# SFPP, LP — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520085045
- **title:** SFPP, LP — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2008-12-03
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 195.402(c)(5).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520085045.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520085045.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520085045
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520085045
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving SFPP, LP. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 195.402(c)(5). The case was opened on 2008-12-03 and is reported as closed as of 2010-03-17. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520085045_FinalOrder_03172010.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520085045/520085045_FinalOrder_03172010.pdf

520085045_FinalOrder_03172010_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520085045/520085045_FinalOrder_03172010_text.pdf

520085045_NOPV PCO_12032008.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520085045/520085045_NOPV%20PCO_12032008.pdf

520085045_nopv pco_12032008_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520085045/520085045_nopv%20pco_12032008_text.pdf

520085045_operator response_01092009.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520085045/520085045_operator%20response_01092009.pdf

520085045_operator response_07222009.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520085045/520085045_operator%20response_07222009.pdf

520085045_FinalOrder_03172010_text.pdf

MAR 17 2010
Mr. Richard D. Kinder
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
One Allen Center
500 Dallas Street, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77002
Re: CPF No. 5-2008-5045
Dear Mr. Kinder:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of
violation and finds that Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. has completed the actions specified
in the Notice to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. Therefore, this case is now closed.
Service of the Final Order by certified mail is deemed effective upon the date of mailing, or as
otherwise provided 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
Mr. Edward A. “Buzz” Fant, Director, Compliance, Codes and Standards, Products
Pipelines, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED [7009 1410 0000 2472 5224]



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
______________________________
In the Matter of )
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, ) CPF No. 5-2008-5045
L.P., )
)
)
)
Respondent. )
______________________________)
FINAL ORDER
On October 3, 2007, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a representative of the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), initiated
an investigation of an accident involving an interstate pipeline system operated by Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (Kinder Morgan or Respondent). The pipeline system in question
transports refined petroleum products from the California-Nevada border to the Reno-Sparks
Terminal Facility in Sparks, Nevada.
The investigation arose out of a failure that occurred the previous night on a 6-inch-diameter
pipeline near Reno, Nevada. The failure was caused by hydrogen stress cracking and led to the
release of 851 barrels of jet fuel in a high consequence area.
As a result of the investigation, the Director, Western Region, OPS (Director), issued to
Respondent, by letter dated December 3, 2008, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed
Compliance Order (Notice). In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice proposed
finding that Kinder Morgan had violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.402(c)(5) and proposed ordering
Respondent to take certain measures to correct the alleged violation.
Kinder Morgan responded to the Notice by letters dated January 9 and July 22, 2009
(collectively, Response). Respondent did not contest the allegation of violation, but provided
information concerning the corrective actions it had taken. Respondent did not request a hearing
and therefore has waived its right to one.
FINDING OF VIOLATION
In its Response, Kinder Morgan did not contest the allegation in the Notice that it violated 49
C.F.R. Part 195, as follows:



2
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.402(c)(5), which states:
§ 195.402 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and
emergencies.
(a) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline
system a manual of written procedures for conducting normal operations
and maintenance activities and handling abnormal operations and
emergencies. . . .
(c) Maintenance and normal operations. The manual required by
paragraph (a) of this section must include procedures for the following to
provide safety during maintenance and normal operations:
(1) . . . .
(5) Analyzing pipeline accidents to determine their causes.
The Notice alleged that Kinder Morgan violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.402(c)(5) by failing to perform
an adequate root cause analysis and post-accident investigation of the October 2, 2007 failure as
required under Section 3.9 of its own Incident Reporting and Investigation procedures. Kinder
Morgan failed to conduct (1) a formal investigation of the accident identifying the root causes
that contributed to the release; (2) an evaluation of their leak detection capability as a result of
the release; (3) an evaluation of the Emergency Flow Restriction Device capability as a result of
the release; and (4) a pressure cycle fatigue analysis (PCFA) as a result of the release.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all
of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.402(c)(5) by failing to properly
analyze the October 2, 2007 pipeline accident to determine its causes.
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 of the Notice. 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. The Director has indicated that Respondent has taken the following actions
specified in the proposed compliance order:
1. On January 9 and July 22, 2009, Kinder Morgan submitted documentation of its root
cause analysis and post-accident investigation of the October 2, 2007 failure. The
Director has reviewed that information and determined that it satisfies the terms of
the proposed compliance order.



3
Accordingly, I find that compliance has been achieved with respect to this violation. Therefore,
the compliance terms proposed in the Notice are not included in this Order.
The terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon receipt of service.
___________________________________ __________________________
Jeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
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