# ALASKA PIPELINE CO — Warning Letter - **operation:** document - **citation:** CPF 52020002WL - **title:** ALASKA PIPELINE CO — Warning Letter - **source type:** enforcement - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** historical - **official:** true - **published on:** 2020-10-09 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 192.479(a), 192.479(b), 192.479(c), 192.479(c)(1), 192.479(c)(2). - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52020002wl.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52020002wl.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52020002wl - **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/52020002WL **body:** Warning Letter involving ALASKA PIPELINE CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.479(a), 192.479(b), 192.479(c), 192.479(c)(1), 192.479(c)(2). The case was opened on 2020-10-09 and is reported as closed as of 2020-10-09. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status. Official case documents: 52020002WL_Warning Letter_10092020_(20-179456).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52020002WL/52020002WL_Warning%20Letter_10092020_(20-179456).pdf 52020002WL_Warning Letter_10092020_(20-179456)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52020002WL/52020002WL_Warning%20Letter_10092020_(20-179456)_text.pdf 52020002WL_Warning Letter_10092020_(20-179456)_text.pdf WARNING LETTER VIA E-MAIL TO MR. JOHN SIMS October 9, 2020 Mr. John Sims President Alaska Pipeline Company P.O. Box 190288 Anchorage, AK 99519-0288 CPF 5-2020-002-WL Dear Mr. Sims: From February 3 through 6, March 2 through 4 and June 29 through July 2, 2020, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), inspected your natural gas distribution system. 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 items inspected and the probable violations are: 1. § 192.479 - Atmospheric corrosion control: General. (a) Each operator must clean and coat each pipeline or portion of pipeline that is exposed to the atmosphere, except pipelines under paragraph (c) of this section. (b) Coating material must be suitable for the prevention of atmospheric corrosion. (c) Except portions of pipelines in offshore splash zones or soil-to-air interfaces, the operator need not protect from atmospheric corrosion any pipeline for which the operator demonstrates by test, investigation, or experience appropriate to the environment of the pipeline that corrosion will— (1) Only be a light surface oxide; or (2) Not affect the safe operation of the pipeline before the next scheduled inspection. In Whittier, where the military pipeline daylights above ground, shortly after exiting the tunnel at the old pig trap station, the tape wrap was failing at the soil-to-air interface. A photo taken during the field visit showed tape wrap peeling off and corrosion on the surface of the pipeline under the failed coating. 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 items identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Alaska Pipeline Company 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- 2020-002-WL. 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 G. St. Pierre (#20-179456) Mr. Rusty Allen, Compliance / Integrity Engineer (via email) Mr. Steve Cooper, Director of Operations (via email) 2 - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 4605