# PANHANDLE EASTERN PIPELINE CO — Notice of Probable Violation - **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:** Not available - **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. Official case documents: 42023011NOPV_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 42023011NOPV_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 42023011NOPV_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 42023011NOPV_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 42023011NOPV_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 42023011NOPV_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 42023011NOPV_PCO PCP_06152023_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_PCO%20PCP_06152023_(21-214287).pdf 42023011NOPV_PCO PCP_06152023_(21-214287)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_PCO%20PCP_06152023_(21-214287)_text.pdf 42023011NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_09222023_(21-214287).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42023011NOPV/42023011NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Scheduled_09222023_(21-214287).pdf 42023011NOPV_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 42023011NOPV_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 42023011NOPV_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 42023011NOPV_Region Withdrawal of Notice Letter_04222025_(21-214287)_text.pdf WITHDRAWAL OF NOTICE LETTER VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: tom.long@energytransfer.com April 22, 2025 Thomas Long Chief Executive Officer Energy Transfer, LP 8111 Westchester Drive Dallas, Texas 75225 CPF 4-2023-011-NOPV Dear Mr. Long: On June 15, 2023, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), Southwest Region issued a Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order (Notice) to Energy Transfer, LP (Energy Transfer) in the above-captioned administrative proceeding. OPS issued the Notice pursuant to the authority provided in the Pipeline Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. §§ 60117(b), 60118(a)- (b), 60122, and Pipeline Safety Regulations, 49 CFR Part 190, Subpart B. In the Notice, OPS alleged that an Energy Transfer subsidiary, Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. (Panhandle), committed certain violations of the federal gas pipeline safety regulations in 49 CFR Part 192 in connection with a fatal gas pipeline incident that occurred on March 26, 2020, near Meade, Kansas. 49 CFR § 190.207. Panhandle responded to the Notice by contesting the allegations and requesting an informal hearing before a presiding official. 49 CFR § 190.208. The presiding official held that hearing on April 24, 2024, 49 CFR §§ 190.211- 190.212, but the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety has not yet issued a final order in the proceeding. 49 CFR § 190.213. At the request of the Secretary of Transportation, the Attorney General of the United States will be filing a civil enforcement action under the Pipeline Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. § 60120, against Panhandle in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. In that civil action, the Attorney General will be seeking appropriate relief for the alleged violations of the federal gas pipeline safety regulations that Panhandle committed in connection with March 26, 2020 incident. Given the Attorney General’s decision to pursue a new civil enforcement action, OPS is hereby withdrawing the Notice issued to Panhandle and terminating the above-captioned administrative enforcement proceeding. Sincerely, Bryan Lethcoe Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration cc: Greg McIlwain, Executive Vice President, Operations, Energy Transfer LP, greg.mcilwain@energytransfer.com Eric Amundsen, Senior Vice President, Operations, Energy Transfer LP, Eric.Amundsen@energytransfer.com Todd Stamm, Senior Vice President, Operations, Energy Transfer LP, todd.stamm@energytransfer.com Jennifer Street, Senior Vice President, Operations Services, Energy Transfer LP, jennifer.street@energytransfer.com Keegan Pieper, Assistant General Counsel, Energy Transfer, LP, keegan.pieper@energytransfer.com Matthew Stork, Vice President, Technical Services, Energy Transfer LP, Matthew.stork@energytransfer.com Todd Nardozzi, Director, Regulatory Compliance, Energy Transfer LP, todd.nardozzi@energytransfer.com Susie Sjulin, Director – Regulatory Compliance, Energy Transfer LP, susie.sjulin@energytransfer.com Vince Murchison, Counsel, Energy Transfer LP, vince.murchison@pipelinelegal.com 42023011NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_09222023_(21-214287)_text.pdf September 22, 2023 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: vince.murchison@pipelinelegal.com and bryan.lethcoe@dot.gov Mr. Vince Murchison, Esq. Counsel for Energy Transfer, LP Murchison Law Firm, PLLC 325 North St. Paul Street, Suite 2700 Dallas TX, 75201 Mr. Bryan Lethcoe Director, Southwest Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 8701 South Gessner Road, Suite 630 Houston, Texas 77074 Re: Notice of Hearing, Energy Transfer, LP CPF No. 4-2023-011-NOPV Dear Mr. Murchison and Mr. Lethcoe: In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.211, an informal hearing will be held regarding the Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in the above-referenced case. The hearing will take place on April 24, 2024, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Central Time. The hearing will take place at the PHMSA Southwest Region office, 8701 South Gessner Road, Suite 630, Houston, TX 77074. Upon arrival at the building, attendees will be required to present photo identification to security personnel. A contact phone number for the day of the hearing is (713) 272-2859. At least 10 calendar days prior to the hearing (or by April 15, 2024), both parties must submit and exchange any additional written materials they intend to present at the hearing and the name and email address of each attendee. This information should be provided electronically. Materials not submitted by this date may be excluded. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Larry White Presiding Official cc: Mr. Thomas Long, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Transfer, LP, tom.long@energytransfer.com Mr. Ian Curry, Esq., Counsel, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, ian.curry@dot.gov - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 7955