{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 420153001W","title":"FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT, L.P. — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2015-03-31","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 191.5(a).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420153001w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420153001w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420153001w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420153001W","body":"Warning Letter involving FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT, L.P.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 191.5(a). The case was opened on 2015-03-31 and is reported as closed as of 2015-03-31. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n420153001W_Warning_03312015.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420153001W/420153001W_Warning_03312015.pdf\n\n420153001W_Warning_03312015_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420153001W/420153001W_Warning_03312015_text.pdf\n\n420153001W_Warning_03312015_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nMarch 31, 2015\nBill Henry\nVice President\nFreeport LNG Development, L.P.\n333 Clay Street, Suite 5050\nHouston, Texas 77002\nCPF 4-2015-3001W\nDear Mr. Henry:\nOn March 23, 2015, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code reviewed your\ninformation submitted in response to an incident that occurred at your LNG facility in Quintana,\nTexas.\nAs a result of the review and inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation\nof the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected\nand the probable violation is:\n1. 191.5 Immediate notice of certain incidents.\n(a) At the earliest practicable moment following discovery, each operator shall give\nnotice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section of each incident as defined in\n191.3.\nFreeport LNG Development, L.P. (Freeport LNG) failed to make notice to the National\nResponse Center at the earliest practicable moment following their February 19, 2015, incident\nin Quintana, Texas. Freeport LNG was performing maintenance within the LNG facility and a\ngasket began leaking and the Emergency Shutdown system (ESD) was activated.\n\n\n\nFreeport LNG notified the NRC at 8:22 am on February 20, 2015, 11 hours and five minutes\nafter the leak and shutdown at the facility at 9:17 am on February 19, 2015.\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $200,000\nper violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a related series of\nviolations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum penalty may not\nexceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 for a\nrelated series of violations Also, for LNG facilities, an additional penalty of not more than\n$50,000 for each violation may be imposed. We have reviewed the circumstances and\nsupporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional\nenforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the\nitem identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Freeport LNG Development, L.P.\nbeing subject to additional enforcement action.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to\nCPF 4-2015-3001W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement\naction is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your\nresponsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the\ncomplete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions\nyou believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe\nthe redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).\nSincerely,\nR. M. Seeley\nDirector, Southwest Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":3705}