{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 42024033NOPV","title":"FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT, L.P. — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2024-11-26","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 193.2507, 193.2513(a), 193.2619(e), 193.2713(a)(1)(iii).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42024033nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42024033nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42024033nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/42024033NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving FREEPORT LNG DEVELOPMENT, L.P.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 193.2507,  193.2513(a),  193.2619(e),  193.2713(a)(1)(iii). The case was opened on 2024-11-26 and is reported as closed as of 2025-04-09. Proposed civil penalty: $1,540,800. Assessed civil penalty: $1,540,800. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n42024033NOPV_Final Order_04092025_(22-245663).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024033NOPV/42024033NOPV_Final%20Order_04092025_(22-245663).pdf\n\n42024033NOPV_Final Order_04092025_(22-245663)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024033NOPV/42024033NOPV_Final%20Order_04092025_(22-245663)_text.pdf\n\n42024033NOPV_Operator Response to Notice_01172025_(22-245663).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024033NOPV/42024033NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_01172025_(22-245663).pdf\n\n42024033NOPV_PCP (AMENDED)_12202024_(22-245663).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024033NOPV/42024033NOPV_PCP%20(AMENDED)_12202024_(22-245663).pdf\n\n42024033NOPV_PCP (AMENDED)_12202024_(22-245663)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024033NOPV/42024033NOPV_PCP%20(AMENDED)_12202024_(22-245663)_text.pdf\n\n42024033NOPV_Final Order_04092025_(22-245663)_text.pdf\n\nApril 9, 2025\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: msmith@freeportlng.com\nMichael Smith\nChairman and Chief Executive Officer\nFreeport LNG Development, LP\n333 Clay Street, Suite 5050\nHouston, Texas 77002\nRe: CPF No. 4-2024-033-NOPV\nDear Mr. Smith:\nEnclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of\nviolation and finds that the civil penalty amount of $1,540,800 has been paid in full. This case is\nnow closed. Service of the Final Order by e-mail is effective upon the date of transmission and\nacknowledgement of receipt as provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.\nThank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nAlan K. Mayberry\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\nEnclosures (Final Order and NOPV)\ncc: Bryan Lethcoe, Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nShaw C. Ottis, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Freeport LNG\nDevelopment, LP, sottis@freeportlng.com\nMichael Stephenson, Regulatory Compliance Manager, Freeport LNG Development, LP,\nmstephenson@freeportlng.com\n\n\n\nAndrew Kohout, P.E., Director, Division of LNG Facility Reviews and Inspections, Office of\nEnergy Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, andrew.kohout@ferc.gov\nCaptain Keith M. Donohue, Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-\nGalveston, keith.m.donohue@uscg.mil\nCONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED\n\n\n\nRespondent. )\n____________________________________)\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nOFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20590\n____________________________________\nIn the Matter of )\nFreeport LNG Development, LP, ) CPF No. 4-2024-033-NOPV\n)\n)\n)\n)\nFINAL ORDER\nOn November 26, 2024, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Southwest Region, Office\nof Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation (Notice) to Freeport LNG\nDevelopment, LP (Respondent). The Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated the\npipeline safety regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 193 and proposed a civil penalty of $1,540,800. An\namended Notice was issued on December 20, 2024, removing potentially sensitive information\nbut not otherwise substantively changing any of the facts or allegations. Respondent did not\ncontest the allegations of violation and paid the proposed civil penalty on January 21, 2025. In\naccordance with § 190.208(a)(1), such payment authorizes the entry of this final order.\nBased upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the\npipeline safety regulations listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is\nincorporated by reference:\n49 C.F.R. § 193.2513(a) (Item 1) ─ Respondent failed to have written procedures\nto provide for safe transfers of LNG. Specifically, Respondent’s LNG loading\noperating procedures, LNG Storage Tank Operating (Rev. 1, Jan. 26, 2021), failed to\ninclude provisions to prevent the unintentional isolation of a pipe segment filled with\nLNG.\n49 C.F.R. § 193.2507 (Item 2) ─ Respondent failed to monitor each component in\noperation or building in which a hazard to persons or property could exist to detect\nfire or any malfunction or flammable fluid that could cause a hazardous condition.\nSpecifically, Respondent failed to monitor the 18-inch vacuum insulated piping to\ndetect increases in temperature that could cause a hazardous condition, such as an\noverpressurization.\n49 C.F.R. § 193.2619(e) (Item 3) ─ Respondent failed to properly inspect and test\nrelief valves for verification of the valve seat lifting pressure and reseating.\nSpecifically, after a pressure safety valve (PSV) inspection on April 26, 2022,\nRespondent failed to verify that its PSV was returned to service after testing (i.e., the\n\n\n\ninlet isolation valve for the PSV was not re-opened and the appropriate car-seal was\nnot applied).\n49 C.F.R. § 193.2713(a)(1)(iii) (Item 4) ─ Respondent failed to provide and\nimplement a written plan of initial training to instruct all permanent maintenance,\noperating, and supervisory personnel to carry out aspects of the operating and\nmaintenance procedures under §§ 193.2503 and 193.2605. Specifically, Respondent\nfailed to train personnel on recognizing and responding to abnormal operating\nconditions.\nThese findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement\naction taken against Respondent. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, Respondent is\nassessed the proposed civil penalty amount of $1,540,800, which Respondent has already paid in\nfull.\nThe terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R.\n§ 190.5.\n___________________________________ _________________________\nAlan K. Mayberry Date Issued\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety","truncated":false,"body_characters":6196}