# CENEX PIPELINE LLC — Notice of Probable Violation - **operation:** document - **citation:** CPF 520055004 - **title:** CENEX PIPELINE LLC — Notice of Probable Violation - **source type:** enforcement - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** historical - **official:** true - **published on:** 2005-02-09 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 195.1, 195.310(b)(9), 195.402(c)(13), 195.402(c)(4), 195.402(d)(5), 195.403(a)(6), 195.403(b)(2), 195.403(c), 195.404(a)(3), 195.428(a), 195.581(c)(2), 195.589(c). - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520055004.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520055004.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520055004 - **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520055004 **body:** Notice of Probable Violation involving CENEX PIPELINE LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195, 195.1, 195.310(b)(9), 195.402(c)(13), 195.402(c)(4), 195.402(d)(5), 195.403(a)(6), 195.403(b)(2), 195.403(c), 195.404(a)(3), 195.428(a), 195.581(c)(2), 195.589(c). The case was opened on 2005-02-09 and is reported as closed as of 2008-04-18. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status. Official case documents: 520055004_final order_04182008.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520055004/520055004_final%20order_04182008.pdf 520055004_final order_04182008_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520055004/520055004_final%20order_04182008_text.pdf 520055004_final order_04182008_text.pdf U S Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration APR 1 8 lol18 t200 New Jersey Ave S E Washington DC 20590 Mr. Dan Knepper Vice President, Energy Operations Front Range Pipeline, LLC 803 Highway 212 South Laurel, MT 59044 Re: CPF No. 5-2005-5004 Dear Mr. Knepper. Enclosed is the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of violation and finds that you have completed the actions specified in the Notice required to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. It also finds that you have addressed the inadequacies in your procedures that were cited in the Notice of Amendment Therefore, this case is now closed. Your receipt of the Final Order constitutes service under 49 C. F. R $ 190. 5. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter Smcerely, Jeffrey D. Wiese Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety Enclosure cc: Chris Hoidal Director, Western Region, PHMSA CERTIFIED MAIL — RETURN RECEIPT RE UESTED U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY WASHINGTON, D. C. 20590 In the Matter of Front Range Pipeline, LLC, formerly CHS, Inc. , Respondent CPF No. 5-2005-5004 FINAL ORDER On August 19, 2004 and between October 4 and 8, 2004 pursuant to 49 U, S C, ) 60117, a representative of Western Region of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), conducted an onsite pipeline safety inspection of Front Range Pipeline's (Front Range or Respondent) Tank 47, records, and manuals in Laurel, Montana, and its crude oil pipeline facilities between the Canadian border and Cutbank, Montana. As a result of the inspection, the Director, Western Region, of PHMSA's Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued to Respondent, by letter dated February 9, 2005, a Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Compliance Order, and Notice of Amendment (Notice). ' In accordance with 49 C. F. R, ) 190 207, the Notice proposed finding that Respondent had committed violations of 49 C, F. R. ) 195. 1 and proposed ordering Respondent to take certain measures to correct the alleged violations. The Notice also proposed, in accordance with 49 C. F, R. ) 190. 237, that Respondent amend its written procedures and plans. The Notice further proposed finding that Respondent had committed certain other probable violations of 49 C. F. R. Part 195 and warning Respondent to take appropriate corrective action to address them or be subject to future enforcement action. Respondent responded to the Notice by letter dated April 1, 2005 (Response). Respondent did not contest the allegations of violation but submitted copies of its amended procedures. Respondent did not request a hearing and therefore has waived its right to one. ' The Notice of Probable Violation was addressed to CHS, Inc, the operator of the facilities that are the subject of this Final Order Front Range now operates said facilities as a subsidiary of CHS, Inc FINDING OF VIOLATION Pursuant to 49 C. F. R. $ 190. 213 and U. S. C. $ 60122, I find that Respondent violated the following section of 49 C. F R. Part 195, as more fully described m the Notice: Notice Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. ) 195. 1(c), which states: 49 C. F. R. g 195. 1 Applicability. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, this part applies to pipeline facilities and the transportation of hazardous liquids or carbon dioxide associated with those facilities in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, includmg pipeline facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf. . . . . (c) Breakout tanks subject to this part must comply with requirements that apply specifically to breakout tanks and, to the extent applicable, with requirements that apply to pipeline systems and pipeline facilities. If a conflict exists between a requirement that applies specifically to breakout tanks and a requirement that applies to pipelme systems or pipeline facilities, the requirement that apphes specifically to breakout tanks prevails. . . . . . The Notice alleged that Respondent had failed to consider its Tank No, 74 to be a breakout tank and therefore had failed to meet the various requirements for breakout tanks under Part 195. A breakout tank is a tank used to relieve surges in a hazardous liquid pipeline system or to receive and store hazardous liquid transported by a pipeline for rein~ection or continued transportation by pipeline, 49 C. F. R. ) 195. 2. The Notice alleged that "Tank 74 receives crude oil from the CHS Front Range pipeline terminus pressiue relief. " In its Response, Respondent did not contest that Tank 74 is a breakout tank. This finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action taken against Respondent, COMPLIANCE ORDER The Notice proposed a Compliance Order with respect to Item 1 in the Notice for violation of 49 C, F. R. $ 195. 1. 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 estabhshed under chapter 601. The Director has indicated that Respondent has taken certain corrective measures to bring the specified matter into compliance with $ 195. 1. Since compliance has been achieved with respect to this violation, it is unnecessary to include the proposed compliance terms in this Order. AMENDMENT OF PROCEURES With respect to items 3, 4, 6, and 9, the Notice alleged certain inadequacies in Respondent's Operations, Maintenance, and Emergencies Manual (Manual) and proposed to require that Respondent amend it to comply with 49 C. F. R. )) 195. 402 — 195. 404. Specifically: Item 3 of the Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. $ 195. 402(c)(4) because its Manual did not identify areas that would require an immediate response by the operator to prevent hazards to the public if the facilities failed or malfunctioned. Item 4 of the Notice alleged that the Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. $ 195. 402(c)(13) because its Manual did not require periodic review of work done by the operator during normal operations to determine the effectiveness of the company's procedures. Item 6 of the Notice alleged that the Respondent violated 49 C F. R ) 195. 403(a)(1)-(6) by failing to establish and conduct a continuing training program to instruct operating and maintenance personnel in emergency procedures. Item 9 of the Notice alleged that the Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. $ 195. 404(a)(3) because its Manual failed to include the proper maximum operating pressure for the 10-inch pipeline installed in 1985 that runs from the Canadian border to the Santa Rita pump station. Respondent did not contest the proposed Notice of Amendment but provided amended procedures, which the Director has reviewed and approved. Accordmgly, based on the results of this review, I find that Respondent's original procedures and plans were inadequate to ensure safe operation of its pipeline system but that Respondent has corrected the identified inadequacies. Therefore, no need exists to issue an order directing amendment. WARNING ITEMS With respect to Items 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12, the Notice alleged probable violations of Part 195 but did not propose a civil penalty or compliance order for these items, Therefore, these items are considered warning items. The warnings were for: 49 C. F, R. ) 195. 310(b)(9) notice Item 2) — Respondent's failure to include in its testing records a profile showing elevation and test sites for the section of pipeline from the Canadian border to the Santa Rita pump station. The regulations require a profile where the elevation difference in a section exceeds 100 feet. Respondent's pressure test records for this section indicate an elevation difference of 618 feet. 49 C. F. R. ) 195 402(d)(5) (Notice Item 5) — Respondent's failure to document in its Manual any review of abnormal operating conditions to determme the effectiveness of the company's procedures for controlling abnormal operation and taking corrective action where deficiencies are found. 49 C. F. R. 195. 403(b)(1)-(2) (Notice Item 7) — Respondent's failure to demonstrate through its records that it had engaged in a review with personnel of their performance in meeting training program objectives and the company's failure to demonstrate that it had made appropriate changes to its emergency response training program to ensure its effectiveness. Respondent's records did not contain any records of an annual review of its emergency response personnel's performance to ensure the adequacy of their emergency response training. 49 C. F. R. $ 403(c) (Notice Item 8) — Respondent's failure to demonstrate through its records that it had verified that supervisors maintained a thorough knowledge of that portion of the $ 195, 402 procedures for which they were responsible. Although Respondent's training procedures gave guidance for annual verification of each supervisor's knowledge of procedures, Respondent had no records indicating that managers had actually verified each supervisor's knowledge of such procedures. 49 C. F. R. ) 195. 428(a) (Notice Item 10) — Respondent's failure to inspect and test at intervals of each calendar year not to exceed 15 months each relief valve to determine whether it was functioning properly, was in good mechanical condition, and was adequate from the standpoint of capacity and reliability of operation for the service in which it was used. At the time of the inspection, the Flex Flow relief valve on the Cutbank Tank Hill had not been tested at the proper intervals. 49 C. F. R. $ 195. 581(c)(1)-(2) (Notice Item 11) — Respondent's failure to protect against atmospheric corrosion for portions of pipelines in soil-to-air interfaces or to show that corrosion would only be a light surface oxide or that it would not affect safe operation. Piping associated with Tank 10 at the Santa Rita pump station was resting directly on the ground with no additional coating for protection against soil abrasion. Areas where pipe rests directly on the ground are considered soil-to-air interfaces, 49 C. F. R. () 195 195, 583(c) and 195. 589(c) (Notice Item 12) — Respondent's failure to protect against atmospheric corrosion and failure to maintain corrosion control records of each analysis, check, demonstration, inspection, investigation, review, survey, and test to detail the accuracy of corrosion control measures. Respondent's atmospheric corrosion investigation records of certain valves north of the Santa Rita station indicated that there was atmospheric corrosion present. At the time of the inspection, no corrosion control measures action had been taken. Having considered such information, I find, pursuant to 49 C. F. R, ( 109 205, that probable violations of 49 C. F. R. $ 195. 310(b)(9) (Notice Item 2), 49 C. F. R. ) 195. 402(d)(5) (Notice Item 5), 49 C. F. R. 195. 403(b)(1)-(2) (Notice Item 7), 49 C. F. R. ) 403(c) (Notice Item 8), 49 C. F. R. ( 195. 428(a) (Notice Item 10), 49 C. F, R. ) 195, 581(c)(1)-(2) (Notice Item 11), and 49 C. F. R )$ 195. 195. 583(c) and 195. 589(c) (Notice Item 12) have occurred and Respondent is hereby advised to correct such conditions. In the event that PHMSA finds a violation for any of these items in a subsequent inspection, Respondent may be subject to future enforcement action. The terms and conditions of this Final Order shall be effective upon receipt, APR 1 8 N08 Date Issued Jeffrey D. Wiese Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 12430