NORTHWEST PIPELINE LLC — Notice of Probable Violation

case documentOfficial PDF520141002_NOPV PCO_11132014.pdf#

case documentOfficial PDF520141002_NOPV PCO_11132014_text.pdf#

party submissionOfficial PDF520141002_Operator Response to Notice_01192015.pdf#

520141002_Final Order_12292015_text.pdf, page 1Official PDFDecember 29, 2015 Mr. Alan S. Armstrong President and Chief Executive Officer The Williams Companies, Inc. One Williams Center Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172-0172 Re: CPF No. 5-2014-1002 Dear Mr. Armstrong: Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of violation and specifies actions that need to be taken by Williams Northwest Pipeline, LLC to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. When the terms of the compliance order have been completed, as determined by the Director, Western Region, this enforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order by certified mail is deemed effective upon the date of mailing, or as otherwise provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Jeffrey D. Wiese Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety Enclosure cc: Director, Western Region, OPS Mr. Walter Bennett, Senior Vice President, West, One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74172-0172 CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED#

520141002_Final Order_12292015_text.pdf, page 2U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 ____________________________________ ) In the Matter of ) ) Williams Northwest Pipeline LLC, ) CPF No. 5-2014-1002 ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________) FINAL ORDER On September 23-27, 2013, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), conducted an on-site pipeline safety inspection of the facilities and records of Williams Northwest Pipeline, LLC (Williams or Respondent) in Colorado and Utah. Williams’ transmission system spans approximately 3,900 miles and traverses Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. As a result of the inspection, the Director, Western Region, OPS (Director), issued to Respondent, by letter dated November 13, 2014, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Compliance Order (Notice). In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice proposed finding that Williams violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.179 and proposed ordering Respondent to take certain measures to correct the alleged violation. FINDING OF VIOLATION In its Response, Williams did not contest the allegation in the Notice that it violated 49 C.F.R. Part 192, as follows: Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.179(a), which states: § 192.179 Transmission line valves. (a) Each transmission line, other than offshore segments, must have sectionalizing block valves spaced as follows, unless in a particular case the Administrator finds that alternative spacing would provide an equivalent level of safety: (1) Each point on the pipeline in a Class 4 location must be within 21⁄2#

520141002_Final Order_12292015_text.pdf, page 3CPF No. 5-2014-1002 Page 2 miles (4 kilometers) of a valve. (2) Each point on the pipeline in a Class 3 location must be within 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) of a valve. (3) Each point on the pipeline in a Class 2 location must be within 71⁄2 miles (12 kilometers) of a valve. (4) Each point on the pipeline in a Class 1 location must be within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of a valve. The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.179(a) by failing to have sectionalizing block valves spaced at each point on its pipeline in a Class 3 location within 4 miles of a valve, without a finding by the Administrator that alternative spacing would provide an equivalent level of safety. Specifically, the Notice alleged that Williams failed to have sectionalizing block valves at its Class 3 mainline near the Animas Air Park in Durango, Colorado. Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.179(a) by failing to have sectionalizing block valves spaced at each point on its pipeline in a Class 3 location within 4 miles of a valve, without a finding by the Administrator that alternative spacing would provide an equivalent level of safety. This finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action taken against Respondent. COMPLIANCE ORDER The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to Item 1 in the Notice for a violation of 49 C.F.R. § 192.179(a). Under 49 U.S.C. § 60118(a), each person who engages in the transportation of gas or who owns or operates a pipeline facility is required to comply with the applicable safety standards established under chapter 601. Pursuant to the authority of 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217, Respondent is ordered to take the following actions to ensure compliance with the pipeline safety regulations applicable to its operations: 1. With respect to the violation of § 192.179(a) (Item 1), Respondent must add a new valve that meets the 4-mile spacing requirement for Class 3 areas. In addition, the operator must evaluate block valve spacing for its entire pipeline system in accordance with its most recent class location study to ensure that the valves are correctly placed with respect to classifications. This item must be fully completed by November 1, 2015. 2. It is requested that Williams maintain documentation of the safety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Order and submit the total to the Director, Western Region. It is requested that the costs be reported in two categories: (1) total cost associated with the preparation/revision of plans, procedures, studies, and#

520141002_Final Order_12292015_text.pdf, page 4CPF No. 5-2014-1002 Page 3 analyses; and (2) total cost associated with replacements, additions, and other changes to pipeline infrastructure. The Director may grant an extension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a written request timely submitted by the Respondent and demonstrating good cause for an extension. Failure to comply with this Order may result in the administrative assessment of civil penalties not to exceed $200,000 for each violation for each day the violation continues or in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States. Under 49 C.F.R. § 190.243, Respondent has a right to submit a Petition for Reconsideration of this Final Order. The petition must be sent to: Associate Administrator, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590, with a copy sent to the Office of Chief Counsel, PHMSA, at the same address. PHMSA will accept petitions received no later than 20 days after receipt of service of this Final Order by the Respondent, provided they contain a brief statement of the issue(s) and meet all other requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 190.243. Unless the Associate Administrator, upon request, grants a stay, the terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.5. ___________________________________ __________________________ Jeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety#

520141002_Closure Letter_03152016_text.pdf, page 1Official PDFCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED March 15, 2016 Ms. Allison Bridges Vice President Williams Northwest Pipeline, LLC 295 Chipeta Way Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 RE: CPF 5-2014-1002 Dear Ms. Bridges: On December 29, 2015, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued to Williams Northwest Pipeline, LLC a Final Order in the above-referenced case. This Order included a Compliance Order. Based on our review of the documentation you provided, it has been determined that you have complied with the terms of this Order. Accordingly, this case is now closed and no further action is contemplated with respect to the matters involved in this case. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Chris Hoidal Director, Western Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry PHP-500 J. Haddow#