CPF 520200005W
CPF 520200005W
520200005W_Warning Letter_03162020_text.pdf, page 1Official PDFWARNING LETTER CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED March 16, 2020 Mr. Edward Luebke Vice President Pipeline Operations TransMontaigne Operating Company L.P. 1670 Broadway, Suite 3100 Denver, CO, 80202 CPF 5-2020-0005W Dear Mr. Luebke: On October 21 through 24, 2019, a representative of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on behalf of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected the TransMontaigne Operating Company L.P. (TransMontaigne) gas distribution system procedures and records. As a result of the inspection, it is alleged that you have committed probable violations of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The item inspected and the probable violations is: 1. § 192.491 Corrosion control records. (a) Each operator shall maintain records or maps to show the location of cathodically protected piping, cathodic protection facilities, galvanic anodes, and neighboring structures bonded to the cathodic protection system.#
520200005W_Warning Letter_03162020_text.pdf, page 2(b) Records or maps showing a stated number of anodes, installed in a stated manner or spacing, need not show specific distances to each buried anode. TransMontaigne failed to maintain a map to show the locations of the pipeline and facilities listed in §192.491(a). Under 49 U.S.C. §60122 and 49 CFR §190.223, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $218,647 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,186,465 for a related series of violations. For violation occurring on or after November 27, 2018 and before July 31, 2019, the maximum penalty may not exceed $213,268 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,132,679. For violation occurring on or after November 2, 2015 and before November 27, 2018, the maximum penalty may not exceed $209,002 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,090,022. For violations occurring prior to November 2, 2015, the maximum penalty may not exceed $200,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,000,000 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 identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Coalinga 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 5-2020-0005W. 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, Dustin Hubbard Director, Western Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry PHP-500 J. Dunphy (#165833) Terrence Eng, Program Manager, Gas Safety and Reliability Branch California Public Utilities Commission 2#
This material provides agency context. It does not replace binding regulatory text, and its legal effect depends on the underlying authority and facts.