{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 220205001","title":"COLONIAL PIPELINE CO — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2020-12-15","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 195.262(b)(2), 195.412(b), 195.567(a), 195.567(c), 195.61(b).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220205001.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220205001.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-220205001","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/220205001","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving COLONIAL PIPELINE CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.262(b)(2),  195.412(b),  195.567(a),  195.567(c),  195.61(b). The case was opened on 2020-12-15 and is reported as closed as of 2026-03-13. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n220205001_Closure Letter_03132026_(18-162643S).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_Closure%20Letter_03132026_(18-162643S).pdf\n\n220205001_Closure Letter_03132026_(18-162643S)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_Closure%20Letter_03132026_(18-162643S)_text.pdf\n\n220205001_Consent Agreement and Order_05042021_(18-162643S).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_Consent%20Agreement%20and%20Order_05042021_(18-162643S).pdf\n\n220205001_Consent Agreement and Order_05042021_(18-162643S)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_Consent%20Agreement%20and%20Order_05042021_(18-162643S)_text.pdf\n\n220205001_NOPV PCO_12152020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_NOPV%20PCO_12152020.pdf\n\n220205001_NOPV PCO_12152020_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_NOPV%20PCO_12152020_text.pdf\n\n220205001_Operator Hearing Request Withdrawn (PHC-Hearing Scheduled Canceled)_05042021_(18-162643S).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_Operator%20Hearing%20Request%20Withdrawn%20(PHC-Hearing%20Scheduled%20Canceled)_05042021_(18-162643S).pdf\n\n220205001_Operator Response to Notice and Request for Settlement Conference and Request for Hearing_02122021.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice%20and%20Request%20for%20Settlement%20Conference%20and%20Request%20for%20Hearing_02122021.pdf\n\n220205001_PHC Hearing Scheduled_03102021.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_PHC%20Hearing%20Scheduled_03102021.pdf\n\n220205001_PHC Hearing Scheduled_03102021_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/220205001/220205001_PHC%20Hearing%20Scheduled_03102021_text.pdf\n\n220205001_Consent Agreement and Order_05042021_(18-162643S)_text.pdf\n\nMay 4, 2021\nMr. Joseph Blount\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\nColonial Pipeline Company\n1185 Sanctuary Parkway\nSuite 100\nAlpharetta, Georgia 30009\nCPF No. 2-2020-5001\nDear Mr. Blount:\nEnclosed please find a Consent Order incorporating the terms of the Consent Agreement\nbetween the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and Colonial\nPipeline Company which was executed on May 3, 2021. Service of the Consent Order and\nConsent Agreement by electronic mail is deemed effective upon the date of transmission, or as\notherwise provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.\nThank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nAlan K. Mayberry\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\nEnclosure: Order and Consent Agreement\ncc: Mr. James Urisko, Director, Southern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nMr. Mark Piazza, Manager, Pipeline Compliance and R&D, Colonial Pipeline Company,\nmpiazza@colpipe.com\nMs. Catherine Little, Troutman Pepper, Counsel for Colonial Pipeline Company,\ncatherine.little@troutman.com\nCONFIMRATION OF 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____________________________________\nIn the Matter of\nColonial Pipeline Company,\nRespondent.\n)\n)\n)\n)\n)\n)\n)\nCPF No. 2-2020-5001\nCONSENT ORDER\nBy letter dated December 15, 2020, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration,\nOffice of Pipeline Safety, issued a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Compliance Order\n(Notice) to Colonial Pipeline Company (Colonial).\nIn response to the Notice, Colonial requested a hearing and an opportunity to discuss settlement\noutside of the hearing, whereupon the parties engaged in good-faith settlement discussions that\nhave resulted in the Consent Agreement attached to this Order that settles all of the allegations in\nthe Notice.\nAccordingly, the Consent Agreement is hereby approved and incorporated by reference into this\nOrder. Colonial is hereby ordered to comply with the terms of the Consent Agreement, effective\nimmediately.\nPursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60101, et seq., failure to comply with this Consent Order may result in\nthe assessment of civil penalties as set forth in 49 C.F.R. § 190.223.\nThe terms and conditions of this Consent Order are effective upon service in accordance with 49\nC.F.R. § 190.5.\nMay 4, 2021\n___________________________________ __________________________\nAlan K. Mayberry Date Issued\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\n\n\n\n1\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)\nColonial Pipeline Company, ) CPF No. 2-2020-5001\n)\nRespondent. )\n)\nCONSENT AGREEMENT\nFrom January 14, 2019 to February 7, 2020, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, representatives of\nthe Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety\n(OPS), conducted an on-site pipeline safety inspection of the facilities and records of Colonial\nPipeline Company’s (Colonial or Respondent) pipeline system located in Alabama, Georgia,\nLouisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.\nAs a result of the inspection, the Director, Southern Region, OPS (Director), issued to\nRespondent, by letter dated December 15, 2020, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed\nCompliance Order (Notice). In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice alleged\nColonial had committed four probable violations, including violations of 49 C.F.R. §§ 195.61(b),\n195.262(b)(2), 195.412(b), and 195.567(c), and proposed ordering Respondent to take certain\nmeasures to correct the alleged violation of § 195.262(b)(2).\nColonial requested additional time to respond to the Notice on December 22, 2020. PHMSA\ngranted the extension on December 31, 2020. Colonial responded to the Notice by letter dated\nFebruary 2, 2021 (Response). The company did not contest the allegations regarding Items 1, 3,\nand 4 of the Notice. The Response did contest the allegation of violation in Item 2 of the Notice,\nrequested a settlement conference with the Southern Region, and reserved the company’s right to\na hearing regarding that Item. On March 11, 2021, April 14, 2021, and again on April 23, 2021,\nColonial and PHMSA (collectively, the Parties), met to discuss a possible resolution of the case.\nDuring the meetings, an agreement was reached that resolves all of the issues in the Notice.\nHaving agreed that settlement of this proceeding will avoid further administrative proceedings or\nlitigation and will serve the public interest by promoting safety and protection of the\nenvironment, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. Part 190, and upon consent and agreement of the Colonial\nand PHMSA, the Parties hereby agree as follows:\n\n\n\n2\nI. General Provisions\n1. Respondent acknowledges that as the operator of the Colonial system in Texas,\nLouisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland,\nDelaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, Respondent and its Colonial Pipeline system are\nsubject to the jurisdiction of the Federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101, et seq., and the\nregulations and administrative orders issued thereunder. For purposes of this Agreement,\nRespondent acknowledges that it received proper notice of PHMSA's action in this proceeding\nand that the Notice states claims upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 49 U.S.C.\n§ 60101, et seq., and the regulations and orders issued thereunder.\n2. After Colonial returns this signed Agreement to PHMSA, the Agency’s\nrepresentative will present it to the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety, recommending\nthat the Associate Administrator adopt the terms of this Agreement by issuing an administrative\norder (Consent Order) incorporating the terms of this Agreement. The terms of this Agreement\nconstitute an offer of settlement until accepted by the Associate Administrator. Once accepted,\nthe Associate Administrator will issue a Consent Order incorporating the terms of this Agreement.\n3. Respondent consents to the issuance of the Consent Order, and hereby waives any\nfurther procedural requirements with respect to its issuance. Respondent waives all rights to\ncontest the adequacy of notice, or the validity of the Consent Order or this Agreement, including\nall rights to administrative or judicial hearings or appeals, except as set forth herein.\n4. This Agreement shall apply to and be binding upon PHMSA and Colonial, its\nofficers, directors, and employees, and its successors, assigns, or other entities or persons\notherwise bound by law. Respondent agrees to provide a copy of this Agreement and any\nincorporated work plans and schedules to all of Colonial’s officers, employees, and agents whose\nduties might reasonably include compliance with this Agreement.\n5. This Agreement constitutes the final, complete and exclusive agreement and\nunderstanding between the Parties with respect to the settlement embodied in this Agreement.\nThe Parties acknowledge that there are no representations, agreements or understandings relating\nto settlement other than those expressly contained in this Agreement, except that the terms of this\nAgreement may be construed by reference to the Notice.\n6. Nothing in this 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, et\nseq., 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 Colonial pursuant to the Federal pipeline safety laws, the\nregulations and orders issued thereunder, or any other provision of Federal or State law.\n7. For all transfers of ownership or operating responsibility of Colonial’s pipeline\nsystem which occur while this Agreement is in effect, Colonial will provide a copy of this\nAgreement to the prospective transferee at least 30 days prior to such transfer. Colonial will\nprovide written notice of the transfer to the PHMSA Southern Regional Director no later than 60\ndays after the transfer occurs.\n\n\n\n3\n8. This 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,\nor a modification of any permit, under any Federal, State, or local laws or regulations. Colonial\nremains responsible for achieving and maintaining compliance with all applicable Federal, State,\nand local laws, regulations and permits.\n9. This 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. Colonial agrees\nto hold harmless the U.S. Department of Transportation, its officers, employees, agents, and\nrepresentatives from any and all causes of action arising from any acts or omissions of\nRespondent or its contractors in carrying out any work required by this Agreement.\n10. This Agreement does not constitute a finding of violation of any Federal law or\nregulation and may not be used in any civil proceeding of any kind as evidence or proof of any\nfact, fault or liability, or as evidence of a violation of any law, rule, regulation or requirement,\nexcept in a proceeding to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or in future PHMSA\nenforcement actions.\n11. Upon issuance of the Consent Order, the Parties agree to the terms in this\nAgreement and its appendices, which are incorporated herein.\nII. Items 1, 3 and 4 of the Notice:\n12. Allegations of Violation - §§ 195.61(b), 195.412(b), and 195.567(c): With respect\nto Items 1, 3 and 4 of the Notice, the Director, Southern Region, Colonial does not contest but\nneither admits nor denies any allegation or conclusion in the Notice. As such, Items 1, 3 and 4 of\nthe Notice are issued as warning items, as proposed in the Notice. PHMSA advises Colonial to\npromptly correct these items. Failure to do so may result in additional enforcement action.\nIII. Item 2 of the Notice:\n13. Allegation of Violation - § 195.262(b)(2): With respect to Item 2 of the Notice,\nthe Parties agree that the facts as alleged in the Notice are true and correct, but Colonial neither\nadmits nor denies that it violated the federal pipeline safety regulations. The Director, Southern\nRegion has reviewed additional information provided by Colonial and discussed with Colonial\nthe important safety implications of the issues raised by this allegation. PHMSA agrees to issue\nItem 2 as a warning item on the condition that Colonial completes the additional compliance\nactions outlined below. The Parties agree that the facts as alleged in the Notice may be\nconsidered by PHMSA as a prior offense in any future enforcement action taken against\nColonial. If the compliance actions incorporated into this Agreement are not completed,\nPHMSA reserves the right to take further enforcement action, including issuing a finding of\nviolation and assessing a civil penalty.\n\n\n\n4\n14. Proposed Compliance Order: The Proposed Compliance Order included in the\nNotice is withdrawn. Respondent agrees to complete the corrective actions specified in\nAppendix A of this Agreement, titled “Work Plan for Identification, Inspection, and Safe Use of\nEmergency Shut Down Devices in Relevant Pumping Stations throughout the Colonial Pipeline\nSystem” (Work Plan).\nIV. Additional Work to be Performed:\n15. Respondent agrees to complete the actions described in the Work Plan in\naccordance with the schedules set forth therein. Respondent agrees that the activities described\nin the Work Plan go beyond the minimum federal pipeline safety regulations.\n16. Respondent agrees to revise the Work Plan as necessary to incorporate new\ninformation obtained during the activities performed under the Work Plan. Respondent shall\nsubmit any such plan revisions to the Director for prior approval. The Director may approve\nWork Plan revision elements incrementally.\n17. The Director may grant an extension of time for completion of any of the work to\nbe performed under the Work Plan upon Respondent’s timely, written request that demonstrates\nboth good cause for an extension and provides sufficient detail to enable the Director to evaluate\nRespondent’s request.\n18. With respect to any submission by the Respondent under the Work Plan that\nrequires the approval of the Director, the Director may: (1) approve the submission, in whole or\nin part; (2) disapprove the submission on specified conditions; (3) disapprove the submission, in\nwhole or in part; or (4) undertake any combination of the foregoing. In the event of approval in\nwhole, in part, or upon conditions, Colonial will proceed to take all actions required by the\nsubmission as modified by the Director. In the event the Director does not approve all or any\nportion of a submission, the Director will provide Colonial with a written notice of the\ndeficiencies. Respondent will correct all deficiencies within the time specified by the Director\nand resubmit it for acceptance.\nIV. Enforcement\n19. This Agreement, including all elements of the incorporated Work Plan, is subject\nto all enforcement authorities available to PHMSA under 49 U.S.C. § 60101, et seq., and\n49 C.F.R. Part 190, including administrative civil penalties under 49 U.S.C. § 60122, of up to\n$200,000 (as adjusted) per violation for each day the violation continues and referral of the case\nto the Attorney General for judicial enforcement, if PHMSA determines that Respondent is not\ncomplying with the terms of this Agreement in accordance with determinations made by the\nDirector, or if appealed, in accordance with decisions of the Associate Administrator. The\nmaximum civil penalty amounts are adjusted annually for inflation. See 49 C.F.R. § 190.233.\n\n\n\n5\nV. Dispute Resolution\n20. The Director and Colonial will informally attempt to resolve any disputes arising\nunder this agreement, including, but not limited to, any decision of the Director. If Colonial and\nthe Director are unable to informally resolve the dispute within 15 calendar days after the dispute\nis first raised in writing, Colonial may submit a written request for a determination resolving the\ndispute from the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. The written request for a\ndetermination must be provided to the Director, counsel for the Southern Region, and to the\nAssociate Administrator no later than 10 calendar days after the 15-day deadline for informal\nresolution referenced in this paragraph. Along with its request, Colonial must provide the\nAssociate Administrator with all information Colonial believes is relevant to the dispute.\nDeterminations of the Associate Administrator under this paragraph constitute final agency\naction. 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\nupon by the Director or Associate Administrator in writing.\nVI. Effective Date\n21. The term “Effective Date,” as used herein, is the date on which the Consent Order\nis issued by the Associate Administrator, PHMSA, incorporating the terms of this Agreement.\nVII. Modification\n22. The terms of this Agreement may be modified by mutual agreement of the Parties.\nSuch modifications must be in writing and signed by both parties.\nIX. Termination\n23. This Agreement will terminate upon submission, and approval where specified, of\nthe deliverables set forth in the Work Plan.\nX. Ratification\n24. The Parties’ undersigned representatives certify that they are fully authorized to\nenter into the terms and conditions of this Agreement and to execute and legally bind such party\nto this document.\n\n\n\n6\n25. The Parties hereby agree to all conditions and terms of this Agreement.\nFor Colonial Pipeline Company:\n________________________\nWes Dunbar\nVice President of Operations\n________________________\nDate\nFor PHMSA:\n_________________________\nJames Urisko\nDirector, Southern Region\n_________________________\nDate\n\n220205001_Closure Letter_03132026_(18-162643S)_text.pdf\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n230 Peachtree Street N.W.\nSuite 2100\nAtlanta, GA 30303\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: MLittle@colpipe.com; QFrazier@colpipe.com\nMarch 13, 2026\nMelanie Little\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\nColonial Pipeline Company\n1185 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 100\nAlpharetta, GA 30009\nRe: CPF No. 2-2020-5001\nDear Ms. Little:\nOn May 4, 2021, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) entered\ninto a Consent Agreement with Colonial Pipeline Company. This Agreement, and resulting\nOrder, included corrective actions to comply with 49 CFR § 195.262(b)(2).\nPHMSA has confirmed satisfactory completion of all required elements of the Consent\nAgreement and Order. Accordingly, this case is now closed, and no further action is required.\nThank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nJames A. Urisko\nDirector, Southern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nCC: James Urisko, Director, PHMSA Office of Pipeline Safety, Southern Region\nQuintin Frazier, Director, Pipeline Compliance, Colonial Pipeline\nQFrazier@colpipe.com\n\n220205001_PHC Hearing Scheduled_03102021_text.pdf\n\nMarch 10, 2021\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: mpiazza@colpipe.com and james.urisko@dot.gov\nMr. Mark Piazza\nManager, Pipeline Compliance and R&D\nColonial Pipeline Company\n1185 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 100\nAlpharetta, GA 30009\nMr. James Urisko\nDirector, Southern Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n233 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 600\nAtlanta, GA 30303\nRe: Notice of Hearing, Colonial Pipeline Company\nCPF No. 2-2020-5001\nDear Mr. Piazza and Mr. Urisko:\nIn accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.211, an informal hearing will be held regarding the Notice of\nProbable Violation and Proposed Compliance Order issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration in the above-referenced case. The hearing will take place on May 5, 2021,\nbeginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.\nThe hearing will be held via videoconference. I will provide the videoconference information prior\nto the hearing. At least 10 calendar days prior to the hearing (or by April 26, 2021), both parties\nmust submit and exchange any additional written materials they intend to present at the hearing and\nthe name and email address of each attendee. This information should be provided electronically.\nMaterials not submitted by this date may be excluded.\nIf you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.\nSincerely,\nLarry White\nPresiding Official\ncc: Ms. Lauren Clegg, Counsel, Southern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nlauren.clegg@dot.gov","truncated":false,"body_characters":21629}