GAS TRANSMISSION NORTHWEST LLC — Warning Letter

520071013w_warning letter_10032007_text.pdf, page 1Official PDFO U. S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration SENT TO COMPLlANCE REG1SJrRY Hardcopy Electronically & ¹ of Copies' / Date~&7 12300 W Dakota Ave, Suite 110 Lakewood, CO 80228 WARNING LETTER CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT RE UKSTKD October 3, 2007 Mr. Ross T. Parker Regional Director Gas Transmission Northwest Corporation 1400 SW 5 Avenue Portland, OR 97201-7201 CPF 5-2007-1013W Dear Mr. Parker: On June 11 — 15 and July 9 — 13, 2007, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected your pipeline operations and maintenance records in Spokane, Washington and several field locations in Oregon, respectively. As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and the probable violation is: $192. 705 Transmission Lines: Patrolling. (a) Each operator shall have a patrol program to observe surface conditions on and adjacent to the transmission line right-of-way for indications of leaks, construction activity, and other factors affecting safety and operation. (b) The frequency of patrols is determined by the size of the line, the operating pressures, the class location, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors, but intervals between patrols may not be longer than prescribed in the following table:#

520071013w_warning letter_10032007_text.pdf, page 2Class location At highway and of line railroad crossin s 1, 2 7 1/2 months; but at least twice each calendar ear 4 1/2 months; but at least four times each calendar ear 4 1/2 months; but at least four times each calendar ear Maximum interval between atrols At all other laces 15 months; but at least once each calendar ear 7 1/2 months; but at least twice each calendar ear 4 1/2 months; but at least four times each calendar ear (c) Methods of patrolling include walking, driving, flying or other appropriate means of traversing the right-of-way. No records were available at the time of the inspection to verify the quarterly patrols of Class 3 locations in Oregon within the intervals required by $192. 705 during late 2006. Quarterly patrol records were available for February 9, 2006, May 28, 2006, and September 9e 2006, but the next date for a patrol record was March 22, 2007. Under 49 United States Code, $ 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100, 000 for each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of $1, 000, 000 for any related series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the item identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Gas Transmission Northwest Corporation being subject to additional enforcement action. No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to CPF 5-2007-1013W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U. S. C. 552(b), along with the complete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U. S. C. 552(b). Sincere~ly, g 's Hoidal Director, Western Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry PHP-500 J. Stahoviak (¹118925 & ¹118926)#