{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 32023034WL","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":"2023-11-29","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.161(d)(2), 192.317(a).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32023034wl.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32023034wl.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32023034wl","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/32023034WL","body":"Warning Letter involving SOUTHERN STAR CENTRAL GAS PIPELINE, INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.161(d)(2),  192.317(a). The case was opened on 2023-11-29 and is reported as closed as of 2023-11-29. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n32023034WL_Warning Letter_11292023_(22-233365).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023034WL/32023034WL_Warning%20Letter_11292023_(22-233365).pdf\n\n32023034WL_Operator Response to Notice_12112023_(22-233365).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023034WL/32023034WL_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_12112023_(22-233365).pdf\n\n32023034WL_Warning Letter_11292023_(22-233365)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023034WL/32023034WL_Warning%20Letter_11292023_(22-233365)_text.pdf\n\n32023034WL_Warning Letter_11292023_(22-233365)_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: shawn.patterson@southernstar.com;\nCraig.Thomas@southernstar.com\nNovember 29, 2023\nShawn Patterson\nPresident and CEO\nSouthern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.\n4700 State Route 56\nOwensboro, KY 42301\nCPF No. 3-2023-034-WL\nDear Mr. Patterson:\nOn September 28, 2022, of the on-site investigation, a representative of the Pipeline and\nHazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United\nStates Code (U.S.C.), inspected Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.’s (Southern Star) Nash\nCompressor Station in Nash, Oklahoma.\nAs a result of the inspection, it is alleged that Southern Star has committed probable violations of\nthe Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The items\ninspected and the probable violation(s) are:\n1. § 192.161 Supports and anchors.\n(a) . . . .\n(d) Each support on an exposed pipeline operated at a stress level of 50 percent or\nmore of SMYS must comply with the following:\n(1) . . . .\n(2) The support must be provided by a member that completely encircles the pipe.\nSouthern Star failed to provide supports that completely encircle the pipeline on an\nexposed pipeline. During a field inspection conducted in Nash, Oklahoma on September\n\n\n\n28, 2022, PHMSA observed that the above ground piping between the compressor station\nsuction block valve and the compressor filter did not have supports that fully encircle the\npipe.\nSouthern Star confirmed, via email on September 28, 2023, that the pipeline supports\nwould be replaced.\n2. § 192.317 Protection from hazards.\n(a) The operator must take all practicable steps to protect each transmission line or\nmain from washouts, floods, unstable soil, landslides, or other hazards that may\ncause the pipeline to move or to sustain abnormal loads. In addition, the\noperator must take all practicable steps to protect offshore pipelines from\ndamage by mud slides, water currents, hurricanes, ship anchors, and fishing\noperations.\nSouthern Star failed to take all practicable steps to protect its transmission line from a\nhazard that could cause the pipeline to move or sustain an abnormal load. During a field\ninspection conducted in Nash, Oklahoma on September 28, 2022, PHMSA observed that\nthe above ground piping between the compressor station suction block valve and the\ncompressor filter was supported by foundations that did not extend below the surface\ngrade. Nash, Oklahoma is located in a temperate climate where the soil may freeze and\ncause the soil to expand. This expansion causes and abnormal load on the pipe it\nsupports.\nSouthern Star confirmed, via email on September 28, 2023, that the pipeline supports\nwould be replaced with supports that extend below the surface grade.\nUnder 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed\n$257,664 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,576,627 for a\nrelated series of violations. For violation occurring on or after March 21, 2022 and before\nJanuary 6, 2023, the maximum penalty may not exceed $239,142 per violation per day the\nviolation persists, up to a maximum of $2,391,142 for a related series of violations. For violation\noccurring on or after May 3, 2021 and before March 21, 2022, the maximum penalty may not\nexceed $225,134 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,251,334 for\na related series of violations. For violation occurring on or after January 11, 2021 and before\nMay 3, 2021, the maximum penalty may not exceed $222,504 per violation per day the violation\npersists, up to a maximum of $2,225,034 for a related series of violations. For violation\noccurring on or after July 31, 2019 and before January 11, 2021, the maximum penalty may not\nexceed $218,647 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,186,465 for\na related series of violations. For violation occurring on or after November 27, 2018 and before\nJuly 31, 2019, the maximum penalty may not exceed $213,268 per violation per day, with a\nmaximum penalty not to exceed $2,132,679. For violation occurring on or after November 2,\n2015 and before November 27, 2018, the maximum penalty may not exceed $209,002 per\nviolation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,090,022.\n\n\n\nWe have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents involved in this case, and have\ndecided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this\ntime. We advise you to correct the items identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in\nSouthern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. being subject to additional enforcement action.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to\n3-2023-034-WL. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement action\nis subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your responsive\nmaterial qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b), along with the complete\noriginal document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions you\nbelieve qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the\nredacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b).\nSincerely,\nGregory Ochs\nDirector, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: Craig Thomas (Craig.Thomas@southernstar.com)","truncated":false,"body_characters":6455}