# GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC — Notice of Amendment

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520116006M
- **title:** GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC — 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 195.440(c), 195.440(d)(1).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520116006m.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520116006m.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520116006m
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520116006M
**body:**

Notice of Amendment involving GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.440(c),  195.440(d)(1). The case was opened on 2011-05-17 and is reported as closed as of 2011-12-07. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520116006M_closure letter_12072011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520116006M/520116006M_closure%20letter_12072011.pdf

520116006M_closure letter_12072011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520116006M/520116006M_closure%20letter_12072011_text.pdf

520116006M_notice of amendment_05172011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520116006M/520116006M_notice%20of%20amendment_05172011.pdf

520116006M_notice of amendment_05172011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520116006M/520116006M_notice%20of%20amendment_05172011_text.pdf

520116006M_Operator Response and Request for Time Extension_06072011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520116006M/520116006M_Operator%20Response%20and%20Request%20for%20Time%20Extension_06072011.pdf

520116006M_notice of amendment_05172011_text.pdf

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT
VIA UPS GROUND – 1Z WR2 588 03 9347 6829
May 17, 2011
Mr. Alexander Gajdos
Principal Partner
Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc.
758 Illinois Street
P.O. Box 71249
Fairbanks, AK 99707
CPF 5-2011-6006M
Dear Mr. Gajdos:
On April 25, 2011, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected
Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc.’s (GVEA) procedures for Public Awareness in
Fairbanks, Alaska.
On the basis of the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacies found within
GVEA’s plans or procedures, as described below:
1. §195.440 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: (1) Use of a one-call notification system prior to
excavation and other damage prevention activities;
GVEA’s Public Awareness program incorrectly states,
“There is no One-Call
Notification System in the Fairbanks and North Pole areas.” The program must be
amended to indicate that a One-Call System is currently in place. In addition, the
operator must become a member of the local One-Call System or provide 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.
2. §195.440 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.
GVEA’s Public Awareness Program must reference their GVEA Pipeline Oil Spill
Plan Distribution List, or include it in the PAP.
3. §195.440 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.
GVEA must amend their program to include documenting ROW surveillance
observations and calls to the control center and evaluating program effectiveness, as
indicated in API 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.
2



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 GVEA Pipeline 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 5-2011-6006M 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 (#134343)
3

520116006M_closure letter_12072011_text.pdf

VIA: UPS GROUND
December 7, 2011
Mr. Paul Park
GVEA Power Supply Engineer and Pipeline Manager
Golden Valley Electric Association, Inc
758 Illinois Street
P.O. Box 71249
Fairbanks, AK 99707
CPF 5-2011-6006M
Dear Mr. Park:
On April 25, 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 Golden Valley Electric Association’s (GVEA) Public
Awareness Program procedures in Fairbanks, Alaska. As a result of the inspection, GVEA
was issued a Notice of Amendment on May 17, 2011, which proposed amendment of your
procedures.
GVEA submitted its amended procedures on November 17, 2011. PHMSA has 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 (#134343)
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