{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520121004W","title":"GAS TRANSMISSION NORTHWEST LLC — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2012-02-21","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.173.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520121004w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520121004w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520121004w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520121004W","body":"Warning Letter involving GAS TRANSMISSION NORTHWEST LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.173. The case was opened on 2012-02-21 and is reported as closed as of 2013-08-16. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520121004W_Operator Response_08142012.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520121004W/520121004W_Operator%20Response_08142012.pdf\n\n520121004W_warning letter_02212012.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520121004W/520121004W_warning%20letter_02212012.pdf\n\n520121004W_warning letter_02212012_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520121004W/520121004W_warning%20letter_02212012_text.pdf\n\n520121004W_withdrawal of notice letter_08162013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520121004W/520121004W_withdrawal%20of%20notice%20letter_08162013.pdf\n\n520121004W_withdrawal of notice letter_08162013_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520121004W/520121004W_withdrawal%20of%20notice%20letter_08162013_text.pdf\n\n520121004W_warning letter_02212012_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nFebruary 21, 2012\nMr. Vern Meier\nVP, US Pipelines, Field Operations\nTransCanada Corporation\n717 Texas Avenue\nHouston, TX 77002\nCPF 5-2012-1004W\nDear Mr. Meier:\nOn October 17 to 21, 2011 a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected your Gas\nTransmission Northwest Corporation facilities in Redmond, Oregon.\nAs a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the\nPipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and the\nprobable violation is:\n1. §192.173 Compressor stations: Ventilation.\nEach compressor station building must be ventilated to ensure that employees are\nnot endangered by the accumulation of gas in rooms, sumps, attics, pits, or other\nenclosed places.\nAt the time of the inspection the dry gas seal vents did not extend above the roof lines at\nCompressor Stations #11 and #14. The vents need to be extended above the roof line to preclude\npossible gas accumulations in the compressor stations.\n\n\n\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100,000\nfor each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for any\nrelated series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents\ninvolved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty\nassessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the item(s) identified in this letter.\nFailure to do so will result in TransCanada / Gas Transmission Northwest Corporation being\nsubject to additional enforcement action.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to\nCPF 5-2012-1004W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement\naction is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your\nresponsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the\ncomplete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions\nyou believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe\nthe redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).\nSincerely,\nChris Hoidal\nDirector, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 J. Haddow (#132926)\n2\n\n520121004W_withdrawal of notice letter_08162013_text.pdf\n\nWITHDRAWAL of NOTICE LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nAugust 16, 2013\nMr. Vern Meier\nVice President, US Pipelines, Field Operations\nTransCanada Corporation\n717 Texas Avenue\nHouston, TX 77002\nCPF 5-2012-1004W\nDear Mr. Meier:\nOn February 21, 2012 TransCanada Corporation was issued a Warning Letter for the case\nnumber referenced above. This Warning Letter cited TransCanada Corporation for not providing\nventilation in accordance with 49 CFR, Part 192.173. At the time of the inspection the dry gas\nseal vents did not extend above the roof lines at Compressor Stations #11 and #14. PHMSA\nbelieved that the vents needed to be extended above the roof line to preclude possible gas\naccumulations in the compressor stations.\nHowever, in your letter dated August 14, 2012, TransCanada provided information regarding the\nexhaust system noting that gas detectors are present. These detectors shut down the compressors\nif a level of 25% LEL is exceeded and the fact that the vents from the building are powered by\nfans with intakes below lower than the vent exhaust, TransCanada contends this system complies\nwith §192.173.\n\n\n\nThis letter is to inform you that PHMSA hereby withdraws the Warning Letter and that the case\nis now closed.\nSincerely,\nChris Hoidal\nDirector, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 J. Haddow\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":5192}