# HARVEST ALASKA, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520045025
- **title:** HARVEST ALASKA, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2004-08-31
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 195.452(c)(1), 195.452(e), 195.452(e)(1), 195.452(f)(1), 195.452(f)(4), 195.452(f)(8), 195.452(i)(1).
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**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving HARVEST ALASKA, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.452(c)(1),  195.452(e),  195.452(e)(1),  195.452(f)(1),  195.452(f)(4),  195.452(f)(8),  195.452(i)(1). The case was opened on 2004-08-31 and is reported as closed as of 2010-03-02. Proposed civil penalty: $19,000. Assessed civil penalty: $0. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520045025_FinalOrder_04172009.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520045025/520045025_FinalOrder_04172009.pdf

520045025_FinalOrder_04172009_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520045025/520045025_FinalOrder_04172009_text.pdf

520045025_FinalOrder_04172009_text.pdf

APR 17 2009
Mr. Rodney H. Ficken, Manager
Cook Inlet Pipe Line Company
909 West 9th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Ms. Rebecca Roberts, President
Chevron Pipe Line Company
4800 Fournace Place, Room E328F
Bellaire, TX 77401
Re: CPF No. 5-2004-5025
Dear Mr. Ficken and Ms. Roberts:
Enclosed is the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It withdraws most of the
allegations of violation and all proposed civil penalties, makes a finding of violation, and specifies
certain actions that need to be taken by the current operator of the Cook Inlet Pipe Line, Chevron
Pipe Line Company, to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. The Final Order also makes a
finding of inadequate procedures and requires amendment of certain Integrity Management
Program procedures.
When the terms of the compliance order have been completed and the procedures satisfactorily
amended, as determined by the Director, Western Region, this enforcement action will be closed.
Your receipt of the Final Order constitutes service of that document under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
Please note that originals of the Final Order are being sent to both Cook Inlet Pipe Line Company
and Chevron Pipe Line Company.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey D. Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Enclosure
cc: Chris Hoidal, Director, Western Region, PHMSA
CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED [7005 1160 0001 0047 7049]



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
______________________________
In the Matter of )
Cook Inlet Pipe Line Company, ) CPF No. 5-2004-5025
Respondent, )
and )
)
)
)
)
Chevron Pipe Line Company. )
______________________________)
FINAL ORDER
On December 4-5, 2003, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a representative of the Research and
pipeline safety inspection of the Integrity Management Program (IMP) of Cook Inlet Pipe Line
Company (CIPL or Respondent) at its offices in Anchorage, Alaska. The CIPL pipeline system
includes a 20-inch crude oil pipeline running approximately 42 miles between the Granite Point
Tank Farm and the Drift River Terminal and a 12-inch pipeline connecting the 20-inch line to the
West Foreland pump station. The system is located on the west side of Cook Inlet in Alaska. In
2006, PHMSA was notified that Chevron Pipe Line Company (Chevron), the co-owner of CIPL,
now operates the facilities that are the subject of this proceeding.
Special Programs Administration (RSPA)1 , Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), conducted an on-site
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Western Region, OPS (Director), issued to CIPL, by
letter dated August 31, 2004, a Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty, Proposed
Compliance Order, and Notice of Amendment (Notice). In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207,
the Notice proposed finding that CIPL committed certain violations of 49 C.F.R. § 195.452,
proposed assessing a civil penalty of $19,000 for the alleged violations, and proposed ordering
CIPL to take certain measures to correct the alleged violations. The Notice also proposed, in
accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.237, that Respondent be required to amend its IMP procedures.
Finally, the Notice proposed finding that the company had committed certain IMP procedures.
Finally, the Notice proposed finding that the company had committed certain other probable
violations of 49 C.F.R. § 192.452 and warning it to take appropriate corrective action or be subject
to future enforcement action. By letter dated September 21, 2004, CIPL requested and
subsequently received additional time to respond to the Notice. CIPL responded to the Notice by
letter dated October 28, 2004 (Response), providing information on its IMP, contesting all of the
1 On November 30, 2004, the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act, Pub. L. No. 108-
426, 118 Stat. 2423, created the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and transferred the
authority of RSPA exercised under chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, to the Administrator of PHMSA. See
also, 70 Fed. Reg. 8299, 8301-8302 (2005) (delegating authority to the Administrator of PHMSA).



2
allegations, and requesting a hearing. A hearing was subsequently held on May 5, 2005, in
Anchorage, Alaska, with an attorney from the Office of Chief Counsel, PHMSA, serving as
presiding official.
FINDING OF VIOLATION
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. Part 195, as follows:
Item 1(f): The Notice alleged that CIPL violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.452(f)(1), which states:
§ 195.452 Pipeline integrity management in high consequence areas.
(a)….
(f) What are the elements of an integrity management program? An integrity
management program begins with the initial framework. An operator must
continually change the program to reflect operating experience, conclusions
drawn from results of the integrity assessments, and other maintenance and
surveillance data, and evaluation of consequences of a failure on the high
consequence area. An operator must include, at minimum, each of the following
elements in its written integrity management program:
(1) A process for identifying which pipeline segments could affect a high
consequence area;…
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.452(f)(1) by failing to include in its
IMP an adequate process for identifying which pipeline segments in its system “could affect” a
waterway HCA in Cook Inlet. Certain shipping lanes within Cook Inlet have been identified as part
High Consequence Area (HCA).2 Specifically, the Notice alleged that CIPL did not provide
sufficient justification that a spill from the CIPL pipeline could not affect a commercially navigable
of a commercially navigable waterway HCA.
CIPL used a 1991 spill modeling report (1991 Report) as the basis for identifying whether any of its
pipeline segments could affect this commercially navigable waterway HCA.3
The Notice alleged
that the 1991 Report failed to show that the Company’s pipeline system could not affect this
commercially navigable waterway HCA because it: (1) failed to address oil dispersion
characteristics in certain conditions; (2) only addressed near-shore oil migration and failed to
effectively address open-water oil migration in outgoing tides during adverse weather conditions;
(3) was indeterminate with regard to oil dispersion patterns; and (4) failed to include worst-case
conditions in the model input parameters, and instead, included subjective assumptions for tidal
influence, average flow speed, wind conditions, direction of net circulation, etc.
2 The process of identifying pipeline segments that “could affect” HCAs is the first step in establishing the initial
framework of an IMP. An HCA is defined as: (1) a commercially navigable waterway, which means a waterway where
a substantial likelihood of commercial navigation exists; (2) a high population area, which means an urbanized area, as
defined and delineated by the Census Bureau, that contains 50,000 or more people and has a population density of at
least 1,000 people per square mile; (3) an other populated area, which means a place, as defined and delineated by the
Census Bureau, that contains a concentrated population, such as an incorporated or unincorporated city, town, village,
or other designated residential or commercial area; (4) an unusually sensitive area, as defined in
§ 195.6. See, 49 C.F.R. § 195.450.
3 Notice, at 2. CIPL provided OPS with a copy of an April 15, 1991, report, entitled “Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and
Response Inc., Spill Modeling, Technical Manual P10.”



3
In its Response, CIPL argued that it did not need to have an IMP because its analyses indicated that
its pipeline could not affect any HCAs. CIPL explained that it relied upon the advice of planners
and scientists familiar with spill modeling, in conjunction with the 1991 report, as the basis for
determining that “oil spilled at CIPL’s facilities would not impact the shipping lanes in Cook
Inlet.”4 CIPL also provided an email from an employee of Cook Inlet Spill Prevention & Response,
simply stated, without any analysis, that spilled oil would be caught in rip tides and would not
Inc. (CISPRI), as further evidence that the shipping lanes would not be impacted.5 The email
impact the shipping lanes.
Inherent in the process for determining whether a pipeline segment could affect an HCA is the need
for a rigorous analysis that considers a wide range of parameters and conditions. If certain types of
weather, tidal or other conditions are not fully considered, “could-affect” pipeline segments might
be overlooked.
During the hearing, CIPL repeated the statements in the CISPRI email and made conclusory
statements that various experts believed spilled oil would not reach the shipping lanes due to the
effect of rip tides.6 CIPL neither addressed OPS’ allegations that the company did not account for a
full range of tidal, weather and other conditions necessary to understand where spilled oil could go,
nor provided any technical support or analysis for its position. Furthermore, the company’s own
1991 Report contradicts the company’s position by noting that “tidal rips have only limited and
local effects for spills during high wind events.”7 Also, at the hearing, CIPL acknowledged that it
only used “typical wind and tidal conditions” in its spill modeling.8
Accordingly, upon consideration of all of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R.
§ 195.452(f)(1) by failing to include in its IMP an adequate process for identifying which CIPL
pipeline segments could affect an HCA.
WITHDRAWAL OF ALLEGATIONS
Items 1(a), 1(b), 2, 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), 4(a), 4(b), 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), 6, 7(a) and 7(b) proposed that
CIPL violated numerous requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 195.452, by failing to properly develop and
implement an IMP, as more fully described in the Notice.
In its Response and at the hearing, CIPL argued that all of the Items in the Notice should be
withdrawn because none of its pipeline segments could affect an HCA and therefore the company
did not need to have an IMP at all. CIPL argued that its risk assessment showed that its pipelines
could not affect any of the numerous HCAs located near Cook Inlet. Pursuant to § 195.452(a), only
pipeline segments that “could affect” an HCA must be included in an operator’s IMP.
The Director has reviewed the information and analyses provided by CIPL and has recommended
withdrawal of the above-listed Items. CIPL presented convincing evidence that, at the time of the
inspection, its pipeline could not affect the Tyonek Other Populated Area (OPA) HCA and certain
4 Response, at 7.
5 November 25, 2003 email from Victoria Askin (CISPRI) to James A. Shew (CIPL).
6 CIPL Hearing Presentation, at 13.
7 1991 Report, at 5.
8 Id.



4
respectively. Items 2 through 7 in the Notice were all based upon the assumption that CIPL
drinking-water Unusually Sensitive Area (USA)9 HCAs, as addressed in Items 1(a) and 1(b),
operated one or more pipeline segments that “could affect” HCAs.
On the basis that CIPL has shown that its pipeline could not affect the OPA and USA HCAs
described above, and because there is uncertainty about whether other HCAs could be affected, I
order that Notice Items 1(a), 1(b), 2, 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), 4(a), 4(b), 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), 6, 7(a) and
7(b) be withdrawn. However, if Respondent’s continuing risk assessment shows that any of its
pipeline segments could affect an HCA, the requirements addressed in these withdrawn items, as
well as other IMP requirements, may need to be addressed.
Although CIPL has shown that its pipeline could not affect certain HCAs, the company has not
shown that the pipeline might not affect other HCAs or that it need not have an IMP. CIPL’s
processes for identifying which pipeline segments could affect an HCA remain inadequate.
Respondent must therefore conduct further analyses and amend its procedures, as discussed more
fully below.
WITHDRAWAL OF PENALTIES
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122, Respondent is subject to an administrative civil penalty not to exceed
$100,000 per violation for each day of the violation, up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for any related
series of violations.
49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 C.F.R. § 190.225 require that, in determining the amount of the civil
penalty, I consider the following criteria: the nature, circumstances, and gravity of the violation,
including adverse impact on the environment; the degree of Respondent’s culpability; the history of
Respondent’s prior offenses; the Respondent’s ability to pay the penalty and any effect that the
penalty may have on its ability to continue doing business; and the good faith of Respondent in
attempting to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. In addition, I may consider the economic
benefit gained from the violation without any reduction because of subsequent damages, and such
other matters as justice may require.
The Notice proposed a total civil penalty of $19,000 for various violations of 49 C.F.R. § 195.452,
for Respondent’s failure to properly develop and implement an IMP, as more fully described in the
Notice. Except for Item 1(f), all of the allegations of violation with associated penalties have been
withdrawn.
Regarding Item 1(f), Respondent violated § 195.452(f)(1) by failing to include in its IMP an
adequate process for identifying which pipeline segments could affect an HCA. In its Response and
at the hearing, Respondent presented credible information showing that it had made a good faith
effort to comply with the regulation. Although its spill modeling was inadequate, Respondent
conscientiously performed a thorough assessment of the potential effects that its pipeline could
have on the OPA and drinking water HCAs. Based upon such efforts, I find that it is appropriate to
withdraw the proposed penalty for Item 1(f).
9 USA means a drinking water or ecological resource area that is unusually sensitive to environmental damage from a
hazardous liquid pipeline release. 49 C.F.R. § 195.6. The regulation includes additional detailed information and
definitions on USAs.



5
COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to Items 1(a), 1(b), 1(f), 2, 3(a), 3(b), 4(a),
5(a), 5(c), 6 and 7(a) in the Notice for violations of 49 C.F.R. § 195.452. Except for Item 1(f), all of
the associated allegations of violation have been withdrawn. As the current operator of the CIPL
pipeline facility, Chevron is responsible for the compliance requirements set out below.
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60118(a), each person who engages in the transportation of hazardous liquids or
who owns or operates a pipeline facility is required to comply with the applicable safety standards
established under chapter 601. Pursuant to the authority of 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R.
§ 190.217, Chevron is ordered to take the following actions to ensure compliance with the pipeline
safety regulations applicable to its operations. Regarding Notice Item 1(f), Chevron must —
1. Update its oil spill models and procedures for identification of segments that could affect
HCAs by taking into account a full variety of weather, tidal and other conditions.
2. On the basis of the updated spill models and other revised IMP procedures, identify and
include in its IMP all pipeline segments that could affect the commercially navigable
waterway or any other HCA in Cook Inlet.
3. Within 60 days of receipt of this Final Order, perform the work listed above and submit
documentation and revised procedures to the Director, Western Region, Office of Pipeline
Safety, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 12300 West Dakota Ave.,
Suite 110, Lakewood, Colorado 80228.
4. Maintain documentation of the costs associated with fulfilling this compliance order and
submit the total to the Director, Western Region, OPS.
The Director may grant an extension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a
written request timely submitted by the Respondent demonstrating good cause for an extension.
Failure to comply with this Order may result in administrative assessment of civil penalties not to
exceed $100,000 for each violation for each day the violation continues or in referral to the
Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States.
AMENDMENT OF PROCEDURES
The Notice alleged inadequacies in Respondent’s IMP procedures and proposed to require
amendment of the company’s procedures to comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R.
§ 195.452(f)(1). As the current operator of the CIPL pipeline facility, Chevron is responsible for
making the amendments set forth below.
Notice Item 1(d) alleged that CIPL’s processes and procedures failed to specify how the company
would utilize feedback from field activities that could potentially result in the identification of new
or extended “could affect” pipe segments. Field activities can identify population growth along the
pipeline, stream flooding, earthquake damage, and other changes that potentially affect whether a



6
pipeline segment could affect an HCA. In its Response, CIPL stated that it would review and revise
its IMP procedures accordingly.
Notice Item 1(e) alleged that CIPL’s IMP procedures were inadequate because they did not include
a sensitivity analysis based on a range of pipeline break sizes and response times for the 12 streams
crossed by the CIPL pipeline system. The Notice stated that such analysis was required in order to
conservatively assess possible spill volumes and the spread of any spills that reached Cook Inlet.
This analysis is necessary in order to determine whether the pipeline could affect any Cook Inlet
HCAs. In its Response, CIPL stated that it would review and revise its IMP procedures
accordingly.
Although the company agreed to modify its procedures, CIPL argued that amendments to its
procedures were not required because it did not need to have an IMP. As discussed above, I have
found that CIPL needs to conduct an adequate risk assessment to determine whether it has any
“could affect” segments.
Accordingly, I find that CIPL’s procedures were inadequate to assure safe operation of its pipeline
system. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.237, Chevron is ordered to make the
following changes to its procedures affecting Cook Inlet Pipe Line. Chevron must—
1. Amend its IMP procedures to specify how the company will incorporate information from
field operations and other information sources into the IMP; and which company personnel
are responsible for gathering and integrating such information, and communicating it to the
company IMP team.
2. Amend its IMP procedures to include provisions for performing a sensitivity analysis based
on a range of pipeline break sizes and response times for the 12 CIPL pipeline system
stream crossings.
3. The revised sensitivity analysis shall conservatively assess the Cook Inlet HCA impacts that
could result from predicted oil spill volumes and spread extents.
4. Submit the amended procedures to the Director within 30 days following receipt of this
Order.
The Director may grant an extension of time to comply with any of the required Compliance
Order or Amendment of Procedure items upon a written request timely submitted by Chevron
demonstrating good cause for an extension.
WARNING ITEM
With respect to Item 1(c), the Notice alleged a probable violations of § 195.452(f)(1) but did not
propose a civil penalty or compliance order for these items. Therefore, this is considered to be a
warning item. The warning was for:
49 C.F.R. § 195.452(f)(1) ─ CIPL’s alleged failure to provide specificity in its
written IMP procedures for segment identification.



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In its Response, CIPL indicated that it would revise its IMP to include more specific procedures on
segment identification. Having considered such information, I find, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. §
190.205, that a probable violation of 49 C.F.R. § 195.452(f)(1) has occurred and Respondent is
hereby advised to correct such condition. In the event that OPS finds a violation for this item in a
subsequent inspection, Chevron may be subject to future enforcement action.
Failure to comply with this Order may result in administrative assessment of civil penalties not to
exceed $100,000 for each violation for each day the violation continues or in referral to the
Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States.
Under 49 C.F.R. § 190.215, Respondent has a right to submit a Petition for Reconsideration of this
Final Order. The petition must be received within 20 days of Respondent’s receipt of this Final
Order and must contain a brief statement of the issue(s). The terms of the order, including any
required corrective action and amendment of procedures, shall remain in full force and effect unless
the Associate Administrator, upon request, grants a stay. The terms and conditions of this Final
Order shall be effective upon receipt.
___________________________________ __________________________
Jeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
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