CPF 320091003W
CPF 320091003W
320091003W_Warning Letter_04062009_text.pdf, page 1Official PDFWARNING LETTER CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED April 6, 2009 Mr. Vern Meier Vice President - Field Operations Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company, LP. 717 Texas Avenue Suite 2400 Houston, TX 77002-2761 CPF 3-2009-1003W Dear Mr. Meier: On August 25-28, 2008 a representative of the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety (MNOPS), acting as an interstate agent for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Central Region (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code conducted an inspection of Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company’s records and field facilities in Minnesota. As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and the probable violation is: 1. §191.17 Transmission and gathering systems: Annual report. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each operator of a transmission or a gathering pipeline system shall submit an annual report for that system on Department of Transportation Form F RSPA 7100.2-1. This report must be submitted each year, not later than March 15, for the preceding calendar year.#
320091003W_Warning Letter_04062009_text.pdf, page 2Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company (GLGT) did not accurately report the number of leak repairs for the 2007 annual report. The 2007 annual report indicated that GLGT repaired five leaks in 2007. Review of the maintenance records found that there were other repairs associated with fittings and gaskets that required more than just tightening, adjusting, or lubricating. These leak repairs should have also been reported on the annual report. Under 49 United States Code, § 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 any 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 item identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company, LP. 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 3-2009-1003W. 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, Ivan A. Huntoon Director, Central Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 2#
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