{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 220155001S","title":"PRODUCTS (SE) PIPE LINE CORPORATION — Safety Order","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2015-03-09","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED safety order.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220155001s.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220155001s.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220155001s","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/220155001S","body":"Safety Order involving PRODUCTS (SE) PIPE LINE CORPORATION. The dataset does not identify a cited regulation for this case. The case was opened on 2015-03-09 and is reported as closed as of 2026-06-09. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n220155001S_Closure Letter_06092026_(14-149971S).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220155001S/220155001S_Closure%20Letter_06092026_(14-149971S).pdf\n\n220155001S_Closure Letter_06092026_(14-149971S)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220155001S/220155001S_Closure%20Letter_06092026_(14-149971S)_text.pdf\n\n220155001S_Consent Agreement_05142015.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220155001S/220155001S_Consent%20Agreement_05142015.pdf\n\n220155001S_Consent Agreement_05142015_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220155001S/220155001S_Consent%20Agreement_05142015_text.pdf\n\n220155001S_Consent Order_08132015.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220155001S/220155001S_Consent%20Order_08132015.pdf\n\n220155001S_Consent Order_08132015_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220155001S/220155001S_Consent%20Order_08132015_text.pdf\n\n220155001S_NOPSO_03092015.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220155001S/220155001S_NOPSO_03092015.pdf\n\n220155001S_NOPSO_03092015_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220155001S/220155001S_NOPSO_03092015_text.pdf\n\n220155001S_Consent Order_08132015_text.pdf\n\nAugust 13, 2015\nMr. Steven J. Kean\nPresident\nKinder Morgan, Inc.\n1001 Louisiana St., Suite 1000\nHouston, Texas 77002\nRe: CPF No. 2-2015-5001S\nDear Mr. Kean:\nEnclosed please find a Consent Order incorporating the terms of the Consent Agreement that was\nsigned on May 18, 2015, between PHMSA and Plantation Pipe Line Company, a subsidiary of\nKinder Morgan, Inc., in the above-referenced case. Service of the Consent Order and Consent\nAgreement by certified mail is deemed effective upon the date of mailing, or as otherwise\nprovided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.\nThank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nJeffrey D. Wiese\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\nEnclosure\ncc: Mr. Wayne T. Lemoi, Director, Office of Pipeline Safety, Southern Region, PHMSA\nMr. Thomas A. Bannigan, President & CEO, Plantation Pipe Line Company, 1100\nAlderman Drive #200, Alpharetta, Georgia 30005\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\n\n\n\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nOFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20590\n____________________________________\n)\nIn the Matter of )\n)\nPlantation Pipe Line Company, ) CPF No. 2-2015-5001S\n)\nRespondent. )\n____________________________________)\nCONSENT ORDER\nBy letter dated March 9, 2015, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n(PHMSA) Office of Pipeline Safety issued a Notice of Proposed Safety Order (Notice) to\nPlantation Pipe Line Company (Respondent) in this case.\nIn accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.239, the Notice alleged that conditions exist on\nRespondent’s 665-mile CNG pipeline in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and\nNorth Carolina that pose a pipeline integrity risk to public safety, property, or the environment\nand proposed that Respondent take certain actions to address the condition.\nIn response to the Notice, Respondent requested an informal consultation. Respondent and\nPHMSA engaged in good faith settlement discussions resulting in the Consent Agreement\nattached to this Order that settles all of the allegations in the Notice.\nAccordingly, the foregoing Consent Agreement is hereby approved and incorporated by\nreference into this Order. The Respondent is hereby ordered to comply with the terms of the\nConsent Agreement, effective immediately.\nPursuant to 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq., failure to comply with this Consent Order may result in the\nassessment of civil penalties of up to $200,000 per violation per day, or in the referral of the case\nfor judicial enforcement. The terms and conditions of this Consent Order are effective upon\nservice in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.\n___________________________________ __________________________\nJeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\n\n220155001S_Closure Letter_06092026_(14-149971S)_text.pdf\n\n230 Peachtree Street N.W.\nSuite 2100\nAtlanta, GA 30303\n404.832.1147\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and\nHazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: Zach_Ragain@kindermorgan.com\nJune 9, 2026\nZach Ragain\nDirector- Engineering, of Codes and Standards\nProducts (SE) Pipe Line Corporation\n1001 Louisiana Street\nSuite 1000\nHouston, TX 77002\nRe: CPF 2-2015-5001S\nDear Mr. Ragain:\nOn August 13, 2015, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),\nOffice of Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued the above-referenced Consent Order to Products (SE) Pipe\nLine, formerly Plantation Pipe Line Company. Products (SE) Pipe Line is a subsidiary of Kinder\nMorgan, Inc.\nThis letter is to inform you that the above-mentioned Consent Order and resulting Consent\nAgreement are now closed per the terms of the Order. Thank you for your cooperation throughout\nthis process.\nSincerely,\nJames Urisko\nDirector, Southern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n\n220155001S_Consent Agreement_05142015_text.pdf\n\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nMay 14, 2015\nMr. Ronald McClain\nPresident\nProducts Pipelines\n1001 Louisiana St., Suite 1000\nHouston, TX 77002\nCPF 2-2015-5001S\nDear Mr. McClain:\nEnclosed for your signature is a Consent Agreement between the Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety, Southern Region and\nPlantation Pipe Line Company in accordance with §190.(b)(2). Once signed by both parties\nthe Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety will issue a Consent Order, incorporating the\nterms of the agreement, in lieu of the Safety Order proposed by the Southern Region via the\nNotice of Proposed Safety Order referenced above.\nPlease sign the Consent Agreement and return the signed original to me. If you have any\nquestions on this matter or any other pipeline safety issue please call me at (404) 832-1160.\nSincerely,\nWayne T. Lemoi\nDirector, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPHMSA Southern Region\nEnclosure: Consent Agreement\n\n\n\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nOFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY\nSouthern Region\nAtlanta, GA 30303\n____________________________________\nIn the Matter of )\n)\n)\nPlantation Pipe Line Company )\nRespondent )\n____________________________________)\n) CPF 2-2015-5001S\nCONSENT AGREEMENT\nOn March 9, 2015, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), U.S.\nDepartment of Transportation, issued to Plantation Pipe Line Company1 (PPL or Respondent) a\nNotice of Proposed Safety Order (Notice). The Notice alleged that conditions exist on PPL's\n665-mile CNG pipeline in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina\nthat pose a pipeline integrity risk to public safety, property, or the environment.\nThe Notice also proposed that Respondent take certain corrective measures to correct the alleged\nconditions and ensure that the public, property, and the environment are protected from the\npotential risk.\nPPL responded to the Notice by letter dated April 8, 2015 (Response). Respondent\nacknowledged receipt of the proposed safety order and requested an informal consultation,2\nwhich was held on April 23, 2015, via a teleconference with the Office of Pipeline Safety,\nSouthern Region.\nDuring the informal consultation, PHMSA and PPL agreed that settlement of this proceeding\nwill avoid further administrative proceedings or litigation and that entry into this Consent\nAgreement is the most appropriate means of resolving the Notice; therefore, pursuant to 49\nC.F.R. Part 190, without adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and upon consent and\nagreement of Respondent and PHMSA (\"the Parties\"), the Parties agree as follows:\nI. General Provisions\n1. Respondent acknowledges that as operator of the pipeline, Respondent and its pipeline\nsystem are subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101\net seq., and the regulations and administrative orders issued thereunder. For purposes of this\n1 PPL is a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc.\n2 PPL's Response is incorporated into this Consent Agreement in whole (see attached).\n\n\n\n2\nConsent Agreement, Respondent acknowledges that it received proper notice of PHMSA's action\nin this proceeding and that the Notice states claims upon which relief may be granted pursuant to\n49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq. and the regulations and orders issued thereunder.\n2. Respondent does not admit or deny any allegation or conclusion in the Notice but agrees,\nfor purposes of this Consent Agreement, that the condition identified in the Notice exists and\nagrees to address it by completing the actions specified in Section II of this agreement\n(“Corrective Measures”). These actions, including any work plans and schedules, shall be\nincorporated into this agreement. This Consent Agreement does not constitute a finding of\nviolation of any Federal law or regulation and therefore may not be used in any civil proceeding\nof any kind as evidence or proof of any fact, fault or liability, or as evidence of the violation of\nany law, rule, regulation or requirement, except in a proceeding to enforce the provisions of this\nagreement or in future PHMSA enforcement actions.\n3. After Respondent returns this signed agreement, PHMSA's representative will present it to\nthe Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety (“Associate Administrator”) recommending that\nthe Associate Administrator adopt the terms of this agreement by issuing an administrative order\n(Consent Order) incorporating the terms of this Consent Agreement. The terms of this agreement\nconstitute an offer of settlement until accepted by the Associate Administrator.\n4. Respondent consents to the issuance of the Consent Order, and hereby waives any further\nprocedural requirements with respect to its issuance. Respondent waives all rights to contest the\nadequacy of notice, or the validity of the Consent Order or this Consent Agreement, including all\nrights to administrative or judicial hearings or appeals.\n5. This Consent Agreement shall apply to and be binding upon PHMSA, and upon\nRespondent, its officers, directors, and employees, and its successors, assigns, or other entities or\npersons otherwise bound by law. Respondent agrees to provide a copy of this agreement and any\nincorporated work plans and schedules to all of Respondent's officers, employees, and agents\nwhose duties might reasonably include compliance with this agreement.\n6. For all transfers of ownership or operating responsibility of Respondent’s pipeline,\nRespondent must provide a copy of this Consent Agreement to the prospective transferee at least\n30 days prior to such transfer and simultaneously provide written notice of the prospective\ntransfer to the PHMSA Regional Director who issued the Notice.\n7. This Consent Agreement constitutes the final, complete and exclusive agreement and\nunderstanding between the Parties with respect to the settlement embodied in this agreement, and\nthe Parties acknowledge that there are no representations, agreements or understandings related\nto the settlement other than those expressly contained in this agreement, except that the terms of\nthis agreement may be construed by reference to the Notice.\n8. Nothing in this Consent Agreement affects or relieves Respondent of its responsibility to\ncomply with all applicable requirements of the Federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101\net seq., and the regulations and orders issued thereunder. Nothing in this agreement alters\nPHMSA's right of access, entry, inspection, and information gathering or PHMSA's authority to\nbring enforcement actions against Respondent pursuant to the Federal pipeline safety laws, the\nregulations and orders issued thereunder, or any other provision of Federal or State law.\n9. This Consent Agreement does not waive or modify any Federal, State, or local laws or\nregulations that are applicable to Respondent's pipeline systems. This agreement is not a permit,\n\n\n\n3\nor a modification of any permit, under any Federal, State, or local laws or regulations.\nRespondent remains responsible for achieving and maintaining compliance with all applicable\nFederal, State, and local laws, regulations and permits.\n10. This Consent Agreement does not create rights in, or grant any cause of action to, any third\nparty not party to this agreement. The U.S. Department of Transportation is not liable for any\ninjuries or damages to persons or property arising from acts or omissions of Respondent or its\nofficers, employees, or agents carrying out the work required by this agreement. The U.S.\nDepartment of Transportation, its officers, employees, agents, and representatives are not liable\nfor any cause of action arising from any acts or omissions of Respondent or its contractors in\ncarrying out any work required by this agreement.\nII. Corrective Measures\nA. Within 30 days from the issuance of the Consent Order, submit to the Director, Office\nof Pipeline Safety, PHMSA Southern Region an “Amended Comprehensive Steel\nSleeve Assessment Work Plan” (Amended Work Plan) for review and approval. This\nAmended Work Plan will supersede the “Comprehensive Steel Sleeve Assessment Work\nPlan” dated February 25, 2015, and, at a minimum, must include:\ni. all the tasks described in PPL’s “Comprehensive Steel Sleeve Assessment Work\nPlan” dated February 25, 2015;\nii. a milestone schedule to accomplish all the tasks in the Amended Work Plan\nwithin one year after issuance of the Consent Order;\niii. a list of the 64 sleeves that PPL will excavate and inspect indicating the specific\nsegment (e.g. CNG-1 30-inch, Collins to Helena), type of sleeve, and identified\nby mile post or stationing;\niv. a written process to integrate all the results from the 64 excavations, the\nmetallurgical assessments, and the Type “A” sleeve removals with the results\nfrom the previously completed excavations/assessments and with the\nmetallurgical assessments of the two release locations and to apply the lessons\nlearned through this integration process to the remainder of the sleeves to\ndetermine if further mitigation is required;\nv. a commitment to complete the Kiefner and Associates study described in PPL’s\n“Comprehensive Steel Sleeve Assessment Work Plan” dated February 25, 2015,\nwithin six months after all tasks described within the “Amended Comprehensive\nSteel Sleeve Assessment Work Plan” have been completed and that a copy of the\nFinal Report of that study will be submitted to the OPS Southern Region;\nvi. a commitment to implement the recommendations contained in the Kiefner\nreport, if PPL disagrees with the recommendations in the Kiefner Report, PPL\nreserves the right to discuss these recommendations with OPS Southern Region\nand Kiefner and Associates; and,\nvii. the name, phone number, and email address of PPL's point-of-contact for the\nAmended Work Plan.\nB. Provide to the OPS Southern Region all written metallurgical analysis reports resulting\nfrom the work undertaken on the CNG pipeline as a result of the leaks of August and\nDecember 2014 and all work completed under this Consent Order whether the reports\nwere written before or after issuance of this Consent Order.\n\n\n\n4\nC. Revise the Amended Work Plan as necessary to incorporate new information obtained\nduring the implementation of the plan and/or to incorporate any improvement\nrecommendations made by Kiefner and Associates as a result of the additional study\nPPL plans to undertake (Item A.v. above)\nD. Submit any such plan revisions to the Director, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nSouthern Region for review and approval. The Director may approve plan revisions\nincrementally. Once approved, the Amended Work Plan and all revisions will become\nincorporated into the Consent Order.\nE. Implement the Amended Work Plan, including any revisions to the plan.\nF. Beginning 60 days after the Consent Order’s issuance, PPL is to prepare and submit\nmonthly progress reports to the Director, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA Southern\nRegion. These reports should include documentation of the costs associated with\nimplementing the Corrective Measures and include sufficient detail to allow the\nDirector to track the progress of the project and to provide the Director (or his\ndesignated representatives) an opportunity to observe and inspect future field activities\nas they occur.\nG. The Director may grant an extension of time for compliance with any of the terms of\nthe Consent Order upon a written request timely submitted demonstrating good cause\nfor an extension.\nH. PPL may appeal any decision of the Director to the Associate Administrator for\nPipeline Safety. Decisions of the Associate Administrator shall be final.\nI. PPL agrees to maintain documentation of the costs associated with implementing the\nCorrective Measures set forth in the Notice and to submit such costs to the Regional\nDirector with the monthly progress reports described in the Notice.\nIII. Review and Approval Process\n11. With respect to any submission under Section II of this Consent Agreement that requires\nthe approval of the Regional Director, the Director may: (a) approve, in whole or in part, the\nsubmission, (b) approve the submission on specified conditions, (c) disapprove, in whole or in\npart, the submission, or (d) any combination of the foregoing. If the Regional Director approves,\napproves in part, or approves with conditions, Respondent will take all action as approved by the\nDirector, subject to Respondent's right to invoke the dispute resolution procedures in Section IV\nwith respect to any conditions the Director identifies. If the Director disapproves all or any\nportion of the submission, the Director will provide Respondent with a written notice of the\ndeficiencies. Respondent will correct all deficiencies within the time specified by the Director\nand resubmit it for approval.\nIV. Dispute Resolution\n12. The Regional Director and Respondent will informally attempt to resolve any disputes\narising under this Consent Agreement. If Respondent and the Regional Director are unable to\ninformally resolve the dispute within 15 days, Respondent may request in writing, within 10\ndays, a written determination resolving the dispute from the Associate Administrator for Pipeline\n\n\n\n5\nSafety providing all information that Respondent believes is relevant to the dispute. If the request\nis submitted as provided herein, the Associate Administrator will issue a final determination in\nwriting. The existence of a dispute and PHMSA's consideration of matters placed in dispute will\nnot excuse, toll, or suspend any term or timeframe for completion of any work to be performed\nunder this agreement during the pendency of the dispute resolution process except as agreed by\nthe Regional Director or the Associate Administrator in writing.\nV. Enforcement\n13. This Consent Agreement, as adopted by the Consent Order, is subject to all enforcement\nauthorities available to PHMSA under 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq. and 49 C.F.R. Part 190,\nincluding administrative civil penalties under § 60122 of up to $200,000 per violation for each\nday the violation continues, if PHMSA determines that Respondent is not proceeding according\nto the terms of the agreement, determinations made by the Regional Director, or if appealed,\ndecisions of the Associate Administrator. All work plans and associated schedules set forth or\nreferenced in Section II will be incorporated into this Consent Agreement and are enforceable in\nthe same manner.\nVI. Record Keeping and Information Disclosure\n14. Respondent agrees to maintain records demonstrating compliance with all requirements of\nthis Consent Agreement for a period of at least five years following completion of all work to be\nperformed. For any reports, plans, or other deliverables required to be submitted to PHMSA\npursuant to this Consent Agreement, Respondent may assert a claim of business confidentiality\nor other protections applicable to the release of information by PHMSA, covering part or all of\nthe information required to be submitted to PHMSA pursuant to this agreement in accordance\nwith 49 C.F.R. Part 7. Respondent must mark the claim of confidentiality in writing on each\npage, and include a statement specifying the grounds for each claim of confidentially. PHMSA\ndetermines release of any information submitted pursuant to this Consent Agreement in\naccordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 7, the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, DOT and/or\nPHMSA policies, and other applicable regulations and Executive Orders.\nVII. Modification\n15. The terms of this Consent Agreement may be modified by mutual agreement of the parties.\nSuch modifications must be in writing and signed by both parties.\nVII. Termination\n16. This Consent Agreement terminates upon completion of all terms set forth in Section II\n(Corrective Measures) as determined by the Director, Southern Region. Respondent may request\nwritten confirmation from PHMSA when this agreement is terminated. To the extent ongoing\nmonitoring is required; PHMSA may terminate this agreement with respect to all other\nrequirements with the exception of such monitoring. Nothing in this agreement prevents\nRespondent from completing any of the obligations earlier than the deadlines provided for in this\nAgreement.\n\n\n\n6\nIX. Ratification\n17. The Parties undersigned representatives certify that they are fully authorized to enter into\nthe terms and conditions of this Consent Agreement and to execute and legally bind such party to\nthis document.\n18. The Parties hereby agree to all conditions and terms of this Consent Agreement:\nFor PHMSA: For Respondent:\n_______________________________ _________________________________\nWayne T. Lemoi Date Ronald G. McClain Date\nDirector, Office of Pipeline Safety President,\nPHMSA Southern Region Products Pipelines\nU.S. Department of Transportation Plantation Pipe Line Company","truncated":false,"body_characters":22329}