CPF 52022031NOA
CPF 52022031NOA
party submissionOfficial PDF52022031NOA_Operator Response to Notice_07292022_(21-203026).pdf#
52022031NOA_Notice of Amendment_06032022_(21-203026)_text.pdf, page 1Official PDFNOTICE OF AMENDMENT VIA E-MAIL TO MS. DANIKA YEAGER June 3, 2022 Ms. Danika Yeager Interim President Alyeska Pipeline Company P.O. Box 196660 Anchorage, AK 99519 CPF 5-2022-031-NOA Dear Ms. Yeager: From April 26 to April 30, 2021, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected Alyeska Pipeline Company’s (Alyeska) procedures for an integrated inspection of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) in Anchorage, Alaska. On the basis of the inspection, PHMSA has identified an apparent inadequacy found within Alyeska’s plans or procedures, as described below: 1. § 195.402 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies. (a) . . . . (c) Maintenance and normal operations. The manual required by paragraph (a) of this section must include procedures for the following to provide safety during maintenance and normal operations: (1) . . . . (3) Operating, maintaining, and repairing the pipeline system in accordance with each of the requirements of this subpart and subpart H of this part.#
52022031NOA_Notice of Amendment_06032022_(21-203026)_text.pdf, page 2Alyeska’s procedure MP-166-3.25 Atmospheric Corrosion Inspection and Monitoring (Procedure) described the inspection and monitoring of crude oil piping exposed to the atmosphere to detect and control atmospheric corrosion. The procedure was inadequate to assure the safe operation of its pipeline facilities. Specifically, Alyeska’s Procedure failed to include a process by which it could give “particular attention to pipe at soil-to-air interfaces, under thermal insulation, under disbonded coatings, at pipe supports, in splash zones, at deck penetrations, and in spans over water” in order to monitor atmospheric corrosion control, as required by § 195.583(b). Alyeska’s Procedure stated, in relevant part as follows, “[t]he Crude Mainline and Fuel Gas Pipeline ILI fulfills the atmospheric corrosion control inspection requirements for the 48” Crude and 8”/10” Fuel Gas pipelines. All above grade appurtenances are not inspected during ILI and therefore must be visually inspected per this procedure.” An In-Line Inspection (ILI) alone is inadequate to fulfill the requirements of § 195.583, as an ILI is unable to assess the condition of the pipe “at soil-to-air interfaces, under thermal insulation, under disbonded coatings, at pipe supports, in splash zones, at deck penetrations, and in spans over water”. Alyeska must amend its Procedure to ensure compliance with the requirements of § 195.583. Response to this Notice This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. Enclosed as part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. 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). Following the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised procedures, or a request for a hearing under §190.211. If you do not respond within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of your right to contest the allegations in this Notice and authorizes the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to find facts as alleged in this Notice without further notice to you and to issue an Order Directing Amendment. If your plans or procedures are found inadequate as alleged in this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans or procedures to correct the inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.206). If you are not contesting this Notice, we propose that you submit your amended procedures to my office within 90 days of receipt of this Notice. This period may be extended by written request for good cause. Once the inadequacies identified herein have been addressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement action will be closed.#
52022031NOA_Notice of Amendment_06032022_(21-203026)_text.pdf, page 3It is requested (not mandated) that Alyeska maintain documentation of the safety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision of plans, procedures) and submit the total to Dustin Hubbard, Director, Western Region, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence concerning this matter, please refer to CPF 5-2022-031-NOA and, for each document you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible. Sincerely, Dustin Hubbard Director, Western Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Enclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry PHP-500 G. St. Pierre (#21-203026) Allison Iversen, HSEC Director, APSC (via email) Alyssa Sweet, Regulatory Affairs Manager, APSC (via email)#
52022031NOA_Closure Letter_09092022_(21-203026)_text.pdf, page 1Official PDFVIA E-MAIL TO MS. ELIZABETH HAINES September 9, 2022 Ms. Elizabeth Haines Interim President Alyeska Pipeline Service Company P.O. Box 196660 Anchorage, AK 99519 CPF 5-2022-031-NOA Closure Letter Dear Ms. Haines: From April 26 to April 30, 2021, a representative from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s (Alyeska) procedures for an integrated inspection of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. As a result of the inspection, Alyeska was issued a Notice of Amendment on June 3, 2022, which proposed amendment of your procedures. Alyeska submitted its amended procedures on July 29, 2022. My staff reviewed the amended procedures, and it appears that the inadequacies outlined in this Notice of Amendment have been corrected. This letter is to inform you no further action is necessary and this case is now closed. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, Dustin Hubbard Director, Western Region Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry PHP-500 G. St. Pierre (#21-203026) Allison Iversen, HSEC Director, Alyeska (via email) Janine Boyette, Senior Compliance Manager, Alyeska (via email)#
This material provides agency context. It does not replace binding regulatory text, and its legal effect depends on the underlying authority and facts.