# FAIRBANKS NATURAL GAS — Notice of Amendment

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520110010M
- **title:** FAIRBANKS NATURAL GAS — Notice of Amendment
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-05-17
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.616(b), 192.616(c), 192.616(d)(2), 192.616(e).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520110010m.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520110010m.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520110010m
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520110010M
**body:**

Notice of Amendment involving FAIRBANKS NATURAL GAS. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.616(b),  192.616(c),  192.616(d)(2),  192.616(e). The case was opened on 2011-05-17 and is reported as closed as of 2011-08-04. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520110010M_closure letter_08042011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520110010M/520110010M_closure%20letter_08042011.pdf

520110010M_closure letter_08042011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520110010M/520110010M_closure%20letter_08042011_text.pdf

520110010M_notice of amendment_05172011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520110010M/520110010M_notice%20of%20amendment_05172011.pdf

520110010M_notice of amendment_05172011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520110010M/520110010M_notice%20of%20amendment_05172011_text.pdf

520110010M_operator_response_07282011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520110010M/520110010M_operator_response_07282011.pdf

520110010M_closure letter_08042011_text.pdf

VIA UPS GROUND: 1Z WR2 588 03 9866 1173
August 4, 2011
Mr. Duncan Jakes
Operations Manager
Fairbanks Natural Gas Company
3408 International Way
Fairbanks, AK 99701
CPF 5-2011-0010M
Dear Mr. Jakes:
On April 27, 2011, a representative from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, conducted an
on-site pipeline safety inspection of Fairbanks Natural Gas Company’s procedures in
Fairbanks, Alaska. As a result of the inspection, Fairbanks Natural Gas Company was issued
a Notice of Amendment on May 17, 2011, which proposed amendment of your procedures.
Fairbanks Natural Gas Company submitted its amended procedures on July 28, 2011. My
staff reviewed the amended procedures, and it appears that the inadequacies outlined in this
Notice of Amendment have been corrected.
This letter is to inform you no further action is necessary and this case is now closed. Thank
you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Dennis Hinnah
Deputy Director, Western Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry
PHP-500 B. Flanders (#134344)

520110010M_notice of amendment_05172011_text.pdf

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT
VIA UPS GROUND – 1Z WR2 588 03 9059 3216
May 17, 2011
Mr. Duncan Jakes
Operations Manager
Fairbanks Natural Gas Company
3408 International Way
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
CPF 5-2011-0010M
Dear Mr. Jakes:
On April 27, 2011, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected
Fairbanks Natural Gas Company’s (FNG) procedures for Public Awareness Program in
Fairbanks, Alaska.
On the basis of the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacies found within
Fairbanks Natural Gas Company’s plans or procedures, as described below:
1. §192.616 Public Awareness
(b) The operator's program must follow the general program recommendations
of API RP 1162 and assess the unique attributes and characteristics of the
operator's pipeline and facilities.
FNG’s program did not list areas where gas is not odorized or the temperature at
which the liquid natural gas (LNG) is stored at or the temperature during trucking.
FNG must include in their Public Awareness message where the gas is not odorized,
where it is odorized, and the temperature the LNG is stored and transported at.



2. §192.616 Public Awareness
(e) The program must include activities to advise affected municipalities, school
districts, businesses, and residents of pipeline facility locations.
(f) The program and the media used must be as comprehensive as necessary to
reach all areas in which the operator transports gas.
FNG did not send information to property owners to make them aware of where their
pipeline facilities crossed. FNG did send information to their customers, but they
must communicate with the affected public, emergency officials, local public officials
and excavators as indicated in API RP 1162.
3. §192.616 Public Awareness
(d) The operator's program must specifically include provisions to educate the
public, appropriate government organizations, and persons engaged in
excavation related activities on:
(2) Possible hazards associated with unintended releases from a gas pipeline
facility;
FNG’s program does not include information on the hazards associated with non-
odorized LNG. FNG’s program must include information on the possible hazards of
releases of non-odorized LNG.
4. §192.616 Public Awareness
(c) The operator must follow the general program recommendations, including
baseline and supplemental requirements of API RP 1162, unless the operator
provides justification in its program or procedural manual as to why compliance
with all or certain provisions of the recommended practice is not practicable and
not necessary for safety.
FNG failed to document their annual program evaluation. FNG must document,
record, keep, and evaluate their program effectiveness in accordance with API RP
1162.
Response to this Notice
This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.237. Enclosed
as part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in
Compliance Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. 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). If you do not respond
within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of your right to contest the
allegations in this Notice and authorizes the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to
find facts as alleged in this Notice without further notice to you and to issue a Final Order.
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If, after opportunity for a hearing, your plans or procedures are found inadequate as alleged
in this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans or procedures to correct the
inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.237). If you are not contesting this Notice, we propose that
you submit your amended procedures to my office within 90 days of receipt of this Notice.
This period may be extended by written request for good cause. Once the inadequacies
identified herein have been addressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement action
will be closed.
It is requested (not mandated) that Fairbanks Natural Gas Company maintain documentation
of the safety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment
(preparation/revision of plans, procedures) and submit the total to our office at 188 W.
Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 520, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. In correspondence concerning
this matter, please refer to CPF 5-2011-0010M and, for each document you submit, please
provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible.
Sincerely,
Dennis Hinnah
Deputy Director, Western Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Enclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings
cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry
PHP-500 B. Flanders (#134344)
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