{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 52023028NOA","title":"AMERIGAS PROPANE LP — Notice of Amendment","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2023-04-18","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.303, 192.605(b)(1).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52023028noa.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52023028noa.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52023028noa","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/52023028NOA","body":"Notice of Amendment involving AMERIGAS PROPANE LP. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.303,  192.605(b)(1). The case was opened on 2023-04-18 and is reported as closed as of 2023-05-03. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n52023028NOA_Closure Letter_05032023_(22-251181).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52023028NOA/52023028NOA_Closure%20Letter_05032023_(22-251181).pdf\n\n52023028NOA_Closure Letter_05032023_(22-251181)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52023028NOA/52023028NOA_Closure%20Letter_05032023_(22-251181)_text.pdf\n\n52023028NOA_Notice of Amendment_04182023_(22-251181).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52023028NOA/52023028NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_04182023_(22-251181).pdf\n\n52023028NOA_Notice of Amendment_04182023_(22-251181)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52023028NOA/52023028NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_04182023_(22-251181)_text.pdf\n\n52023028NOA_Operator Response to Notice_04262023_(22-251181).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52023028NOA/52023028NOA_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_04262023_(22-251181).pdf\n\n52023028NOA_Notice of Amendment_04182023_(22-251181)_text.pdf\n\nNOTICE OF AMENDMENT\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: kelleherk@ugicorp.com\nApril 18, 2023\nMr. Kevin Kelleher\nVice President, Operations\nAmeriGas Propane LP\n460 N. Gulph Rd.\nKing of Prussia, PA 19406\nCPF 5-2023-028-NOA\nDear Mr. Kelleher:\nFrom November 2 through December 8, 2022, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code\n(U.S.C.), conducted a virtual inspection of AmeriGas’s procedures for operations and\nmaintenance of their liquified petroleum distribution systems in Hawaii.\nAs a result of the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacies within\nAmeriGas’s specifications and procedures. The items inspected and the inadequacies are\ndescribed below:\n1. § 192.303 Compliance with specifications or standards.\nEach transmission line or main must be constructed in accordance with\ncomprehensive written specifications or standards that are consistent with this part.\nAmeriGas failed to prepare a written specification for the construction of mains that is consistent\nwith the requirements of 49 CFR 192. AmeriGas's plastic pipe construction specification is\nfound within their \"Pipeline Safety Operations and Maintenance Manual\" (Rev. January 2022)\n(specifically the section within that document titled \"Plastic Pipe\"). This document does not\ninclude the specific requirements for mechanical fittings described in 49 CFR 192.281(e)(3) and\n\n\n\n(4). AmeriGas exclusively uses mechanical stab fittings for the construction, replacement, or\nrepair of plastic pipe and, therefore, must amend this document to ensure the fittings they use are\nconsistent with the requirements 49 CFR 192.281(e)(3) and (4).\n2. § 192.605 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies.\n(a) . . . .\n(b) Maintenance and normal operations. The manual required by paragraph (a) of\nthis section must include procedures for the following, if applicable, to provide\nsafety during maintenance and operations.\n(1) Operating, maintaining, and repairing the pipeline in accordance with each of\nthe requirements of this subpart and subpart M of this part.\nAmeriGas’s operations and maintenance manual lacked adequate procedures for repairing\npipeline leaks in accordance with subpart M. Specifically, the \"Pipeline Safety Operations and\nMaintenance Manual\" (Rev. January 2022) did not prohibit the use of mechanical leak clamps as\na permanent repair per 49 CFR 192.720. AmeriGas must amend this document to ensure that\nmechanical leak clamps are not used as a permanent repair method for plastic pipe.\nResponse to this Notice\nThis Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. Enclosed as\npart of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in\nCompliance Proceedings.\nPlease refer to this document and note the response options. 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\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).\nFollowing the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised\nprocedures, or a request for a hearing under §190.211. If you do not respond within 30 days of\nreceipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of your right to contest the allegations in this\nNotice and authorizes the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to find facts as alleged in\nthis Notice without further notice to you and to issue an Order Directing Amendment. If your\nplans or procedures are found inadequate, as alleged in this Notice, you may be ordered to amend\nyour plans or procedures to correct the inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.206). If you are not\ncontesting this Notice, we propose that you submit your amended procedures to my office within\n90 days of receipt of this Notice. This period may be extended by written request for good\ncause. Once the inadequacies identified herein have been addressed in your amended\nprocedures, this enforcement action will be closed.\n\n\n\nIt is requested (not mandated) that AmeriGas maintain documentation of the safety improvement\ncosts associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision of plans,\nprocedures) and submit the total to Dustin Hubbard, Director, Western Region, Pipeline and\nHazardous Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence concerning this matter, please\nrefer to CPF 5-2023-028-NOA, and for each document you submit, please provide a copy in\nelectronic format whenever possible.\nSincerely,\nDustin Hubbard\nDirector, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nEnclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 J. Gano (#22-251181)\nDavid Hedrick, AmeriGas Propane LP (david.hedrick@amerigas.com)\n\n52023028NOA_Closure Letter_05032023_(22-251181)_text.pdf\n\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: kelleherk@ugicorp.com\nMay 3, 2023\nMr. Kevin Kelleher\nVice President, Operations\nAmeriGas Propane LP\n460 N. Gulph Rd.\nKing of Prussia, PA 19406\nCPF 5-2023-028-NOA\nClosure Letter\nDear Mr. Kelleher:\nFrom November 2 through December 8, 2022, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.), conducted\na virtual inspection of AmeriGas’s procedures for operations and maintenance of their liquified petroleum\ndistribution systems in Hawaii. As a result of the inspection, AmeriGas Propane, L.P. was issued a Notice\nof Amendment on April 18, 2023, which proposed amendment of your procedures.\nAmeriGas Propane, L.P submitted its amended procedures on April 26, 2023. My staff reviewed the\namended procedures, and it appears that the inadequacies outlined in this Notice of Amendment have\nbeen corrected.\nThis letter is to inform you no further action is necessary and this case is now closed. Thank you for your\ncooperation.\nSincerely,\nDustin Hubbard\nDirector, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 J. Gano (#22-251181)\nDavid Hedrick, AmeriGas Propane LP (david.hedrick@amerigas.com)","truncated":false,"body_characters":7840}