TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY — Warning Letter

party submissionOfficial PDF420131004W_Operator_Response_to_Notice_04252013.pdf#

420131004W_Warning_02062013_text.pdf, page 1Official PDFWARNING LETTER CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED February 6, 2013 Mr. Dwayne Burton Vice President Engineering/Operations Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company 500 Dallas, Suite 1000 Houston, Texas 77002 CPF 4-2013-1004W Dear Mr. Burton: Between August 7, 2012 and January 27, 2013, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, reviewed Safety Related Condition Report 20120054 submitted August 2, 2012, by Tennessee Gas Pipeline for a safety related incident that occurred in Harris County, Texas. As a result of the review, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and the probable violation is: 1. § 192.619 Maximum allowable operating pressure: Steel or plastic pipelines. (a) No person may operate a segment of steel or plastic pipeline at a pressure that exceeds a maximum allowable operating pressure determined under paragraph (c) or (d) of this section… As indicated in your Safety Related Condition Report, Tennessee Gas Pipeline experienced an overpressure condition that met the reporting criteria for a safety related condition. On July 30, 2012, a portion of your Cleveland District Unit’s pipeline was operated at a pressure that#

420131004W_Warning_02062013_text.pdf, page 2exceeded the maximum allowable operating pressure for the line. The established MAOP for the line, at the time of the event and report was 678 PSIG. The MAOP was exceeded for approximately 35 minutes with maximum pressures climbing into the 748 PSIG range. The maximum pressures exceeded 110% the MAOP of the line at the time of the event. This event is reflected in the Safety Related Condition Report you filed with PHMSA, as well as provided SCADA documentation related to the event. We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to CPF 4-2013-1004W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the complete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b). Sincerely, R. M. Seeley Director, Southwest Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 2#