# UCAR PIPELINE INCORPORATED — Notice of Amendment

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 420191003M
- **title:** UCAR PIPELINE INCORPORATED — Notice of Amendment
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2019-02-22
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.463(a).
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- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420191003M
**body:**

Notice of Amendment involving UCAR PIPELINE INCORPORATED. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.463(a). The case was opened on 2019-02-22 and is reported as closed as of 2019-11-22. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

420191003M_Closure Letter_11222019.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420191003M/420191003M_Closure%20Letter_11222019.pdf

420191003M_Closure Letter_11222019_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420191003M/420191003M_Closure%20Letter_11222019_text.pdf

420191003M_Notice of Amendment_02222019.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420191003M/420191003M_Notice%20of%20Amendment_02222019.pdf

420191003M_Notice of Amendment_02222019_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420191003M/420191003M_Notice%20of%20Amendment_02222019_text.pdf

420191003M_Operator Response to Notice_03212019.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420191003M/420191003M_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_03212019.pdf

420191003M_Closure Letter_11222019_text.pdf

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
November 22, 2019
Neelam Shah
President
UCAR Pipeline Incorporated
1000 County Rd 340
Angleton, Texas 77515
CPF 4-2019-1003M
Dear Ms. Shah:
On April 16, 2018 through April 28, 2018, a representative from the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code,
conducted an on-site pipeline safety inspection of UCAR Pipeline Incorporated’s (UCAR)
procedures in Angleton, Texas. As a result of the inspection, UCAR was issued a Notice of
Amendment on February 22, 2019.
UCAR submitted its amended procedures on March 21, 2019. My staff reviewed the amended
procedures, and it appears that the inadequacies outlined in the Notice of Amendment have been
corrected.
This letter is to inform you no further action is necessary and this case is now closed. Thank you
for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Mary L. McDaniel, P.E.
Director, Southwest Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

420191003M_Notice of Amendment_02222019_text.pdf

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
February 22, 2019
Otto Parets
President
UCAR Pipeline Incorporated
1000 County Rd 340
Angleton, Texas 77515
CPF 4-2019-1003M
Dear Mr. Parets:
On April 16, 2018 through April 28, 2018, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected
UCAR Pipeline Incorporated’s (UCAR) Texas City – Napoleonville pipeline in Texas and
Louisiana.
On the basis of the inspection, PHMSA has identified an apparent inadequacy found within
UCAR’s plans or procedures, as described below:
1. §192.463 External corrosion control: Cathodic protection.
(a) Each cathodic protection system required by this subpart must provide a level of
cathodic protection that complies with one or more of the applicable criteria
contained in appendix D of this part. If none of these criteria is applicable, the
cathodic protection system must provide a level of cathodic protection at least
equal to that provided by compliance with one or more of these criteria.



UCAR’s written procedure titled OME M-15 Corrosion Control does not provide for the
determination of the adequate level of cathodic protection in accordance with Appendix D of Part
192. OME M-15 includes the following process for determining the adequacy of cathodic
protection in step 2:
The structure potential shall be at least a negative .85 volt with reference to a saturated
copper-copper sulfate half-cell. This measurement is to be made with the protective current
applied and the reference cell placed in the electrolyte in close proximity to the structure to
minimize I x R drop error.
Appendix D of Part 192 includes the following requirement for calculating the voltage drop.
II. Interpretation of voltage measurement. Voltage (IR) drops other than those across the
structure-electrolyte boundary must be considered for valid interpretation of the voltage
measurement in paragraphs A (1) and (2) and paragraph B (1) of section I of this
appendix.
OME M-15 does not require the measurement or calculation of the IR drop error, instead it only
seeks to minimize it via measurement in close proximity to the pipe. In practice, UCAR employees
measure the potential through several feet of earth which can induce significant IR drop error.
UCAR must amend this procedure to require proper consideration of the IR drop error.
Response to this Notice
This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. Enclosed as
part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance
Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. 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).
Following the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised
procedures, or a request for a hearing under §190.211. If you do not respond within 30 days of
receipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of your right to contest the allegations in this Notice
and authorizes the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to find facts as alleged in this Notice
without further notice to you and to issue an Order Directing Amendment. If your plans or
procedures are found inadequate as alleged in this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans
or procedures to correct the inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.206). If you are not contesting this
Notice, we propose that you submit your amended procedures to my office within 30 days of
receipt of this Notice. This period may be extended by written request for good cause. Once the
inadequacies identified herein have been addressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement
action will be closed.
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It is requested (not mandated) that UCAR Pipeline Incorporated maintain documentation of the
safety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment
(preparation/revision of plans, procedures) and submit the total to Mary L. McDaniel, P.E.,
Director, Southwest Region, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In
correspondence concerning this matter, please refer to CPF 4-2019-1003M and, for each
document you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible.
Sincerely,
Mary L. McDaniel, P.E.
Director, Southwest Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Enclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings.
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