# EXPLORER PIPELINE CO — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 320075010W
- **title:** EXPLORER PIPELINE CO — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-03-09
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 195.406, 195.567(a), 195.573(d), 195.583(a), 195.589(c).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320075010w.json
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320075010w
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/320075010W
**body:**

Warning Letter involving EXPLORER PIPELINE CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.406,  195.567(a),  195.573(d),  195.583(a),  195.589(c). The case was opened on 2007-03-09 and is reported as closed as of 2007-03-09. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

320075010W_Warning Letter_03092007.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320075010W/320075010W_Warning%20Letter_03092007.pdf

320075010W_Warning Letter_03092007.pdf

MAR 1 4 200t
@
u.s. Deporlmenl
of Tronsportotion
Pipeline ond
Hozordous lylqledols Soleiy
Adminlstrotion
901 Locusl Strest, Suite .162
Kansas City, MO 64106-2641
WARNING LETTER
CERTIX'IED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REOUESTED
March 9, 2007
Mr. Timothy C. Felt
President & CEO
Explorer Pipeline
Autumn Oaks Building, Suite 300
Third Floor
6846 South Canton Avenue
Tulsa, Ok 74136
cP[' 3-2007-5010w
Dear Mr. Felt:
On June 26 - 30, September 18 - 22,, September 25 - 29, and November 27 - 30, 2006, a
representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected your pipeline facilities in Illinois,
Missouri, and Indiana.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed probable violations of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and the
probable violations are:
$195.567 Which pipelines must have test leads and what must I do to install and
maintain the leads?
(a) Maintenance. You must maintain the test lead wires in a condition that enables
you to obtain electrical measurements to determine whether cathodic protection
complies with Sec. 195.571.
Explorer did not maintain the test lead wires at MP I 56. 13 6, 369.8299 (or 369.83),
37L9646,371.9657, and MP 375.8415 for the 2003, 2004, and 2005 annual inspections.



1 $195.573 What must I do to monitor external corrosion control?
(d) Breakout tanks. You must inspect each cathodic protection system used to
control corrosion on the bottom ofan aboveground breakout tank to ensure
that operation and maintenance of the system are in accordance with API
Recommended Practice 651. However, this inspection is not required if you note
in the corrosion control procedures established under Sec. f95.402(cx3) why
compliance with all or certain operation and maintenance provisions of APr
Recommended Practice 651 is not necessary for the safety of the tank
J .
4.
5.
Explorer did not inspect the center cathodic protection test lead for two consecutive years
for breakout tank numbers 431.439. & 471 at Wood River and 654 at Hammond.
$195.589 What corrosion control information do I have to maintain?
(c) You must maintain a record of each analysis, check, demonstration,
examination, inspection, investigation, review, survey, and test required by this
subpart in sufficient detail to demonstrate the adequacy ofcorrosion control
measures or that corrosion requiring control measures does not exist. You must
retain these records for at least 5 years, except that records related to secs.
195.569, 195.573(a) and (b), and 195.579(b)(3) and (c) must be retained for as
long as the pipeline remains in service.
Explorer did not have records that documented the electrical check for proper
performance on rectifiers # 446 for the 3/3112004 ar'd # 421-9 for the llll0/2004. and
12/28/2004 Wood River area surveys.
$195.533 What must I do to monitor atmospheric corrosion control?
(a) You 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
Then the frequency of inspection is:
At least once every 3 calendar years, but
with intervals not exceeding 39 months
Explorer did not inspect each pipeline or portion ofpipeline that was exposed to the
atmosphere on 14 Spans in the Wood River area and I Span in the Hammond area for
evidence ofatmospheric corrosion. see attached spreadsheet labeled "List ofspans.tt
Explorer is expected to document future inspections of spans for atmospheric colrosion.
$195.406 Maximum operating pressure (MOP).
(d) No operator may permit the pressure in a pipeline during surges or other
variations from normal operations to exceed 110 percent ofthe operating
pressure limit established under paragraph (a) of this section. Each operator
must provide adequate controls and protective equipment to control the
pressure within this limit.
Explorer exceeded I l0% of MOP on the Hammond Station ANSI 150 pound piping on
July 25, 2005. The MOP of ANSI 150 is 285 psig and I l0% would be 313.5 psig. The
overpressure condition was a momentary surge of 330 psig.



Under 49 United States Code, S 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $ 100,000
for each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of $ 1 ,000,000 for aly
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 these items ideirtihed in this letter.
Failure to do so will result in Explorer Pipeline Company being subject to additional enforcement
action.
No reply to this letter is required. Ifyou choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to
CPF 3-2007-5010W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement
action is subject to being made publicly available. Ifyou believe that any portion ofyour
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 quali$ for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation ofwhy you believe the
redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).
Director, Central Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **truncated:** false
- **body characters:** 6055
