{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520035011H","title":"SINCLAIR TRANSPORTATION COMPANY — Corrective Action Order","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2003-04-02","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED corrective action order.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520035011h.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520035011h.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520035011h","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520035011H","body":"Corrective Action Order involving SINCLAIR TRANSPORTATION COMPANY. The dataset does not identify a cited regulation for this case. The case was opened on 2003-04-02 and is reported as closed as of 2004-02-18. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520035011H_corrective action order_04022003.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520035011H/520035011H_corrective%20action%20order_04022003.pdf\n\n520035011h_corrective action order_04022003_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520035011H/520035011h_corrective%20action%20order_04022003_text.pdf\n\n520035011h_corrective action order_04022003_text.pdf\n\nUS Deparltnent\not 1rNispotlotton\n~sttcN~\n~ 00seventn S& Sw\nWIshegton D C 20590\nIPI -2 am\nMr. Kevin Brown\nSenior Vice President, Operations\nSmclair Oil Corporation\n550 East South Temple\nSalt Lake City, UT 84102\nRe: CPF No. 5-2003-5011H\nDear Mr. Brown:\nEnclosed is a Corrective Action Order issued by the Associate Administrator for Pipehne\nSafety in the above-referenced case. It requires you to take certain corrective actions, including a\npressure reduction, with respect to your Medicine Bow pipeline running &om the Sinclair Pump\nStation in Carbon County, Wyoming to the Denver Products Terminal in Adams County, Colorado.\nService is being made by certified mail and facsimile. Your receipt of this Order constitutes service\nof that document under 49 C. F. R. $ 190. 5. The terms and conditions of this Corrective Action Order\nare effective upon receipt.\nSincerely,\n~~A 4(~\nGwendolyn M. Hill\nPipeline Compliance Registry\nOffice of Pipeline Safety\nEnclosure\ncc: Mr. Mark A. Petersen\nManager, Pipelines 8c Terminals\n\n\n\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nRESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION\nWASHINGTON, DC 20590\nIn the Matter of\nSinclair Pipeline Cotnpany,\nRespondent.\nCPF No, 5-2003-S011H\nPn e d c\nThis Corrective Action Order is being issued, under authority of 49 U. S. C. ) 60112, to require\nSinclair Pipeline Company(Respondent) to take the necessary corrective action to protect the public,\nproperty, and the environment &om potential hazards associated with a failure on Respondent's\n\"Medicine Bow\" pipeline extending from the Sinclair Pump Station in Carbon County, Wyoming\nto the Denver Products Terminal in Adams County, Colorado.\nOn March 26, 2003, a failure occurred on Respondent's 6-inch Medicine Bow pipelme\napproximately 10 miles west of Elk Mountain, Wyoming. The cause of the failure has not yet been\ndetermined. Pursuant to 49 U, S. C. $ 60117, the Western Region, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)\nimtiated an mvestigation of the incident.\nP li a di\nOn March 26, 2003, at approximately 4:56 P. M. MST, Respondent's Medicine Bow pipelme\nruptured in Carbon County, WY resulting in the release of an estimated 500-600 barrels of\nunleaded gasoline. The failure occurred in a rural area at Mile Post (MP) 33. 2, approximately\n10 miles west of the town of Elk Mountain, WY.\nNo fires, injuries, fatalities, or evacuations were reported in connection with the mcident.\nThe Medicine Bow pipeline triutsports refmed petroleum products including fuel oil and\ngasoline.\nThe Medicine Bow pipeline originates at the Sinclair Pump Station located on the outskirts of\nthe town of Sinclair, WY and extends approximately 204 miles in a southeasterly direction to\nthe Denver Products Terminal located approximately 10 miles north of the city of Denver\n\n\n\nPortions of the Medicine Bow pipeline are routed near populated areas and cross numerous state\nand local highways. The release occurred approximately 210 yards born a stock pond in or near\na drinking water Unusually Sensitive Area identified in the U. S. Department of Transportation's\nNational Pipeline Mapping System.\nFollowing the failure, Respondent mitigated the release by shutting down the pump at the\nSinclair station. The nearest upstream and downstream block valves were closed within two\nhours of the failure.\nA 119 foot section of pipe containing the failed joint was cut out and replaced The Medicme\nBow pipeline was returned to service on March 28, 2003. Respondent mitiated environmental\nclean-up actions in coordination with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the\nWyoming Department of Environmental Quality including containmg the runoA'and rernovmg\nsnow and soil in the aAacted area.\nThe prelimmary investigation indicates that the failure occurred on the side of the pipe at the\nthree o' clock position and may have originated in an area where an outside force deformation\nwas noted via a visual inspection. There were no indications that any excavation activity had\nrecently occurred m the area of the failure site. The cause of the failure has not yet been\ndetermined. Respondent plans to transport a 47-inch section of pipe containing the 8-mch\nrupture to a metallurgist for detailed analysis.\nThe Medicine Bow pipeline was installed in 1963 and is constructed of 6-mch nominal\ndiameter, 0. 156-inch wall thickness. Grade X-52, API 5LX, electric resistance welded (ERW)\npipe manufactured by U. S Steel.\nThe Medicine Bow pipeline is cathodically protected by impressed current. It has a protective\ncoating composed of tar tape manufactured by Seamless Rubber Company\nThe maximum allowable operating pressures were 1760 and 1525 psig at the Sinclair Pump\nStation and the failure site, respectively. At the time of the failure, the actual operating\npressures were 1721 and 1360 psig at the Sinclair Pump Station and the failure site,\nrespectively\nThe Medicine Bow pipeline was hydrostatically tested in 1963 at pressures of 2210 and 1904\npsig at the Sinclair Pump Station and the Elk Mountain Pump Station, respectively.\nSince the mid-1990's, the hydraulic profile of the Medicine Bow pipeline has been significantly\naltered by the decommissioning of the Elk Mountain Pump Station in 1999, the intermittent\noperation of the Laramie and Loveland Pump Stations, the introduction of drag reducing agents\nat the Smclair Pump Station, and the addition ofback pressure control methods at the Laramie\nPump Station and the Denver Products Terminal. As a result, operating pressures in many\npipeline segments are significantly higher than historic pressure levels. There is insufficient\ninformation to determine the extent to which thc changed hydraulic profile may have\ncontributed to the March 26, 2003 rupture or may impact other sections of the pipehne.\n\n\n\n~ The Medicine Bow pipeline was internally inspected in 2000 with a magnetic flux leakage\n(MFL) m-line inspection (ILI) tool. As a result of this inspection, 18 areas of the pipeline were\nexcavated and examined. Respondent reported that the majority of the anomalies found during\nthese examinations were corrosion related. The ILI report did not accurately indicate the\napparent pipe deformation at the failure site noted during the initial visual inspection.\nRespondent is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and operates several pipelmes that supply\nrefined petroleum products to the Rocky Mountain region of the country. Respondent is a\ncomponent of Sinclair Oil Corporation.\n~ OPS issued Alert Notices on January 28, 1988 and March 8, 1989 informing pipeline operators\nthat low-frequency ERW pipe, such as the pipe used to construct the Medicine Bow pipehne,\nwas subject to longitudinal weld seam failures caused by the presence of manufacturing defects\nin the ERW seams that can grow over time. These Alert Notices further advised operators that\nseam corrosion and cyclic fatigue had been found to have contributed to the growth of these\ndefects and in some cases, operational failures had occurred many months or years aRer\nsuccessful hydrostatic testing was conducted.\nDete~iqiien sf Neggy~itv for (:yrreetiye, ie!Lnn Didder and Riiihf io„Helziai.\nSection 60112 of Title 49, United States Code, provides for the issuance of a Corrective Action\nOrder, after reasonable notice and the opportunity for a hearing, requiring corrective action, which\nmay mclude the suspended or restricted use of a pipeline facility, physical inspection, testing, repair,\nreplacement, or other action as appropriate. The basis for making the determination that a pipeline\nfacility is hazardous, requiring corrective action, is set forth both in the above referenced statute and\n49 C. F. R. $190. 233, a copy of which is enclosed.\nSection 60112, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, provides for the issuance of a Corrective\nAction Order without prior opportunity for notice and hearing upon a finding that failure to issue the\nOrder expeditiously will result in likely serious harm to life, property or the environment. In such\ncases, an opportunity for a hearing will be provided as soon as practicable after the issuance of the\nOrder.\nAfter evaluating the foregoing preliminary findings of fact, I find that the continued operation of the\nMedicine Bow pipeline without corrective measures would be hazardous to life, property and the\nenvironment. Additionally, after considering the age of the pipe and method of manufacturing, the\noperating history of the pipeline, the proximity of the pipeline to unusually sensitive environmental\nareas, the highly combustible nature of the product the pipeline transports, the pressure required for\ntransporting the material, and the lack of a determination as to the cause of the failure, I find that a\nfailure to expeditiously issue this Order, requiring immediate corrective action, would likely result\nm serious harm to life, property, or the environment.\n\n\n\nAccordingly, this Corrective Action Order mandating immediate corrective action is issued without\nprior notice and opportunity for a hearing. The terms and conditions of this Order are effective upon\nreceipt.\nWithm 10 days of receipt of this Order, Respondent may request a hearing, to be held as soon as\npracticable, by notifying the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety in writmg, delivered\npersonally, by mail or by telecopy at (202) 366-4566. The hearing will be held in Denver, Colorado\nor Washmgton, DC on a date that is mutually convenient to OPS and Respondent.\nAfter receivmg and analyzing additional data in the course of this investigation, OPS may identify\nother corrective measures that need to be taken. In that event, Respondent will be notified of any\nadditional measures required and amendment of this Order will be considered To the extent\nconsistent with safety, Respondent will be afforded notice and an opportunity for a hearing prior to\nthe imposition of any additional corrective measures.\nPursuant to 49 U. S. C. fj 60112, I hereby order Sinclair Pipeline Company to immediately take the\nfollowing corrective actions with respect to its Medicine Bow pipeline extending from the Sinclair\nPump Station in Carbon County, Wyoming to the Denver Products Terminal in Adams County,\nColorado:\nMaintain a minimum 20 percent (2P/o) reduction in the operating pressure on the entire\nMedicme Bow pipeline. The pressure is not to exceed 80 percent of the maximum allowable\noperating pressure in effect just prior to the March 26, 2003 failure. Specifically, the pressure\nmay not exceed 1408 psig at the Sinclair Pump Station discharge pomt. This pressure\nrestriction shall remain in effect until written approval to increase the pressure or return the\npipeline to full service is obtained from the Director, Western Region, OPS.\n2. Reset the maximum discharge pressure set points on the Laramie and Loveland pump stations\nto 20 percent below the settings in effect on March 25, 2003. Alternatively, they maybe locked\nout of service.\n3. Determine the cause of the failure and identify any contributing factors by conducting detailed\nmetallurgical testing and failure analysis of the ruptured sanction of pipe. Provide the Director,\nWestern Region, OPS with at least 5 days advance notice of the date scheduled for this testing,\nwhich OPS may elect to witness, and submit the testing protocol to the Regional Director for\napproval as soon as it is developed. Submit all metallurgical and failure analysis reports to the\nRegional Director within 7 days of receiving them\n4. Within 30 days of receipt of this Order, provide hydraulic gradient profiles for each of the\nMedicine Bow pipeline's different historic operating configurations. These profiles must\ninclude consideration of commodity specific gravity, elevation profiles, pump station\noperations, and use of drag reducing agent. Identify those pipeline segments where operational\nchanges over the last 10 years may have increased their normal operatmg pressures.\n\n\n\n5. Within 60 days of receipt of this Chder, re-evaluate the data from the 2000 ILI tool run for the\npurpose of identifying pipe deformations or metal loss anomalies.\n6. Within 75 days of receipt of this Order, overlay any deformations or anomalies identified by the\nILI re-evaluation required by Item 5 with the various hydraulic gradient profiles required by\nItem 4.\nWithm 90 days of receipt of this Order, develop and submit a written remedial plan, with a\nproposed schedule, for prior approval by the Director, Western Region, OPS. The plan must\nprovide for the identification and remediation of any anomalies similar to the one associated\nwith the failure site in accordance with accepted methods of testing and repair. Anomahes\nidentified in areas where the historic hydrauhc gradient and normal operating pressures have\nincreased must be given priority for repairs. All integrity threatening anomalies must be\nremediated by September 30, 2003. The Regional Director may provide approvals of remedial\nplan elements incrementally. The plan must be fully implemented, as each element is approved,\naccording to the plan schedule.\nWithm 10 days of receipt of this Order, submit the complete results of the 2000 ILI in electionic\nformat to the Director, Western Region, OPS for an independent evaluation. Provide\npermission for an OPS third-party expert to discuss the ILI data and analysis with the MFL tool\nvelldof.\n9. The Director, Western Region, OPS may require modification of remedial plan elements based\non the independent evaluation of the ILI data, or other appropriate considerations. The plan\nmust be revised, as necessary, to incorporate new information obtained during the investigation\nand determinations concerning the cause of the failure.\n10. Within 60 days of receipt of this Order, provide a schedule for conducting the Integrity\nManagement Program (IMP) initial baseline assessment of the Medicine Bow pipeline in\naccordance with 49 C. F. R. Part 195, to the Director, Western Region, OPS. Respondent's\nselection of ILI tools for conducting the IMP baseline assessment must take mto account the\nperformance of the 2000 MFL ILI tool in identifying pipe deformations or metal loss anomalies\nand other integrity threats which caused or contributed to the March 26, 2003 rupture.\nlf approval of the Director, Western Region, OPS, is requested to remove or modify the pressure\nrestriction set forth in Items 1 and 2 of this Corrective Action Order, Respondent must submit\ninformation demonstrating that the hazard has been abated and that restoring the pipeline to its\npre-failure operating pressure is justified based on an analysis showing that the pressure increase\nis safe considering all known defects, anomalies and operating parameters of the pipeline.\nThe Director, Western Region, OPS may grant an extension of time for compliance with any\nof the terms of this Order for good cause. A request for an extension must be in writing.\n\n\n\nRespondent may appeal any decision of the Regional Director to the Associate Administrator for\nP&peline Safety. Decisions of the Associate Administrator shall be final.\nThe procedures for the issuance of this Order are described in Part 190, Title 49, Code of Federal\nRegulat&ons. 49 C, F. R. $ 190. 233 is made part of this Order and describes the Respondent's\nprocedural nghts relative to this Order.\nFailure to comply with this Order may result in the assessment of civil penalties of not more than\n$100, 000 per day and in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief m United States\nD&strict Court.\nAPI -2 2003\nDate Issued\n8 f scey (Icf 4r J\n& Kssae~atc Admtntstrator\n3»~ Ptpehnc sat(:Ix\n\n\n\n04 '02 '03 18:00 FAX 2023SB7041 RSPA CHIEF COUNSEL lid 001\nU5, Department\nof Transportation\nResearch and\n$pecial Programs\nAdrninistrotion\na00 Severiih St SW\nwashington OC 20990\nAPB -2 z03\nMr. Kevin Brown\nSenior Vice President, Operations\nSmclair Oil Corporation\n550 East South Temple\nSalt Lake City, UT 84102\nRe: CPF No 5-2003-5011H\nDear Mr. Brown:\nEnclosed is a Corrective Action Order issued by the Associate Administrator for Pipeline\nSafety in the above-referenced case. It requires you to take certain corrective actions, including a\npressure reduction, with respect to your Medicme Bow pipeline running from the Sinclair Pump\nStation in Carbon County, Wyoming to the Denver Products Terminal m Adams County, Colorado\nService is being made by certified mail and facsimile. Your receipt of tins Order constitutes service\nof that document under 49 C. F. R. $ 190. 5. The terms and conditions of this Corrective Action Order\nare effective upon receipt.\nSincerely,\nGwendolyn IVl. Hill\nPipeline Compliance Registry\nOffice of Pipeline Safety\nEnclosure\ncc: Mr. Mark A. Petersen\nManager, Pipelines Ec Terminals\nVIA CKRT1FIKD MAIL RETURN RECEIPT RE UKSTKD AIVD TKLKCOPY\nOPTIONAL FORM 99 ry-90i\nFAX '7 RA MS M1TTAL s er cagee e.\nTe\nOepi (Agency Dw -'+~ t\n-6 /\n'\"' 2)3 ~lG !\nl399-101\n\n\n\n04~02'03 18:00 FAX \"023667041 RSPA CHIEF COUNSEL @002\nDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nRKSEARCII AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION\nWASHINGTON, DC Z0590\nln the Natter of\nSinclair Pipeline Company,\nRespondent.\nCPF No. 5-2003-50118\nCORRECTIVE ACTION ORDER\nPur ose and Backoround\nThis Corrective Action Order is being issued, under authority of 49 U. S. C. f 60112, to require\nSinclair Pipeline Company (Respondent) to take the necessary corrective action to protect thc public,\nproperty, and the environment from potential hazards associated with a failure on Respondent's\n\"Medicine Bow\" pipeline extending f'rom the Sinclair Pump Station in Carbon County, Wyoming\nto the Denver Products Terminal in Adams County, Colorado.\nOn March 26, 2003, a failure occurred on Respondent's 6-inch Medicine Bow pipeline\napproximately 10 miles west of Elk Mountain, Wyoming. Thc cause of the failure has not yet been\ndetermined. Pursuant to 49 U S. C. $ 60117, the Western Region, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)\nimtiated an investigation of the incident.\nPrelimina Findin s\n~ On March 26, 2003, at approximately 4:56 P. M. MST, Respondent's Medicine Bow pipeline\nruptured in Carbon County, WY resulting in the release of an estimated 500-600 barrels of\nunleaded gasoline. The failure occurred in a rural area at Mile Post (MP) 33. 2, approximately\n10 miles west of the town of Elk Mountain, WY.\nNo fires, injuries, fatalities, or evacuations were reported in connection with the incident.\nThc Medicine Bow pipeline transports refined petroleum products including fuel oIl and\ngasoline.\nThe Medicine Bow pipeline originates at the Sinclair Pump Station located on the outskirts of\nthe town of Sinclair, WY and extends approximate. ely 204 miles in a southeasterly direction to\nthe Denver Products Terminal located approximately 10 miles north of the city of Denver.\n\n\n\n04 '02'03 18. 00 FAX 2023667041 RSPA CHIEF COUNSEL g 003\nPortions of the Medicine Bow pipeline are routednear populated areas and cross numerous state\nand local highways. The release occurred approximately210 yards from a stock pond in or near\na drinking water Unusually Sensitive Area identified inthe U. S. Department of Transportation's\nNational Pipeline Mapping System.\nFollowing the failure, Respondent mitigaied the release by shutting down the pump at the\nSinclair station. Thc nearest upstream and downstream block valises v ere closed within two\nhours of the failure.\n~ A 119 foot section ofpipe containing the failedjoint was cut out and replaced. The Medicine\nBow pipelme was returned to service on March 28, 2003. Respondent initiated environmental\nclean-up actions in coordination with thc U S. Environmental Protection Agency and the\nWyoming Department of Environmental Quality including containing the runoff and removing\nsnow and soil in the affected area.\nThe preliminary investigation indicates that the failure occurred on the side of the pipe at the\nthree o' clock position and may have originated in an area where an outside force dcformaiion\nwas noted via a visual inspection. There were no indications that any excavation activity had\nrecently occurred in the area of the failure site. The cause of the failure has not yct been\ndetermined. Respondent plans to transport a 47-inch section of pipe containing ihe 8-inch\nrupture to a metallurgist for detailed analysis.\nThe Medicine Bow pipelme was installed in 1963 and is constructed of 6-inch nominal\ndiameter, 0. 156-inch wall thickness, Grade X-52, API 5l. X, electric resistance welded ('ERW)\npipe manufactured by U. S. Steel.\nThe Medicine Bow pipeline is cathodically protected by impressed current. It has a protective\ncoating composed of iar tape manufactured by Seamless Rubber Company.\nThe maximum allowable operating pressures were 1760 and 1525 psig at thc Sinclair Pump\nStation and the failure site, respectively. At the time of the failure, the actual operating\npressures were 1721 and 1360 psig ai the Sinclair Pump Station and the failure site,\nrespectively.\nThe Medicine Bow pipeline was hydrostatically iesied in 1963 at pressures of 2210 and 1904\npsig at the Sinclair Pump Station and the Elk Mountain Pump Station, respectively.\nSince the mid. -1990's, the hydraulic profile of thc Medicine Bow pipeline has bccn significantly\naltered by thc decommissioning of the Elk Mountain Pump Station in 1999, the intermittent\noperation of the Larairiie and Loveland Pump Stations, the mtroduction of drag reducing agents\nat the Sinclair Pump Station, and the addition ofback pressure control methods ai the Laramie\nPump Station and the Denver Products TerminaL As a result, operaimg pressures in many\npipeline segments are significantly higher than historic pressure levels. There is insufficient\ninformation to determine thc cxtcnt to which the changed hydraulic profile may have\nconiributed to the March 26, 2003 rupture or may impact other sections of the pipeline\n\n\n\n04/02~03 18:00 FAX 2023667041 RSPA CHIEF CottNSEL ldj 004\n~ The Medicine Bow pipeline was internally itispected m 2000 with a magnetic flux leakage\n{iV[FL) in-liiie inspection (ILI) tool. As a result of this inspection, 18 areas of the pipeline were\nexcavated and examiited. Respondent reported that the majority of the anomalies found during\nthese examinations were corrosion related. Thc ILI report did not accurately indicate the\napparent pipe deformation at the failure site noted during the initial visual inspection.\n~ Respondent is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and operates several pipehnes that supply\nrefined petroleum products to the Rocky Mountain region. of the country. Respondent is a\ncomponent of Sinclair Oil Corporation.\n~ OPS issued Alert Notices on January 28, 1988 and March 8, 1989 informing pipeline operators\nthat low-frequency ERW pipe, such as the pipe used. to construct the Medicine Bow pipeline,\nwas subject to longitudinal weld seam failures caused by the presence of manufacturing defects\nin the ER%' seams that can y ow over time. These Alert Notices further advised operators that\nseam corrosion and cyclic fatigue had been found to have contributed to the growth of these\ndefects and in some cases, operational failures had occurred many months or years after\nsuccessful hydrostatic testing was conducted.\nDetermination of Necessi for Corrective Action Order and Ri ht to Hearin\nSection 60112 of Title 49, Umted States Code, provides for the issuance of a Corrective Action\nOrder, after reasonable notice and the opportunity for a heariiig, rcquirizg corrective action, which\nmay include thc suspended or restricted use of a pipeline facility, physical inspection, testing, repair,\nreplacement, or other action as appropriate. The basis for making the determination that a pipeline\nfacility is hazardous, requiring corrective action, is set forth both in thc above referenced statute and\n49 C. F. R. )190 233, a copy of which is enclosed.\nSection 60112, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, provides for the issuance of a Corrective\nAction Order without prior opportunity for notice and hearing upon a finding that failure to issue the\nOrder expeditiously will result in likely serious harm to life, property or the environment. In such\ncases, an opportunity for a hearing will be provided as soon as practicable after the issuance of the\nOrder.\nAfter evaluating the foregoing preliminary findings of fact, I find that thc contmued operation of the\nMedicine Bow pipehne without corrective measures would be hazardous to life, property and the\nenvironment. Additionally, after considering the age of the pipe and method of manufacturin~, the\noperating history of the pipehne, the proximity of thc pipeline to unusually sensitive environmental\nareas, the highly combustible nacre of the product the pipeline tTansports, the pressure required for\ntransporting the material, and the lack of a determination as to (he cause o f the failure, I find that a\nfailure to expeditiously issue this Order, requiring immediate corrective action, would likelyresult\nin serious harm to life, property, or the environment.\n\n\n\n04 '02, '03 18:01 FAX 2023667041 2 2 2\nRSFA CHIEF CottNSEL\nAccordmgly, this Corrective Action Order mandating immediate corrective action is issued without\nprior notice and opportunity for a hearing. The terms and conditions of this Order are effective upon\nreceipt.\nWithin 10 days of receipt of this Order, Respondent may request a hearing, to be held as soon as\npracticable, by notifying the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety in writin, delivered\npersonally, by mail or by telecopy at (202) 366-4566. The hearing will be held in Deivvz, Colorado\nor Washington, DC on a date that is mutually convenient to OPS and Respondent.\nAfter receiving and analyzing additional data in the course of this investigation, OPS may identify\nother corrective measures that need to be taken. In that event, Respondent will be notified of any\nadditional measures required and amendment of this Order will be considered. To the extent\nconsistent with safety, Respondent will be afforded notice and an opporturuty for a hearing prior to\nthe imposition of any additional corrective measures.\nRe aired Corrective Action\nPursuant to 49 U. S C, ( 60112, I hereby order Sinclair Pipeline Company to immediately take the\nfollowing corrective actions with respect to its Medicine Bow pipeline extending Crom the Sinclair\nPump Station in Carbon County, Wyoming to the Denver Products Terminal in Adams County,\nColorado:\n1. Maintain a minimum 20 percen, t (20%0) reduction in the operating pressure on the entire\nMedicine Bow pipeline. The pressure is not to exceed 80 percent of the maximum allowable\noperating pressure in effect just prior to the March 26, 2003 failure Specifically, the pressure\nmay not exceed 1408 psig at the Sinclair Pump Station dischar e point. This pressure\nrestriction shall remain in effect until written approval to increase the pressure or return the\npipeline to full service is obtained from the Director, Western Recon, OPS.\n2. Reset ihe maximum discharge pressure set points on the Laramie and Loveland pump stations\nto 20 percent below the settirigs in effect on March 25, 2003. Alternatively, they maybe locked\nout of service.\n3. Determine the cause o f the failure and identi Cy any contributing factors by conducting detailed\nmetallurgical testing and failure analysis of the ruptured section of pipe. Provide thc Director,\nWestern Region, OPS with at least 5 days advance notice of the date scheduled for this testing,\nwhich OPS may elect to witness, and submit the testing protocol to the Regional Director for\napproval as soon as it is developed Submit all metallurgical and failure analysis reports to the\nRegional Director within 7 days of receiving them.\n4. Within 30 days of receipt of this Order, provide hydrauhc gradient profiles for each of the\nMedicine Bow pipeline's different historic operating configurations. These profiles must\ninclude consideration of commodity specific gravity, elevation profile, pump station\noperations, and use of drag reducing agent. Identify those pip elme segments where oper ational\nchanges over the last 10 years may have increased their normal operating pressures.\n\n\n\n04z02''03 18 01 FAX 2023BB7041 RSPA CHIEF COUNSEL !dl OOB\nWithin 60 days of receipt of this Order, re-evaluate the data from the 2000 ILI tool run for the\npurpose of identifying pipe deformations or metal loss anomalies.\nWithin 75 days of receipt of this Order, overlay any deformations or anomalies identi fied by the\nILI re-evaluation required by Ii. em 5 with the various hydraulic gradienl. profiles required by\nItem 4\nWiQ+n 90 days of receipt of this Order, develop and submit I written remedial plan, with a\nproposed schedule, for prior approval by the Director, Western Region, OPS. The plan must\nprovide for the identification and remediation of any anomahes similar to the onc associated\nwith the failure site in accordance with accepted methods of testing and repair. Anomalies\nidentified in areas where the historic hydraulic gradient and normal operating pressures have\nincreased. must be given priority for repairs. All integrity threatening anomalies must bc\nremediated by September 30, 2003. The Regional Director may provide approvals o f remedial\nplan elements incrementally. The plan must be fully implemented, as each element is approved,\naccording to the plan schedule.\nWithin 10 days of receipt o f this Order, submit the complete results of the 2000 ILI in electronic\nformat to the Director, Western Regiori, OPS for an independent evaluation. Provide\npermission for an OPS third-party expert to discuss the ILI data and analysis with ihe MFL tool\nvendor.\nThe Director, Western Region, OPS may require modification of remedial plan elements based\non thc independent evaluation of the ILI data, or other appropriate considerations. The plan\nmust be revised, as necessary, to incorporate new in formation obtained during the invesi. igation\nand determinations concerning the cause of the failure.\n10. Within, 60 days of receipt of this Order, provide a schedule for conducting the Inte~ty\nMatiagement Program GAMP) initial baseline assessment of the Medicine Bow pipeline in\naccordance with 49 C. P. R. Part 195, to the Director, Western Region, OPS Respondent's\nselection of ILI tools for conducting the IMP baseline assessment must (ake into account thc\nperformance o f the 2000 MFL lLI tool in identifying pipe deformations or metal loss anomalies\nand other iiitegrity threats which caused or contributed to the March 26, 2003 rupture\nIf approval of the Director, Western Region, OPS, is requested to remove or modify the pressure\nrestriction set forth in Items 1 and 2 of this Corrective Action Order, Respondent must submit\ninforiiiation demonstrating thai. the hazard has been abated and that restoring the pipeline to its\npre-failure operating pressure is justified based on an analysis showing that the pressure increase\nis safe considering all hzow7i defects, atiomalies and operating parameters of the pipeline\n12. The Director, Wcsterii Region, OPS may grant an extension of time for comphance with any\nof the terms of this Order for good cause. A requesi. for an extension must be in writing.\n\n\n\nRSPA CHIEF COUNSEL\nRespondent may appeal any decision of thc Regional Director to the Associate Administrator for\nPipeline Safety. Decisions of the Associate Administrator shall be anal\nThe procedures for the issuance of this Order are described in. Part 190, Title 49, Code of Federal\nRegulations. 49 C. F. R. $ 190. 233 is made part of this Order and describes the Respondent's\nprocedural rights relative to this Order.\nFailure to comply with ttus Order may result in the assessment of civil penalties of not more than\n$100, 000 per day and in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in United States\nDistTict Court.\nDate Issued\nStacey Gerard\n~ Associate Admimstrator\nfor Pipehne Safety","truncated":false,"body_characters":32458}