{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 42024046NOPV","title":"INTERIOR GAS UTILITY — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2024-08-29","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 193.2635(d), 193.2637, 193.2801.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42024046nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42024046nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42024046nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/42024046NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving INTERIOR GAS UTILITY. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 193.2635(d),  193.2637,  193.2801. The case was opened on 2024-08-29 and is reported as closed as of 2025-12-12. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n42024046NOPV_Closure Letter_12122025_(23-267231).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024046NOPV/42024046NOPV_Closure%20Letter_12122025_(23-267231).pdf\n\n42024046NOPV_Closure Letter_12122025_(23-267231)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024046NOPV/42024046NOPV_Closure%20Letter_12122025_(23-267231)_text.pdf\n\n42024046NOPV_Final Order_10102024_(23-267231).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024046NOPV/42024046NOPV_Final%20Order_10102024_(23-267231).pdf\n\n42024046NOPV_Final Order_10102024_(23-267231)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024046NOPV/42024046NOPV_Final%20Order_10102024_(23-267231)_text.pdf\n\n42024046NOPV_Operator Response to Notice and Request Time Extension_09052024_(23-267231).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024046NOPV/42024046NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice%20and%20Request%20Time%20Extension_09052024_(23-267231).pdf\n\n42024046NOPV_PCO_08292024_(23-267231).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024046NOPV/42024046NOPV_PCO_08292024_(23-267231).pdf\n\n42024046NOPV_PCO_08292024_(23-267231)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42024046NOPV/42024046NOPV_PCO_08292024_(23-267231)_text.pdf\n\n42024046NOPV_Final Order_10102024_(23-267231)_text.pdf\n\nOctober 10, 2024\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: sdeal@interiorgas.com\nGeorge Deal\nDirector of Operations\nInterior Gas Utility\n2525 Phillips Field Road\nFairbanks, Alaska 99709-3942\nRe: CPF No. 4-2024-046-NOPV\nDear Mr. Deal:\nEnclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of\nviolation and specifies actions that need to be taken to comply with the pipeline safety\nregulations. When the terms of the compliance order are completed, as determined by the\nDirector, Southwest Region, this enforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order\nby e-mail is effective upon the date of transmission and acknowledgement of receipt as provided\nunder 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: Mr. Bryan Lethcoe, Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nMr. Jim Rasmussen, Operations Engineer, Interior Gas Utility, jrasmussen@interiorgas.com\nMs. Elena Sudduth, General Manager, Interior Gas Utility, esudduth@interiorgas.com\nMr. Jeremiah Flint, Operations Manager, Interior Gas Utility, jflint@interiorgas.com\nCONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED\n\n\n\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nOFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20590\n____________________________________\n)\nIn the Matter of )\n)\nInterior Alaska Natural Gas Utility, ) CPF No. 4-2024-046-NOPV\nd/b/a Interior Gas Utility, )\n)\nRespondent. )\n____________________________________)\nFINAL ORDER\nOn August 29, 2024, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Southwest Region, Office of\nPipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation (Notice) to Interior Gas Utility\n(Respondent). The Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated the pipeline safety\nregulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 193. The Notice also proposed certain measures to correct the\nviolations. Respondent did not contest the allegations of violation or corrective measures but\nrequested additional time to complete the corrective measures.\nBased upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the\npipeline safety regulation listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is\nincorporated by reference:\n49 C.F.R. § 193.2801 (Item 1) ─ Respondent failed to provide and maintain fire protection\nat its LNG plant according to sections 9.1 through 9.7 and section 9.9 of NFPA-59A-2001.\nSpecifically, IGU failed to determine, by an evaluation based on sound fire protection\nengineering principles, analysis of local conditions, hazards within the facility, and exposure\nto or from other property, the fire protection required for Fairbanks Natural Gas (FNG)\nDonald Road Storage Facility #1 LNG facility (Storage Site #1) in accordance with section\n9.1.2 of NFPA-59A-2001.\nThis finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action\ntaken against Respondent.\nCompliance Actions\nPursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217, Respondent is ordered to take the\nactions proposed in the enclosed Notice to correct the violations. Respondent requested an\nextension for part A.3 of the Notice to complete the corrective measures. Finding good cause,\n\n\n\nthe extension is approved. The corrective measures in part A.3 of the Notice must be completed\nby July 31, 2025. The corrective measures in parts A.1 and A.2 must be completed within the\ntimeframe stated in the Notice. The Director may grant an additional extension of time to\ncomply with any of the required items upon a written request timely submitted by the\nRespondent and demonstrating good cause for an extension. Upon completion of the ordered\nactions, Respondent may request that the Director close the case. Failure to comply with this\nOrder may result in the assessment of civil penalties under 49 C.F.R. § 190.223 or in referral to\nthe Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States.\nWarning Items\nWith respect to Items 2 and 3, the Notice alleged probable violations of 49 C.F.R. §§\n193.2635(d) and 193.2637, respectively, but did not propose a civil penalty or compliance order\nfor these items. Therefore, these are considered to be warning items. If OPS finds a violation of\nthese items in a subsequent inspection, Respondent may be subject to future enforcement action.\nThe terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R.\n§ 190.5.\nOctober 10, 2024\n___________________________________ _________________________\nAlan K. Mayberry Date Issued\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\n\n42024046NOPV_Closure Letter_12122025_(23-267231)_text.pdf\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration 8701 S. Gessner, Suite 630\nHouston TX 77074\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: esudduth@interiorgas.com\nDecember 12, 2025\nElena Sudduth\nGeneral Manger\nInterior Gas Utility\n2525 Phillips Field Road\nFairbanks, Alaska 99709-3942\nCPF 4-2024-046-NOPV\nDear Ms. Sudduth:\nOn October 10, 2024, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)\nissued a Final Order, including a Compliance Order, to Interior Gas Utility in the above-referenced\ncase. Based on our review of the documentation you submitted, PHMSA has determined that you\nhave satisfied all requirements of the Order.\nThis letter serves as formal notification that no further action is required and the case is now closed.\nThank you for your cooperation.\nSincerely,\nBryan Lethcoe\nDirector, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: Mr. George Deal, Director of Operations, Interior Gas Utility, sdeal@interiorgas.com\nMr. Jeremiah Flint, Operations Manager, Interior Gas Utility, jflint@interiorgas.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":7563}