# ORCHID BEACH CLUB RESIDENCES — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 220130005W
- **title:** ORCHID BEACH CLUB RESIDENCES — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2013-04-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 192.455(a)(2), 192.481(a), 192.625(f), 192.723(a), 192.747.
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220130005w
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/220130005W
**body:**

Warning Letter involving ORCHID BEACH CLUB RESIDENCES. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.455(a)(2),  192.481(a),  192.625(f),  192.723(a),  192.747. The case was opened on 2013-04-17 and is reported as closed as of 2013-04-17. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

220130005W_Warning letter_04172013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220130005W/220130005W_Warning%20letter_04172013.pdf

220130005W_warning letter_04172013_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220130005W/220130005W_warning%20letter_04172013_text.pdf

220130005W_warning letter_04172013_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
April 17, 2013
Mr. Eric Mitchell
Property Manager
Orchid Beach Club Residences
2050 Ben Franklin Drive
Sarasota, FL 34236
CPF 2-2013-0005W
Dear Mr. Mitchell:
On February14, 2013, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA), Southern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, pursuant to Chapter
601 of 49 United States Code, inspected the Orchid Beach Club master meter and downstream
piping and facilities at 2050 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota, Florida.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that Orchid Beach Club has committed probable
violations of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The
items inspected and the probable violations are as follows:
1. §192.455 External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed after
July 31, 1971.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (f) of this section, each buried or
submerged pipeline installed after July 31, 1971, must be protected against external
corrosion, including the following:
... (2) It must have a cathodic protection system designed to protect the pipeline in
accordance with this subpart, installed and placed in operation within 1 year after
completion of construction.
Orchid Beach Club did not install, and place in operation within one year after completion
of construction, a cathodic protection system designed to protect a buried pipeline against
external corrosion. The PHMSA inspector identified a buried 2-inch coated steel pipeline
approximately 25 feet long located near the association’s swimming pool that does not
have a cathodic protection system. This pipeline was constructed approximately seven
years ago without an impressed current cathodic protection system, sacrificial anodes, or
any other system to protect the pipeline from external corrosion.
2. §192.481 Atmospheric corrosion control: Monitoring.
(a) Each operator must inspect each pipeline or portion of pipeline that is exposed to



the atmosphere for evidence of atmospheric corrosion, as follows:
If the pipeline is located: Onshore Offshore Then the frequency of inspection is:
At least once every 3 calendar years, but with intervals
not exceeding 39 months
At least once each calendar year, but with intervals not
exceeding 15 months
... (c) If atmospheric corrosion is found during an inspection, the operator must
provide protection against the corrosion as required by Sec. 192.479.
Orchid Beach Club did not inspect its onshore pipeline exposed to the atmosphere for
evidence of atmospheric corrosion at least once every 3 calendar years, but with intervals
not exceeding 39 months. Moreover, Orchid Beach Club did not provide protection
against atmospheric corrosion in accordance with §192.479, which requires pipelines to be
properly cleaned and coated to prevent atmospheric corrosion.
The PHMSA inspector observed and photographed piping at an insulated union just
downstream of the master meter that showed signs of atmospheric corrosion. This portion
of pipeline had not been properly cleaned and coated to prevent atmospheric corrosion.
3. §192.625 Odorization of gas.
... (f) To assure the proper concentration of odorant in accordance with this section,
each operator must conduct periodic sampling of combustible gases using an
instrument capable of determining the percentage of gas in air at which the odor
becomes readily detectable. Operators of master meter systems may comply with
this requirement by-
(1) Receiving written verification from their gas source that the gas has the proper
concentration of odorant; and
(2) Conducting periodic "sniff" tests at the extremities of the system to confirm that
the gas contains odorant.
Orchid Beach Club did not present to the PHMSA inspector any records to demonstrate
that it had assured the proper concentration of odorant in its pipeline system by receiving
written verification from its gas source that the gas has the proper concentration of
odorant or by conducting periodic "sniff" tests at the extremities of the system to confirm
that the gas contains odorant.
4. §192.723 Distribution systems: Leakage surveys.
(a) Each operator of a distribution system shall conduct periodic leakage surveys in
accordance with this section.
(b) The type and scope of the leakage control program must be determined by the
nature of the operations and the local conditions, but it must meet the following
minimum requirements:
... (2) A leakage survey with leak detector equipment must be conducted outside
business districts as frequently as necessary, but at least once every 5 calendar years
at intervals not exceeding 63 months. However, for cathodically unprotected
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distribution lines subject to § 192.465(e) on which electrical surveys for corrosion are
impractical, a leakage survey must be conducted at least once every 3 calendar years
at intervals not exceeding 39 months.
Orchid Beach Club did not present to the PHMSA inspector any records to demonstrate
that it had conducted a leakage survey with leak detector equipment at its 11 story
buildings with 54 residential units at least once every 5 calendar years and at intervals not
exceeding 63 months.
5. §192.747 Valve maintenance: Distribution systems.
(a) Each valve, the use of which may be necessary for the safe operation of a
distribution system, must be checked and serviced at intervals not exceeding 15
months, but at least once each calendar year.
(b) Each operator must take prompt remedial action to correct any valve found
inoperable, unless the operator designates an alternative valve.
Orchid Beach Club did not present to the PHMSA inspector any records to demonstrate
that it had checked and serviced its shut off (or key valve) which may be necessary for the
safe operation of its distribution system at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least
once each calendar year.
Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, Orchid Beach Club is subject to a civil penalty not to
exceed $ 200,000 per violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000
for a related series of violations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the
maximum penalty may not exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty
not to exceed $1,000,000 for a 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
Orchid Beach Club, 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 2-2013-0005W. 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).
Sincerely,
Wayne T. Lemoi
Director, Office of Pipeline Safety
PHMSA Southern Region
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