{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 42023011NOPV","title":"PANHANDLE EASTERN PIPELINE CO — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2023-06-15","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.605(a), 192.605(b)(8), 192.805(a).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42023011nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42023011nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42023011nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/42023011NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving PANHANDLE EASTERN PIPELINE CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.605(a),  192.605(b)(8),  192.805(a). The case was opened on 2023-06-15 and is reported as closed as of 2025-04-22. Proposed civil penalty: $2,473,912. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n42023011NOPV_DOJ PHMSA Settlement Agreement_12312025_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_DOJ%20PHMSA%20Settlement%20Agreement_12312025_(21-214287).pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_Operator Post-Hearing Brief_05312024_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_Operator%20Post-Hearing%20Brief_05312024_(21-214287).pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_Operator Post-Hearing Submission_05312024_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_Operator%20Post-Hearing%20Submission_05312024_(21-214287).pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_Operator Pre-Hearing Submission_04152024_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_Operator%20Pre-Hearing%20Submission_04152024_(21-214287).pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_Operator RtN and RfH and SoI (Part 1)_08282023_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_Operator%20RtN%20and%20RfH%20and%20SoI%20(Part%201)_08282023_(21-214287).pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_Operator RtN RfH SoI (Part 2)_08282023_ (21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_Operator%20RtN%20RfH%20SoI%20(Part%202)_08282023_%20(21-214287).pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_PCO PCP_06152023_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_PCO%20PCP_06152023_(21-214287).pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_PCO PCP_06152023_(21-214287)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_PCO%20PCP_06152023_(21-214287)_text.pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_09222023_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Scheduled_09222023_(21-214287).pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_09222023_(21-214287)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Scheduled_09222023_(21-214287)_text.pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_Region Withdrawal of Notice Letter_04222025_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_Region%20Withdrawal%20of%20Notice%20Letter_04222025_(21-214287).pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_Region Withdrawal of Notice Letter_04222025_(21-214287)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_Region%20Withdrawal%20of%20Notice%20Letter_04222025_(21-214287)_text.pdf\n\n42023011NOPV_Region Withdrawal of Notice Letter_04222025_(21-214287)_text.pdf\n\nWITHDRAWAL OF NOTICE LETTER\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: tom.long@energytransfer.com\nApril 22, 2025\nThomas Long\nChief Executive Officer\nEnergy Transfer, LP\n8111 Westchester Drive\nDallas, Texas 75225\nCPF 4-2023-011-NOPV\nDear Mr. Long:\nOn June 15, 2023, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n(PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Southwest Region issued a Notice of Probable\nViolation, Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order (Notice) to Energy Transfer,\nLP (Energy Transfer) in the above-captioned administrative proceeding. OPS issued the Notice\npursuant to the authority provided in the Pipeline Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. §§ 60117(b), 60118(a)-\n(b), 60122, and Pipeline Safety Regulations, 49 CFR Part 190, Subpart B.\nIn the Notice, OPS alleged that an Energy Transfer subsidiary, Panhandle Eastern Pipe\nLine Co. (Panhandle), committed certain violations of the federal gas pipeline safety regulations\nin 49 CFR Part 192 in connection with a fatal gas pipeline incident that occurred on March 26,\n2020, near Meade, Kansas. 49 CFR § 190.207. Panhandle responded to the Notice by\ncontesting the allegations and requesting an informal hearing before a presiding official. 49 CFR\n§ 190.208. The presiding official held that hearing on April 24, 2024, 49 CFR §§ 190.211-\n190.212, but the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety has not yet issued a final order in\nthe proceeding. 49 CFR § 190.213.\nAt the request of the Secretary of Transportation, the Attorney General of the United\nStates will be filing a civil enforcement action under the Pipeline Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. § 60120,\nagainst Panhandle in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. In that civil\naction, the Attorney General will be seeking appropriate relief for the alleged violations of the\nfederal gas pipeline safety regulations that Panhandle committed in connection with March 26,\n\n\n\n2020 incident.\nGiven the Attorney General’s decision to pursue a new civil enforcement action, OPS is\nhereby withdrawing the Notice issued to Panhandle and terminating the above-captioned\nadministrative enforcement proceeding.\nSincerely,\nBryan Lethcoe\nDirector, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: Greg McIlwain, Executive Vice President, Operations, Energy Transfer LP,\ngreg.mcilwain@energytransfer.com\nEric Amundsen, Senior Vice President, Operations, Energy Transfer LP,\nEric.Amundsen@energytransfer.com\nTodd Stamm, Senior Vice President, Operations, Energy Transfer LP,\ntodd.stamm@energytransfer.com\nJennifer Street, Senior Vice President, Operations Services, Energy Transfer LP,\njennifer.street@energytransfer.com\nKeegan Pieper, Assistant General Counsel, Energy Transfer, LP,\nkeegan.pieper@energytransfer.com\nMatthew Stork, Vice President, Technical Services, Energy Transfer LP,\nMatthew.stork@energytransfer.com\nTodd Nardozzi, Director, Regulatory Compliance, Energy Transfer LP,\ntodd.nardozzi@energytransfer.com\nSusie Sjulin, Director – Regulatory Compliance, Energy Transfer LP,\nsusie.sjulin@energytransfer.com\nVince Murchison, Counsel, Energy Transfer LP, vince.murchison@pipelinelegal.com\n\n42023011NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_09222023_(21-214287)_text.pdf\n\nSeptember 22, 2023\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: vince.murchison@pipelinelegal.com and\nbryan.lethcoe@dot.gov\nMr. Vince Murchison, Esq.\nCounsel for Energy Transfer, LP\nMurchison Law Firm, PLLC\n325 North St. Paul Street, Suite 2700\nDallas TX, 75201\nMr. Bryan Lethcoe\nDirector, Southwest Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n8701 South Gessner Road, Suite 630\nHouston, Texas 77074\nRe: Notice of Hearing, Energy Transfer, LP\nCPF No. 4-2023-011-NOPV\nDear Mr. Murchison and Mr. Lethcoe:\nIn accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.211, an informal hearing will be held regarding the Notice of\nProbable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order issued by the Pipeline\nand Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in the above-referenced case. The hearing will take\nplace on April 24, 2024, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Central Time.\nThe hearing will take place at the PHMSA Southwest Region office, 8701 South Gessner Road,\nSuite 630, Houston, TX 77074. Upon arrival at the building, attendees will be required to present\nphoto identification to security personnel. A contact phone number for the day of the hearing is\n(713) 272-2859.\nAt least 10 calendar days prior to the hearing (or by April 15, 2024), both parties must submit and\nexchange any additional written materials they intend to present at the hearing and the name and\nemail address of each attendee. This information should be provided electronically. Materials not\nsubmitted by this date may be excluded.\n\n\n\nIf you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.\nSincerely,\nLarry White\nPresiding Official\ncc: Mr. Thomas Long, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Transfer, LP,\ntom.long@energytransfer.com\nMr. Ian Curry, Esq., Counsel, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety,\nian.curry@dot.gov","truncated":false,"body_characters":7955}