# TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 320065053
- **title:** TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2006-12-19
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 195.412(a).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320065053.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320065053.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320065053
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/320065053
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving TE PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 195.412(a). The case was opened on 2006-12-19 and is reported as closed as of 2008-12-22. Proposed civil penalty: $29,000. Assessed civil penalty: $29,000. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

320065053_FinalOrder_12052008.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320065053/320065053_FinalOrder_12052008.pdf

320065053_finalorder_12052008_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320065053/320065053_finalorder_12052008_text.pdf

320065053_finalorder_12052008_text.pdf

O
U S Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave S E
Washington DC 20590
DEC J 2008
Mr. Terry L. Hurlburt
Senior Vice President of Operations
Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC
1100 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002
Re: CPF No. 3-2006-5053
Dear Mr. Hurlbint:
Enclosed is the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of violation
and assesses a civil penalty of $29, 000. The penalty payment terms are set forth in the Final
Order. This enforcement action closes automatically upon payment. Your receipt of the Final
Order constitutes service of that document 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: Ivan A. Huntoon, Director, Central Region
CERTIFIED MAIL — RETURN RECEIPT RE UESTED



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20590
)
In the Matter of
)
)
Texas Eastern Products Pipeline )
Company, LLC, )
f/k/a Texas Eastern Products )
Pipeline Company, L. P.
, )
)
Respondent.
)
CPF No. 3-2006-5053
FINAL ORDER
Between May 8-12, June 27-30, August 7-11, August 28-31 and September 18-21, 2006,
pursuant to 49 U. S. C. $ 60117, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), conducted an on-site pipeline safety inspection
of the operating facilities of Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, L. P.
,
in Ohio, Illinois,
Indiana, and Kentucky, and reviewed the company's records in Watkins Glen, New York, and
Seymour, Indiana. Respondent, now known as Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC
(TEPPCO or Respondent), operates approximately 4, 600 miles of hazardous liquid pipelines. '
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Central Region, OPS (Director), issued to Respondent,
by letter dated December 19, 2006, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Civil Penalty
(Notice). In accordance with 49 C. F. R. $ 190. 207, the Notice proposed finding that Respondent
had violated 49 C. F. R. $ 195. 412 and assessing a civil penalty of $29, 000 for the alleged
violations.
TEPPCO responded to the Notice by letter dated January 25, 2007 (Response). While
Respondent did not admit any violation, it offered certain information in response to the
allegations and requested that the proposed civil penalty be reduced or eliminated. Respondent
did not request a hearing and therefore has waived its right to one.
FINDINGS OF VIOLATION
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. Part 195, as follows:
' At the time the Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Civil Penalty was issued, Texas Eastern Products
Pipehne Company, L P, owned and operated the referenced facihties Respondent informed OPS in August 2007
that the name of the operator had changed to Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC



Item la: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. $ 195. 412(a), which states:
g 195. 412 Inspection of rights-of-way and crossings under navigable
waters.
(a) Each operator shall, at intervals not exceeding 3 weeks, but at least
26 times each calendar year, inspect the surface conditions on or adjacent to
each pipeline right-of-way. Methods of inspection include walking, driving,
flying or other appropriate means of traversing the right-of-way. . . .
The Notice alleged that the Respondent failed to conduct adequate inspections of its pipeline
right-of-way at Milepost (MP) 174. 70 (Line A-1 Hopedale to Millersport) in Ohio. Specifically,
it alleged that TEPPCO utilized aerial patrols to inspect this portion of its right-of-way but was
unable to inspect the surface conditions from the air because the company failed to keep the area
clear of trees and underbrush. The fact that the right-of-way was obscured from aerial view has
been documented by photographs taken during the inspection.
In its Response, TEPPCO neither admitted nor denied the allegation. Instead, it stated that the
company's mowing contractor cleared the vegetation in this area on December 22, 2006.
However, Respondent's corrective action occurred approximately seven months after the OPS
inspection and therefore cannot serve to cure the violation.
Item 1b: The Notice alleged that Respondent also violated 49 C. F. R. ) 195. 412(a), as stated
above, by failing to conduct adequate inspections of its right-of-way near MP 122. 03 (Line P-
35), at the Wabash River valve site in Illinois. Specifically, it alleged that TEPPCO utilized
aerial patrols to inspect this portion of its right-of-way but was unable to inspect the surface
conditions from the air because the company failed to keep the area clear of trees and
underbrush. The fact that the right-of-way was obscured from aerial view has been documented
by photographs taken during the inspection.
In its Response, TEPPCO neither admitted nor denied the allegation. Instead, Respondent stated
that the right-of-way was cleared on October 23, 2006. However, Respondent's corrective action
occurred a full month after the inspection. As stated in Item la, correcting a deficiency after an
inspection occurs cannot serve to cure the violation.
Accordingly, I find that Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. $ 195. 412(a) by failing to adequately
inspect the surface conditions on or adjacent to its pipeline right-of-way at MP 174. 70 and MP
122. 03,
These findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement
action taken against Respondent.
ASSESSMENT OF PENALTY
Under 49 U. S. C. ) 60122, Respondent is subject to an administrative civil penalty not to exceed



3
$100, 000 per violation for each day of the violation, up to a maximum of $1, 000, 000 for any
related series of violations.
49 U. S. C. ) 60122 and 49 C. F. R. ( 190. 225 require that, in determining the amount of the civil
penalty, I 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 civil penalty of $29, 000 for Respondent's violation of 49 C. F. R. )
195. 412(a). The purpose of ) 195. 412(a) is to ensure that operators regularly inspect the surface
conditions of their pipeline rights-of-way in order to detect encroachments and other threats to
the integrity of their facilities, especially in high-population and environmentally sensitive areas.
Without adequate patrols, third-party damage to a pipeline is also more likely to go undetected.
In its Response, TEPPCO requested that OPS review the penalty assessment and either waive or
reduce the amount on account of the company's post-inspection actions to clear the right-of-way.
Respondent also pointed out that "only two overgrown sites were detected for probable
violation" over 2, 500 miles of highly volatile liquid (HVL) pipeline.
I find these arguments unpersuasive for several reasons. First, while it may be true that these two
obstructed areas are relatively small in relation to the entire length of TEPPCO's system, it is
also true that OPS only inspected approximately 701 miles of TEPPCO's entire 4, 600-mile
pipeline system as part of this inspection. It is unknown how many other violations of $
195. 412(a) may have occurred along the rest of Respondent's system.
Second, while TEPPCO may have acted promptly to correct the violations after the inspection
occurred, there is no indication that TEPPCO made a concerted effort to consistently keep these
portions of its right-of-way properly cleared and inspected on a regular basis, as required by $
195. 412(a). The rights-of-way should have been kept cleared for aerial inspection without the
necessity of an inspector's visit.
Third, Respondent's pipeline at MP 122. 03 is a dual-service line that transports both propane and
petroleum products. The right-of-way in this area lies close to a residential trailer park and the
Wabash River. A potential pipeline malfunction here could have serious impacts on public
safety, the water supply, and wildlife and fish in the area. Clear visibility of the right-of-way
would also enable TEPPCO to respond more quickly and efficiently in the event of an actual
release. Finally, I would note that Respondent has had at least one prior violation of 49 C. F. R. $
195. 412(a).
Based upon the foregoing, I find that Respondent has not demonstrated any circumstances
' See CPF ¹ 2-2005-5013



4
justifying a reduction or waiver of the civil penalty. Accordingly, having reviewed the record
and considered the assessment criteria, I assess Respondent a total civil penalty of $29, 000.
Payment of the civil penalty must be made within 20 days of service. Federal regulations
(49 C. F. R. $ 89. 21(b)(3)) require this payment be made by wire transfer, through the Federal
Reserve Communications System (Fedwire), to the account of the U. S. Treasury. Detailed
instructions are contained in the enclosure. Questions concerning wire transfers should be
directed to: Financial Operations Division (AMZ-341), Federal Aviation Administration, Mike
Monroney Aeronautical Center, P. O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125; (405) 954-8893.
Failure to pay the $29, 000 civil penalty will result in accrual of interest at the current annual rate
in accordance with 31 U. S. C. ( 3717, 31 C. F. R. $ 901. 9 and 49 C. F R. $ 89. 23. Pursuant to
those same authorities, a late penalty charge of six percent (6%) per annum will be charged if
payment is not made within 110 days of service. Furthermore, failure to pay the civil penalty
may result in referral of the matter to the Attorney General for appropriate action in a United
States District Court.
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 received within 20 days of Respondent's receipt of this
Final Order and must contain a brief statement of the issue(s). The filing of the petition
automatically stays the payment of any civil penalty assessed. However if Respondent submits
payment for the civil penalty, the Final Order becomes the final administrative decision and the
right to petition for reconsideration is waived, The terms and conditions of this Final Order shall
be effective upon receipt.
DEC 5 2008
Jeffrey D. Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Date Issued
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 11649