion control procedures were inadequate because they did not
explain how Markwest would consider voltage drops (other than those across the
structure-to-electrolyte boundary) in its annual cathodic protection survey pipe-to-soil
readings. NACE SP0169–2007 Section 6.2.2.1.1 requires consideration be given to
these voltage drops for valid interpretation of the voltage measurement.
4. § 195.577 What must I do to alleviate interference currents?
(a) For pipelines exposed to stray currents, you must have a program to identify,
test for, and minimize the detrimental effects of such currents.
Markwest’s corrosion control procedures for alleviating interference currents related
to AC current interference were inadequate because they did not specify what
Markwest considers as an acceptable level of AC current interference or the steps it
would take to minimize the detrimental effects of such interference currents.
Response to this Notice
This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.237. Enclosed
as part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in
Compliance Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. 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). If you do not respond
within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of your 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 you and to issue a Final Order.
2



If, after opportunity for a hearing, your plans or procedures are found inadequate as alleged in
this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans or procedures to correct the
inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.237). If you are not contesting this Notice, we propose that
you submit your 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 your amended procedures, this enforcement action
will be closed.
It is requested (not mandated) that Markwest maintain documentation of the safety
improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision
of plans, procedures) and submit the total to Wayne T. Lemoi, Director, Southern Region,
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence concerning this
matter, please refer to CPF 2-2011-5004M and, for each document you submit, please
provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible.
Sincerely,
Wayne T. Lemoi
Director, Office of Pipeline Safety
PHMSA Southern Region
Enclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings
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