# MAGELLAN PIPELINE COMPANY, LP — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 420145030W
- **title:** MAGELLAN PIPELINE COMPANY, LP — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2014-12-03
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 195.132(b)(3).
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420145030w
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420145030W
**body:**

Warning Letter involving MAGELLAN PIPELINE COMPANY, LP. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 195.132(b)(3). The case was opened on 2014-12-03 and is reported as closed as of 2014-12-03. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

420145030W_Warning_12032014.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420145030W/420145030W_Warning_12032014.pdf

420145030W_Warning_12032014_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420145030W/420145030W_Warning_12032014_text.pdf

420145030W_Warning_12032014_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
December 3, 2014
Mr. Michael Pearson
Vice President, Technical Services
Magellan Pipeline, L.P.
One Williams Center, MD 27
Tulsa, OK 74172
CPF 4-2014-5030W
Dear Mr. Pearson:
On September 23, 2014, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected your breakout
tank construction at the Houston East Terminal in Houston, TX.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed probable violations of the Pipeline
Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and the probable
violation(s) are:
1. §195.132 Aboveground breakout tank.
(b) For aboveground breakout tank first placed in service after October 2, 2000,
compliance with paragraph (a) of this section requires one of the following:
(3) Vertical, cylindrical, welded steel tanks with internal pressures at the tank top
approximating atmospheric pressures (i.e., internal vapor space pressures not greater
than 2.5 psig (17.2 kPa), or not greater than the pressure developed by the weight of the
tank roof) must be designed and constructed in accordance with API Standard 650.
Magellan Pipeline, L.P. (Magellan) failed to meet the requirements of 195.132(b)(3) by not following
the requirements of API 650. After conducting the nondestructive examination (NDE) by visual
examination of the breakout tank bottom welds and plates for potential defects and leaks, Magellan
failed to sufficiently document the repairs made to the bottom floors as required by API 650. Upon
completion of welding the tank bottom, API 650 Section 7 Erection, 7.3.3 Examination of the Tank
Bottom, requires the operator to visually examine the bottom welds and plates for any potential



defects and leaks. Particular attention shall apply to areas such as sumps, dents, gouges, three-plate
laps, bottom plate breakdowns, arc strikes, temporary attachment removal areas, and welding lead arc
burns. In addition Section 1.4 Documentation Requirements requires the operator to develop certain
documents as per Appendix W, which includes reports of all tests including reports of all
nondestructive examinations.
During the inspection, the PHMSA inspector noticed several arc burns and repair areas on the
breakout tank bottom floors and asked the tank inspector for details of the repairs. The tank
inspector stated that the markings are known as “Pick ups,” which are found by the NDE inspector
after performing a visual examination of the bottom floors. The “pick ups” indicate areas which need
attention by the welder by either grinding down the weld, adding additional weld, repairing arc burns
or any other type of repair. After making repairs to the “pick ups” and arc burns, Magellan could not
provide documentation or records to demonstrate that the “pick ups” or arc burns were repaired.
Magellan explained that the “pick ups” are more of a cosmetic repair than an integrity repair. Even
though, these are considered “cosmetic” repairs, Magellan needs to document the repairs made to
defects identified by visual examination to meet API 650 requirements.
Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $200,000 per
violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a related series of
violations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum penalty may not exceed
$100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 for a related
series of violations. 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. We advise you to correct the item(s) identified in this letter. Failure to do
so will result in Magellan being subject to additional enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to CPF
4-2014-5030W. 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
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
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