# WBI ENERGY TRANSMISSION, INC. — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520131011W
- **title:** WBI ENERGY TRANSMISSION, INC. — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2013-08-09
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 192.614(c)(3), 192.745(a).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520131011w.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520131011w.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520131011w
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520131011W
**body:**

Warning Letter involving WBI ENERGY TRANSMISSION, INC.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.614(c)(3),  192.745(a). The case was opened on 2013-08-09 and is reported as closed as of 2013-08-09. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520131011W_warning letter_08092013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520131011W/520131011W_warning%20letter_08092013.pdf

520131011W_warning letter_08092013_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520131011W/520131011W_warning%20letter_08092013_text.pdf

520131011W_warning letter_08092013_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
August 9, 2013
Mr. Tony Finneman
Vice President of Operations
WBI Energy Transmission, Inc.
1250 W. Century Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503
CPF 5-2013-1011W
Dear Mr. Finneman:
On May 21-25 2012, and June 25-29, 2012, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code,
inspected your Operations & Maintenance (O&M) procedures and records of your facility in
Glendive, Montana.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed probable violations of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and the
probable violations are:
1. §192.745 Valve maintenance: Transmission lines
(a) Each transmission line valve that might be required during any emergency must
be inspected and partially operated at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at
least once each calendar year.
Per §192.745(a), an operator shall inspect and/or maintain each transmission line valve for
emergency shutdown. At the time of inspection, WBI Energy Transmission, Inc.’s records (WBI)
indicate which critical and non-critical valves are designated for emergency shutdown at their
meter stations and compressor stations. However, WBI did not designate which transmission line
valves are critical and/or non-critical valves that might be required during any emergency.



2. §192.614 Damage prevention program.
(c) The damage prevention program required by paragraph (a) of this section must,
at a minimum:
(3) Provide a means of receiving and recording notification of planned excavation
activities.
Per §192.614(c) (3), an operator shall provide means of receiving and recording notification of
planned excavation activities. At the time of the inspection, one-call tickets did not have
sufficient information recorded on them to document the WBI response to excavation
notifications, i.e. whether line is marked or not, what instruction was provided to excavator by
WBI field personnel, and what actions must be taken by the WBI field personnel. Therefore, one-
call tickets were not properly completed, i.e. one call ticket #12001148.
Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $200,000
per violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a related series of
violations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum penalty may not
exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 for a
related series of violations We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents
involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty
assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the item(s) identified in this letter.
Failure to do so will result in WBI Energy Transmission, Inc. being subject to additional
enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to
CPF 5-2013-1011W. 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).
Sincerely,
Chris Hoidal
Director, Western Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry
PHP-500 K. Nguyen (#137567)
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