{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 320091021W","title":"SOUTHERN STAR CENTRAL GAS PIPELINE, INC — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2009-11-09","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.615(a)(2).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320091021w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320091021w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320091021w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/320091021W","body":"Warning Letter involving SOUTHERN STAR CENTRAL GAS PIPELINE, INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.615(a)(2). The case was opened on 2009-11-09 and is reported as closed as of 2009-11-09. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n320091021W_Warning Letter_11092009.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320091021W/320091021W_Warning%20Letter_11092009.pdf\n\n320091021W_Warning Letter_11092009_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320091021W/320091021W_Warning%20Letter_11092009_text.pdf\n\n320091021W_Warning Letter_11092009_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nNovember 9, 2009\nMr. Robert S. Bahnick\nSr. Vice President of Operations and Technical Services\nSouthern Star Central Gas Pipeline Inc.\n4700 Hwy 56\nOwensboro, KY 42301\nCPF 3-2009-1021W\nDear Mr. Bahnick:\nOn May 5, 2009 to July 31, 2009, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected\nyour facilities in Lyons, Colby, Hugoton, Hesston, and Independence, Kansas. The facility in\nJoplin, Missouri was also inspected.\nAs a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the\nPipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and\nthe probable violation(s) are:\n1. §192.615 Emergency Plans\n(a) Each operator shall establish written procedures to minimize the hazard from\na gas pipeline emergency. At a minimum, the procedures must provide for the\nfollowing:\n(b) Each operator shall:\n(2) Train the appropriate operating personnel to assure that they are\nknowledgeable of the emergency procedures and verify that the training is\neffective.\n\n\n\nSouthern Star did not have complete documentation to show that the appropriate operating\npersonnel had been trained and were knowledgeable of the emergency procedures. Southern\nStar utilizes a sign-in sheet to document attendance of operating personnel at the annual\nemergency manual review and training course. However, if an employee was on shift duty,\nsick, or taking vacation, that person was not provided with an alternate date of training.\nSouthern Star needs to ensure that these individuals receive this training as soon as possible\nafter the original training date and document their training. This was noted at the Colby,\nHugoton, and Independence facilities in Kansas and at the Joplin facility in Missouri.\nAs a result of the inspection, the following issues were also identified as concerns:\n1. Combustible materials in the form of cardboard boxes were found inside the engine\nrooms at the compressor stations in the Lyons and Independence, Kansas facilities.\nThe operator promptly removed them upon discovery by the PHMSA inspector.\nSouthern Star needs to ensure that combustible materials beyond those required for\neveryday use are stored at a safe distance away from the compressor building.\n2. Relief valve stacks were found to have missing or damaged rain caps at the Lyons and\nColby, Kansas facilities. These problems were resolved the same day. Southern Star\nneeds to ensure that all relief valve stacks are protected from accumulations of water,\nice or snow to assure proper operation of the valves.\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed\n$100,000 for each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of $1,000,000\nfor any related series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting\ndocuments involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement\naction or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the item(s)\nidentified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Southern Star being subject to additional\nenforcement action.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer\nto CPF 3-2009-1021W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this\nenforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion\nof your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along\nwith the complete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the\nportions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you\nbelieve the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).\nSincerely,\n\n\n\nIvan A. Huntoon\nDirector, Central Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n3","truncated":false,"body_characters":4688}