{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520163002W","title":"FAIRBANKS NATURAL GAS — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2016-05-05","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 193.2619(c)(2), 193.2639(a), 193.2917(a).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520163002w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520163002w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520163002w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520163002W","body":"Warning Letter involving FAIRBANKS NATURAL GAS. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 193.2619(c)(2),  193.2639(a),  193.2917(a). The case was opened on 2016-05-05 and is reported as closed as of 2016-05-05. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520163002W_Operator Response Notice_05242016.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520163002W/520163002W_Operator%20Response%20Notice_05242016.pdf\n\n520163002W_Warning Letter_05052016.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520163002W/520163002W_Warning%20Letter_05052016.pdf\n\n520163002W_Warning Letter_05052016_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520163002W/520163002W_Warning%20Letter_05052016_text.pdf\n\n520163002W_Warning Letter_05052016_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nMay 5, 2016\nMr. Dan Britton\nPresident and CEO\nFairbanks Natural Gas, LLC\n3408 International Way\nFairbanks, Alaska 99701\nCPF 5-2016-3002W\nDear Mr. Britton:\nOn June 8-12 and September 8-11, 2015, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States\nCode, inspected your Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities. Records of the operation and\ninspection of the LNG facilities were reviewed in Fairbanks, Alaska.\nAs a result of the inspection, it appears that Fairbanks Natural Gas has committed probable\nviolations of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The\nitems inspected and the probable violations are:\n1. §193.2619 Control systems\n(c) Control systems in service, but not normally in operation, such as relief valves\nand automatic shutdown devices, and control systems for internal shutoff valves\nfor bottom penetration tanks must be inspected and tested once each calendar\nyear, not exceeding 15 months, with the following exceptions: (2) Control systems\nthat are intended for fire protection must be inspected and tested at regular\nintervals not to exceed 6 months.\nPer §193.2619, Fairbanks Natural Gas did not have records demonstrating inspection of methane\nand infra-red (flame) detectors for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Operators must have records\ndemonstrating inspections and testing, once each calendar year, not exceeding 15 months and\nfire protection inspections and testing done at regular intervals not to exceed six (6) months. It\n\n\n\nappears that proper documentation for recent testing has been provided. However, it is critical to\nmaintain these records to demonstrate compliance with Federal Regulations.\n2. §193.2639 Maintenance records\n(a) Each operator shall keep a record at each LNG plant of the date and type of\neach maintenance activity performed on each component to meet the requirements\nof this part. For each LNG facility that is designed and constructed after March 31,\n2000 the operator shall also maintain related periodic inspection and testing records\nthat NFPA 59A (incorporated by reference, see § 193.2013) requires. Maintenance\nrecords, whether required by this part or NFPA 59A, must be kept for a period of\nnot less than five years.\nPer §193.2639, Fairbanks Natural Gas did not have records for their Storage Site Monthly\nMaintenance Inspections for the period between March and July, 2011. Fairbanks Natural Gas\nshall keep records of Storage Site Monthly Maintenance Inspections at each LNG plant for a\nperiod of not less than five (5) years.\n3. §193.2917 Warning signs\n(a) Warning signs must be conspicuously placed along each protective enclosure at\nintervals so that at least one sign is recognizable at night from a distance of 30m\n(100 ft.) from any way that could reasonably be used to approach the enclosure.\nPer §193.2917, warning signs at your facility did not meet required visibility criteria. Fairbanks\nNatural Gas warning signs placed around the protective enclosure were not illuminated and were\nnot visible at night from 100 feet away. Signs meeting the illumination and visibility\nrequirements must be in place.\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $200,000\nper violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a related series of\nviolations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum penalty may not\nexceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 for a\nrelated series of violations. Also, for LNG facilities, an additional penalty of not more than\n$50,000 for each violation may be imposed. 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\nitem(s) identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Fairbanks Natural Gas 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 5-2016-3002W and for each document you submit, please provide a copy in electronic\nformat to PHP-WRADMIN@dot.gov whenever possible. Be advised that all material you\nsubmit in response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you\nbelieve that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5\n\n\n\nU.S.C. 552(b), along with the complete original document you must provide a second copy of\nthe document with the portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an\nexplanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment\nunder 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 D. Hassell (#151249, #149001)","truncated":false,"body_characters":5910}