{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 32024013NOA","title":"SOUTHERN STAR CENTRAL GAS PIPELINE, INC — Notice of Amendment","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2024-02-02","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.739(a)(2).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32024013noa.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32024013noa.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32024013noa","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/32024013NOA","body":"Notice of Amendment involving SOUTHERN STAR CENTRAL GAS PIPELINE, INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.739(a)(2). The case was opened on 2024-02-02 and is reported as closed as of 2024-03-07. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n32024013NOA_Closure Letter_03072024_(22-233365).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024013NOA/32024013NOA_Closure%20Letter_03072024_(22-233365).pdf\n\n32024013NOA_Closure Letter_03072024_(22-233365)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024013NOA/32024013NOA_Closure%20Letter_03072024_(22-233365)_text.pdf\n\n32024013NOA_Notice of Amendment_02022024_(22-233365).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024013NOA/32024013NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_02022024_(22-233365).pdf\n\n32024013NOA_Notice of Amendment_02022024_(22-233365)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024013NOA/32024013NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_02022024_(22-233365)_text.pdf\n\n32024013NOA_Notice of Amendment_02022024_(22-233365)_text.pdf\n\nNOTICE OF AMENDMENT\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: shawn.patterson@southernstar.com;\ncraig.thomas@southernstar.com\nFebruary 2, 2024\nShawn Patterson\nPresident and CEO\nSouthern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.\n4700 State Route 56\nOwensboro, KY 42301\nCPF No. 3-2024-013-NOA\nDear Mr. Patterson:\nFrom March 2 through September 30, 2022, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), pursuant to Chapter\n601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), conducted on-site inspections of Southern Star Central\nGas Pipeline, Inc.’s (Southern Star) natural gas transmission pipelines and facilities located in\nthe states of Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming.\nAs a result of the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacy found within\nSouthern Star’s plans or procedures. The item inspected and the inadequacy is described below:\n1. § 192.739 Pressure limiting and regulating stations: Inspection and testing.\n(a) Each pressure limiting station, relief device (except rupture discs), and pressure\nregulating station and its equipment must be subjected at intervals not exceeding 15\nmonths, but at least once each calendar year, to inspections and tests to determine\nthat it is—\n(1) . . . .\n(2) Adequate from the standpoint of capacity and reliability of operation for the\nservice in which it is employed;\n\n\n\nSouthern Star Procedure 60.02.02, entitled “Testing and Maintaining Overpressure\nProtection Devices Procedure,” was inadequate to ensure the reliable operation of\noverpressure protection devices. Specifically, Procedure 60.02.02 did not provide clear\nrequirements for the evaluation of mechanical overpressure protection device inspections.\nThe process detailed in Procedure 60.02.02 did not require evaluation of major\nadjustments from the perspective of reliability after devices failed to actuate at the proper\nset point.\nMechanical overpressure protection devices that require major adjustments often\nmalfunction again shortly after adjustments. Malfunctions cause the devices to fail to\nrelieve at the proper pressure. Additionally, Procedure 60.02.02 failed to (1) outline\ntesting parameters or results that may indicate a reliability problem with mechanical\ndevices; and (2) prescribe a process to follow up on reliability issues when needed.\nSouthern Star revised its procedures on June 29, 2023, including additional requirements\nfor follow-up inspections when set point drift indicated a reliability issue with an\noverpressure device. Therefore, no further action or response is required.\nResponse to this Notice\nThis Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. Enclosed as\npart of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in\nEnforcement Proceedings.\nPlease refer to this document and note the response options. Be advised that all material you\nsubmit in response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you\nbelieve that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5\nU.S.C. § 552(b), along with the complete original document you must provide a second copy of\nthe document with the portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an\nexplanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment\nunder 5 U.S.C. § 552(b).\nFollowing the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised\nprocedures, or a request for a hearing under § 190.211. As mentioned above, Southern has\nalready submitted its amended procedures to PHMSA, including additional requirements for\nfollow-up inspections when set point drift indicated a reliability issue with an overpressure\ndevice, which reflect the amendments required by this Notice. These amended procedures were\nreviewed and found to be adequate by PHMSA; therefore, no further action or response is\nrequired. If no additional response is received within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this\nenforcement will be automatically closed.\n\n\n\nIt is requested that Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. maintain documentation of the safety\nimprovement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision of\nplans, procedures) and submit the total to Gregory Ochs, Director, Central, Pipeline and\nHazardous Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence concerning this matter, please\nrefer to CPF 3-2024-013-NOA and, for each document you submit, please provide a copy in\nelectronic format whenever possible.\nSincerely,\nGregory A. Ochs\nDirector, Central, OPS\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: Craig Thomas, Manager Integrity Management & PHMSA Compliance,\ncraig.thomas@southernstar.com\nEnclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings\n\n32024013NOA_Closure Letter_03072024_(22-233365)_text.pdf\n\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: shawn.patterson@southernstar.com;\ncraig.thomas@southernstar.com\nMarch 7, 2024\nShawn Patterson\nPresident and CEO\nSouthern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.\n4700 State Route 56\nOwensboro, Kentucky 42301\nRE: CPF No. 3-2024-013-NOA\nDear Mr. Patterson:\nFrom March 2 through September 30, 2022, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), pursuant to Chapter\n601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), conducted on-site inspections of Southern Star Central\nGas Pipeline, Inc.’s (Southern Star) natural gas transmission pipelines and facilities located in\nthe states of Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming. As a\nresult of the inspection, Southern Star was issued a Notice of Amendment on February 2, 2024,\nwhich proposed amendment of its procedures. Southern Star has submitted its amended\nprocedures which my staff has reviewed and it appears that the inadequacies outlined in the\nNotice of Amendment have been corrected.\nThis letter is to inform you no further action is necessary and this case is now closed. Thank you\nfor your cooperation.\nSincerely,\nGregory A. Ochs\nDirector, Central, OPS\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: Craig Thomas, Manager Integrity Management & PHMSA Compliance,\ncraig.thomas@southernstar.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":7437}