# WBI ENERGY TRANSMISSION, INC. — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520071015
- **title:** WBI ENERGY TRANSMISSION, INC. — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-11-08
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.161, 192.479.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520071015.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520071015.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520071015
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520071015
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving WBI ENERGY TRANSMISSION, INC.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.161,  192.479. The case was opened on 2007-11-08 and is reported as closed as of 2009-05-05. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520071015_Final Order_05052009.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520071015/520071015_Final%20Order_05052009.pdf

520071015_Final Order_05052009_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520071015/520071015_Final%20Order_05052009_text.pdf

520071015_nopv letter_11082007.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520071015/520071015_nopv%20letter_11082007.pdf

520071015_nopv letter_11082007_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520071015/520071015_nopv%20letter_11082007_text.pdf

520071015_operator response to notice_12182007.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520071015/520071015_operator%20response%20to%20notice_12182007.pdf

520071015_Final Order_05052009_text.pdf

May 5 2009
Mr. Tony Finneman
Executive Vice-President
Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company
1250 West Century Avenue
Bismarck, ND 59503
Re: CPF 5-2007-1015
Dear Mr. Finneman:
Enclosed is the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of violation
and finds that Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company has completed the actions specified
in the Notice required to bring the company into compliance with the pipeline safety regulations.
This case is now closed. Your receipt of the Final Order constitutes service of that document
under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey D. Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Enclosure
cc: Mr. Chris Hoidal, Director, Western Region, PHMSA
CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED [7005 1160 0001 0046 9495]
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION



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PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
______________________________
In the Matter of )
Williston Basin Interstate ) CPF No. 5-2007-1015
Pipeline Company, )
)
)
)
Respondent. )
______________________________)
FINAL ORDER
On May 14–18, 2007, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a representative of the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) conducted an on-
site pipeline safety inspection of the facilities of the Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline
Company’s (Williston or Respondent) Glendive District in Glendive, Montana. The Williston
Basin Glendive District is a 325-mile interstate natural gas pipeline that runs from the Cabin
Creek Compressor station in Montana to the McKenzie Plant in North Dakota. As a result of the
inspection, the Director, Western Region, OPS (Director), issued to Respondent, by letter dated
November 8, 2007, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Compliance Order (Notice). In
accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated
49 C.F.R. §§ 192.479 and 192.161, and proposed ordering Respondent to take certain measures
to correct the alleged violations.
Respondent responded to the Notice by letter dated December 18, 2007 (Response). Respondent
did not contest the allegations of violation and provided information concerning the corrective
actions it had taken. Respondent did not request a hearing and therefore has waived its right to
one.
FINDINGS OF VIOLATION
In its Response, Respondent did not contest the allegations in the Notice that it violated 49
C.F.R. Part 192, as follows:
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.479, which states, in
relevant part:
§ 192.479 Atmospheric corrosion control: General.
(a) Each operator must clean and coat each pipeline or portion of pipeline that
is exposed to the atmosphere . . . .



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(b) Coating material must be suitable for the prevention of atmospheric corrosion….
The Notice alleged that Williston violated §§192.479(a) and (b) by failing to clean and coat an
exposed span of pipeline across a creek near the Tampico Farm Tap with a coating material
suitable for the prevention of atmospheric corrosion. Specifically, the Notice alleged that
Respondent had allowed this span of pipeline to become severely oxidized. The Notice also
alleged that the condition of the pipe-to-soil interfaces on both sides of the creek could not be
observed, and needed to be exposed and examined to determine the exterior condition of the
pipe. Respondent did not contest this allegation. Accordingly, I find that Respondent violated 49
C.F.R. §§192.479(a) and (b) by failing to clean and coat, with coating material suitable for the
prevention of atmospheric corrosion, an exposed span of pipeline across a creek near the
Tampico Farm Tap.
Item 2: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. §192.161, which states, in
relevant part:
§ 192.161 Supports and anchors.
(a) Each pipeline and its associated equipment must have enough anchors or
supports to:
(1) Prevent undue strain on connected equipment;
(2) Resist longitudinal forces caused by a bend or offset in the pipe; and
(3) Prevent or damp out excessive vibration….
The Notice alleged that Williston violated § 192.161(a) by failing to have enough supports on the
above-ground piping at the Glascow Town Border Station to prevent undue strain on connected
equipment, To resist longitudinal forces caused by a bend or offset in the pipe, and to prevent or
damp out excessive vibration. Specifically, the Notice alleged that Respondent installed three
concrete blocks to support above-ground piping at the Glascow Town Border Station and that the
supports did not make contact with the pipe. Respondent did not contest this allegation.
Accordingly, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.161(a) by failing to have enough
supports to prevent undue strain on connected equipment, to resist longitudinal forces caused by
a bend or offset in the pipe, and to prevent or damp out excessive vibration on piping at the
Glascow Town Border Station.
These findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement
action taken against Respondent.
COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed a Compliance Order with respect to Items 1 and 2 in the Notice for
violations of 49 C.F.R. §§ 192.479 and 192.161, respectively. Under 49 U.S.C. § 60118(a), each
person who engages in the transportation of gas or who owns or operates a pipeline facility is
required to comply with the applicable safety standards established under chapter 601. The
Director has indicated that Respondent has satisfactorily completed the following actions
specified in the Proposed Compliance Order:



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With regard to the violation of 49 C.F.R. § 192.479 described in Item 1 of the
Notice, Respondent has stripped, inspected, and recoated the pipe spans and
provided photographs documenting such repairs to the Director.
With regard to the violation of 49 C.F.R. § 192.161 described in Item 2 of the
Notice, Respondent has installed new steel supports to replace the concrete
supports and provided photographs documenting such repairs to the Director.
Accordingly, since compliance has been achieved with respect to these violations, the
compliance terms are not included in this Order.
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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