{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520160022W","title":"ENSTAR NATURAL GAS CO — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2016-10-06","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.467(c), 192.631(e)(5).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520160022w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520160022w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520160022w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520160022W","body":"Warning Letter involving ENSTAR NATURAL GAS CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.467(c),  192.631(e)(5). The case was opened on 2016-10-06 and is reported as closed as of 2016-10-06. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520160022W_Warning Letter_10062016.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520160022W/520160022W_Warning%20Letter_10062016.pdf\n\n520160022W_Warning Letter_10062016_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520160022W/520160022W_Warning%20Letter_10062016_text.pdf\n\n520160022W_Warning Letter_10062016_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nOctober 6, 2016\nMr. Jared Green\nPresident\nENSTAR Natural Gas Company\nP.O. Box 190288\nAnchorage, AK 99519-0288\nCPF 5-2016-0022W\nDear Mr. Green:\nOn April 18 through 29 and May 13 through 17, 2016, representatives of the Pipeline and\nHazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United\nStates Code, inspected ENSTAR Natural Gas Company’s (ENSTAR) Operation and Maintenance\nprocedures in Anchorage, Alaska and distribution pipelines on the Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska,\nSusitna valleys, Girdwood, and Whittier, Alaska.\nAs a result of the inspection, it is alleged that that ENSTAR has committed probable violations of\nthe Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and\nthe probable violations are:\n1. §192.467 External corrosion control: Electrical isolation.\n(c) Except for unprotected copper inserted in ferrous pipe, each pipeline must be\nelectrically isolated from metallic casings that are a part of the underground system.\nHowever, if isolation is not achieved because it is impractical, other measures must\nbe taken to minimize corrosion of the pipeline inside the casing.\nRecords of pipe-to-soil corrosion control measurements (potential) for the years 2014 and 2015\nshowed two casings that were not electrically isolated on the main pipeline. The test stations for\nthe casings were located at Mile Post (MP .4- Door #1 Whittier Tunnel MP) and at (MP 4.95) on\nthe Whittier eight (8)-inch pipeline. The measurements of potential for the main pipeline and the\ncasing were nearly identical\n\n\n\nat these test stations. These similar potentials indicate the two structures are not isolated. The\npipeline and casing must either be isolated from each other or additional measures to prevent\ncorrosion of the main carrier pipeline must be taken.\n2. §192.631 Control room management.\n…(e) Alarm management. Each operator using a SCADA system must have a written\nalarm management plan to provide for effective controller response to alarms. An\noperator's plan must include provisions to:\n…(5) Monitor the content and volume of general activity being directed to and\nrequired of each controller at least once each calendar year, but at intervals not to\nexceed 15 months, that will assure controllers have sufficient time to analyze and\nreact to incoming alarms;\nENSTAR has not assured that controllers have sufficient time to analyze and react to incoming\nalarms. ENSTAR has provided a monthly alarm review which indicates the maximum volume\nand content of alarms being directed to each controller, but has not demonstrated that their\ncontrollers have sufficient time to analyze that volume.\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $205,638\nper violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,056,380 for a related series of\nviolations. For violation occurring between January 4, 2012 to August 1, 2016, the maximum\npenalty may not exceed $200,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed\n$2,000,000 for a related series of violations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the\nmaximum penalty may not exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to\nexceed $1,000,000 for a related series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and\nsupporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional\nenforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the\nitems identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in ENSTAR being subject to additional\nenforcement action.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to\nCPF 5-2016-0022W. 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),\nalong with 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 you\nbelieve the 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. Gano (#152025, #152026, #152027)","truncated":false,"body_characters":5185}