{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520141001W","title":"DOMINION ENERGY QUESTAR PIPELINE, LLC — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2014-04-30","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.161(b).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520141001w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520141001w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520141001w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520141001W","body":"Warning Letter involving DOMINION ENERGY QUESTAR PIPELINE, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.161(b). The case was opened on 2014-04-30 and is reported as closed as of 2014-04-30. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520141001W_revised warning letter_04302014.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520141001W/520141001W_revised%20warning%20letter_04302014.pdf\n\n520141001W_revised warning letter_04302014_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520141001W/520141001W_revised%20warning%20letter_04302014_text.pdf\n\n520141001W_revised warning letter_04302014_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\n(Revised with Correct CPF No.)\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nApril 15, 2014; revised April 30, 2014\nMr. Ronald Jorgensen\nVice President of Operations\nQuestar Pipeline Company\n333 South State Street\nP.O. Box 45360\nSalt Lake City, UT 84145-0360\nCPF 5-2014-1001W\nDear Mr. Jorgensen:\nOn August 26–30, September 09–13, and September 16-20, 2013, representatives of the\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601\nof 49 United States Code, inspected your pipeline facilities on ML 40 at multiple locations\nbetween Provo and Vernal, Utah.\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 items inspected and\nthe probable violation is:\n1. §192.161 Supports and anchors\n(b) Each exposed pipeline must have enough supports or anchors to protect the\nexposed pipe joints from the maximum end force caused by internal pressure and\nany additional forces caused by temperature expansion or contraction or by the\nweight of the pipe and its contents.\nBased on the operator’s analytical process in place at the time of our inspection,\nnumerous above ground spans did not have adequate supports in place to protect the\n\n\n\nexposed pipe joints from the maximum end force. During the inspection weeks of\nAugust 26–30, September 09–13, and September 16-20, 2013, PHMSA’s inspectors\nreviewed multiple above ground span locations. The following ten (10) locations on\nMainline 40 were calculated to have inadequate support with the QPC analytical tool:\n1) Span #69; 2) Span #68; 3) Span #65; 4) Span-Whitmore Park; 5) Span #50; 6) Span\n#49; 7) Span #47; 8) Span-River Bend West; 9) Span-River Bend East; and 10) Span-\nWayne’s Crossing/Mesa Tap.\nQuestar Pipeline Company (QPC) stated that their analytical tool was too conservative.\nPHMSA received a letter on October 29, 2013, from QPC stating: “QPC will modify\nits Standard Practice 1-11-01, Design for the Protection of Transmission Lines and\nMains from Physical Hazards, to include the more recently developed span stress\nassessment methodology.” While this tool now indicates a safe condition for the\naforementioned spans, they must continue to be monitored to ensure they stay safe.\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed\n$200,000 per violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a\nrelated series of violations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum\npenalty may not exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed\n$1,000,000 for a related series of violations.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer\nto CPF 5-2014-1001W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this\nenforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion\nof your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along\nwith the complete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with\nthe portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why\nyou believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C.\n552(b).\nSincerely,\nChris Hoidal\nDirector, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 Ross Reineke (#142689)\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":4237}