{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 32022053NOPV","title":"GULF SOUTH PIPELINE COMPANY, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2022-08-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 191.23(a)(5), 192.161(c), 192.465(c), 192.465(d), 192.605(a), 192.605(b)(1), 192.907(a).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32022053nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32022053nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32022053nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/32022053NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving GULF SOUTH PIPELINE COMPANY, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 191.23(a)(5),  192.161(c),  192.465(c),  192.465(d),  192.605(a),  192.605(b)(1),  192.907(a). The case was opened on 2022-08-22 and is reported as closed as of 2024-10-18. Proposed civil penalty: $90,700. Assessed civil penalty: $90,700. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n32022053NOPV_Closure Letter_10182024_(21-210151).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022053NOPV/32022053NOPV_Closure%20Letter_10182024_(21-210151).pdf\n\n32022053NOPV_Closure Letter_10182024_(21-210151)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022053NOPV/32022053NOPV_Closure%20Letter_10182024_(21-210151)_text.pdf\n\n32022053NOPV_Final Order_11102022_(21-210151).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022053NOPV/32022053NOPV_Final%20Order_11102022_(21-210151).pdf\n\n32022053NOPV_Final Order_11102022_(21-210151)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022053NOPV/32022053NOPV_Final%20Order_11102022_(21-210151)_text.pdf\n\n32022053NOPV_PCP PCO_08222022_(21-210151).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022053NOPV/32022053NOPV_PCP%20PCO_08222022_(21-210151).pdf\n\n32022053NOPV_PCP PCO_08222022_(21-210151)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022053NOPV/32022053NOPV_PCP%20PCO_08222022_(21-210151)_text.pdf\n\n32022053NOPV_Final Order_11102022_(21-210151)_text.pdf\n\nNovember 10, 2022\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: stan.horton@bwpipelines.com\nMr. Stanley C. Horton\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\nBoardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP\n9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2800\nHouston, Texas 77066\nRe: CPF No. 3-2022-053-NOPV\nDear Mr. Horton:\nEnclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of\nviolation, assesses a civil penalty of $90,700, and specifies actions that need to be taken to\ncomply with the pipeline safety regulations. When the civil penalty has been paid and the terms\nof the compliance order are completed, as determined by the Director, Central Region, this\nenforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order by e-mail is effective upon the date\nof transmission and acknowledgement of receipt as provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.\nThank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nAlan K. Mayberry\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\nEnclosures (Final Order and NOPV)\ncc: Mr. Gregory A. Ochs, Director, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nMs. Tina Baker, Manager, Compliance Services, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP,\ntina.baker@bwpipelines.com\nCONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED\n\n\n\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nOFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20590\n_____________________________________________\nIn the Matter of )\nGulf South Pipeline Company, LLC, ) CPF No. 3-2022-053-NOPV\na subsidiary of Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, )\n)\n)\n)\nRespondent. )\n_____________________________________________)\nFINAL ORDER\nOn August 22, 2022, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Central Region, Office of\nPipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation (Notice) to Gulf South Pipeline\nCompany, LLC (Respondent), a subsidiary of Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP. The Notice\nproposed finding that Respondent had violated the pipeline safety regulations in 49 C.F.R. parts\n191 and 192. The Notice also proposed certain measures to correct the violations. Respondent\ndid not contest the allegations of violation, the proposed civil penalty, or corrective measures.\nBased upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the\npipeline safety regulations listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is\nincorporated by reference:\n49 C.F.R. § 191.23(a)(1)(5) (Item 1) ─ Respondent failed to report safety-related\nconditions involving facilities in service in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 191.25,\nincluding any material defect or physical damage that impairs the serviceability of\na pipeline that operators at a hoop stress of 20 percent or more of its specified\nminimum yield strength, or the serviceability of the structural integrity of a\nUNGSF.\n49 C.F.R. § 192.161(c) (Item 2) ─ Respondent failed to design and install each\nsupport on its exposed pipelines using durable, noncombustible material.\n49 C.F.R. § 192.465(c) (Item 3) – Respondent failed to electronically check for\nproper performance six times each calendar year, but with intervals not exceeding\n2 ½ months, each reverse current switch, diode, and interference bond whose\nfailure would jeopardize structure protection. Respondent also failed to check\neach interference bond for proper performance at least once each calendar year,\nbut with intervals not exceeding 15 months.\n\n\n\n49 C.F.R. § 192.465(d) (Item 4) – Respondent failed to take prompt remedial\naction to correct deficiencies indicated by corrosion control monitoring.\n49 C.F.R. § 192.605(b)(1) (Item 6) – Respondent failed to prepare and follow\nwritten procedures for operating, maintaining, and repairing the pipeline in\naccordance with the requirements of subparts L and M of part 192.\nThese findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement\naction taken against Respondent. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, I assess Respondent a\ntotal civil penalty of $90,700.\nPayment of the civil penalty must be made within 20 days of service. Federal regulations (49\nC.F.R. § 89.21(b)(3)) require such payment to be made by wire transfer through the Federal\nReserve Communications System (Fedwire), to the account of the U.S. Treasury. Detailed\ninstructions are contained in the enclosure. Questions concerning wire transfers should be\ndirected to: Financial Operations Division (AMK-325), Federal Aviation Administration, Mike\nMonroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 S MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 79169.\nThe Financial Operations Division telephone number is (405) 954-8845.\nFailure to pay the $90,700 civil penalty will result in accrual of interest at the current annual rate\nin accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 3717, 31 C.F.R. § 901.9 and 49 C.F.R. § 89.23. Pursuant to\nthose same authorities, a late penalty charge of six percent (6%) per annum will be charged if\npayment is not made within 110 days of service. Furthermore, failure to pay the civil penalty\nmay result in referral of the matter to the Attorney General for appropriate action in a district\ncourt of the United States.\nCompliance Actions\nPursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217, Respondent is ordered to take the\nactions proposed in the enclosed Notice to correct the violations. The Director may grant an\nextension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a written request timely\nsubmitted by the Respondent and demonstrating good cause for an extension. Upon completion\nof the ordered actions, Respondent may request that the Director close the case. Failure to\ncomply with this Order may result in the assessment of civil penalties under 49 C.F.R. § 190.223\nor in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States.\nWarning Items\nWith respect to Items 5 and 7, the Notice alleged probable violations of 49 C.F.R. §§ 192.605(a)\nand 192.907(a), respectively, but did not propose a civil penalty or compliance order for these\nitems. Therefore, these are considered to be warning items. If OPS finds a violation of any of\nthese items in a subsequent inspection, Respondent may be subject to future enforcement action.\n\n\n\nThe terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R.\n§ 190.5.\nNovember 10, 2022\n___________________________________ _________________________\nAlan K. Mayberry Date Issued\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\n\n32022053NOPV_Closure Letter_10182024_(21-210151)_text.pdf\n\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: Scott.Hallam@bwpipelines.com; tina.baker@bwpipelines.com\nOctober 18, 2024\nScott Hallam\nPresident/CEO\nGulf South Pipeline Company, LLC\n9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2800\nHouston, TX 77066\nRE: CPF 3-2022-053-NOPV\nDear Mr. Hallam\nOn November 10, 2022, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)\nissued to Gulf South Pipeline Company, LLC (“Gulf South”) a Final Order in the above-referenced\ncase. This Order included a Compliance Order requiring Gulf South to take the actions to correct\nthe violations and a Civil Penalty assessment. Based on our review of the documentation provided\nby Gulf South and confirmation of payment of the civil penalty, it has been determined that Gulf\nSouth has complied with the terms of the Final Order.\nAccordingly, this case is now closed, and no further action is contemplated with respect to the\nmatters involved in this case. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nGregory A. Ochs\nDirector, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: Tina Baker, Manager, Compliance Services","truncated":false,"body_characters":9189}