# ROCKIES EXPRESS PIPELINE LLC — Notice of Probable Violation - **operation:** document - **citation:** CPF 32022043NOPV - **title:** ROCKIES EXPRESS PIPELINE LLC — Notice of Probable Violation - **source type:** enforcement - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** historical - **official:** true - **published on:** 2022-09-22 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.465(a), 192.465(c). - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32022043nopv.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32022043nopv.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32022043nopv - **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/32022043NOPV **body:** Notice of Probable Violation involving ROCKIES EXPRESS PIPELINE LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.465(a), 192.465(c). The case was opened on 2022-09-22 and is reported as closed as of 2023-04-26. Proposed civil penalty: $29,700. Assessed civil penalty: $29,700. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status. Official case documents: 32022043NOPV_Final Order_04262023_(22-179276).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022043NOPV/32022043NOPV_Final%20Order_04262023_(22-179276).pdf 32022043NOPV_Final Order_04262023_(22-179276)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022043NOPV/32022043NOPV_Final%20Order_04262023_(22-179276)_text.pdf 32022043NOPV_Operator Response to Notice_10212022_(20-179276).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022043NOPV/32022043NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_10212022_(20-179276).pdf 32022043NOPV_PCP_09222022_(20-179276).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022043NOPV/32022043NOPV_PCP_09222022_(20-179276).pdf 32022043NOPV_PCP_09222022_(20-179276)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022043NOPV/32022043NOPV_PCP_09222022_(20-179276)_text.pdf 32022043NOPV_Final Order_04262023_(22-179276)_text.pdf April 26, 2023 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: matt@tallgrass.com Mr. Matthew Sheehy President and Chief Executive Officer Tallgrass Energy, LP 370 Van Gordon Street Lakewood, Colorado 80228 Re: CPF No. 3-2022-043-NOPV Dear Mr. Sheehy: Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of violation and finds that the civil penalty amount of $29,700 has been paid in full. This case is now closed. Service of the Final Order by e-mail is effective upon the date of transmission and acknowledgement of receipt as provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Alan K. Mayberry Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety Enclosures (Final Order and NOPV) cc: Mr. Gregory A. Ochs Director, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA Ms. Jennifer Eckels, Manager, Compliance, Tallgrass Energy, jennifer.eckels@tallgrass.com Ms. Crystal Heter, Chief Operating Officer, Tallgrass Energy, crystal.heter@tallgrass.com Mr. Brad Armsbury, Compliance Engineer, Tallgrass Energy, brad.armsbury@tallgrass.com CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 ____________________________________ In the Matter of ) Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC, ) CPF No. 3-2022-043-NOPV a subsidiary of Tallgrass Energy, LP, ) ) ) ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________) FINAL ORDER On September 22, 2022, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation (Notice) to Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC (Respondent), a subsidiary of Tallgrass Energy, LP. The Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated the pipeline safety regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 192 and proposed a civil penalty of $29,700. Respondent did not contest the allegations of violation, and submitted information regarding actions taken to address the items described in the Notice and to improve its practices and procedures. 1 Respondent paid the proposed civil penalty on October 11, 2022. Based upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the pipeline safety regulation listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is incorporated by reference: 49 C.F.R. § 192.465(a) (Item 1) – Respondent failed to test each pipeline under cathodic protection at least once each calendar year, but with intervals not exceeding 15 months. This finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action taken against Respondent. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, Respondent is assessed the proposed civil penalty amount of $29,700, which Respondent has already paid in full. 1 See Respondent’s October 21, 2022, reply to the Notice; available online at: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/reports/enforce/CaseDetail cpf 32022043NOPV.html?nocache=5170. In short, Respondent stated that after discovering the issue, it conducted analyses to confirm there were no corrosion-related safety issues that required remediation and also implemented remedial actions to prevent the recurrence of the corrosion survey and data issues, including additional training, improvements to procedures, and other updates. Warning Item With respect to Item 2, the Notice alleged a probable violation of 49 C.F.R. § 192.465(c) but did not propose a civil penalty or compliance order for this item. Therefore, this is considered to be a warning item. If OPS finds a violation of this provision in a subsequent inspection, Respondent may be subject to future enforcement action. The terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.5. April 26, 2023 ___________________________________ _________________________ Alan K. Mayberry Date Issued Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 5286