{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-16-0005","title":"King-Murray Company Operating LLC — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-09-09","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-16-0005 response to King-Murray Company Operating LLC concerning 192.807, 195.507.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-16-0005.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-16-0005.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-16-0005","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/Pipeline/2016/King-Murray%20Operating%20Company-PI-16-0005-09-06-2016-Parts%20192.1.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nSEP 0 6 2016\nMr. Frank M. Murray\nGeneral Manager\nKing-Murray Company Operating LLC\n29760 Hillbrook Street\nLivonia, MI 48152\nDear Mr. Murray:\nIn an April 1, 2016, letter to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration,\n(PHMSA), you requested an interpretation of PHMSA regulations to be used in ongoing\nlitigation. You stated King-Murray Operating Company, LLC (\"King-Murray\") is the defendant\nin a lawsuit brought by Florida Power and Light Company (\"FPL\") in the U.S. District Court for\nthe Southern District of Florida. You further stated FPL is seeking an order to require King-\nMurray to tum over training records and that King-Murray has brought counterclaims. In\naddition, you stated King-Murray believes that under PHMSA regulations and the rules of the\nFlorida Public Services Commission King-Murray is required to retain these records. You asked\nfor a \"written or verbal opinion from PHMSA upon which King-Murray can rely upon for\nclarification of the regulations in the Case.\"\nOn April 12, 2016, PHMSA received a letter from Charles L. Schlumberger, counsel for FPL\nand NextEra Energy Pipeline Services, LLC (\"NEPS\"). Mr. Schlumberger requested that\nPHMSA refrain from providing the opinion you requested. Alternatively, he requested he be\nable to respond on behalf of FPL and NEPS should PHMSA decide to \"move forward\" on your\nrequest.\nPHMSA interprets your request for a \"written or verbal opinion from PHMSA upon which King-\nMurray can rely upon for clarification of the regulations in the Case\" as a request for a PHMSA\nemployee to provide expert testimony in the ongoing litigation between King-Murray and FPL.\nHowever, 49 C.F.R. § 9.9(c) prohibits any DOT employee from testifying in legal proceedings\nbetween private litigants \"as an expert or opinion witness with regard to any matter arising out of\nthe employee's official duties or functions of the Department.\" See also 49 C.F.R. § 9.3\n(defining \"testimony\" as \"any written or oral statement by a witness\"). Accordingly, PHMSA\ncannot grant your request at this time.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n2\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nShould you have any questions, please contact Aaron Glaser, an Attorney-Advisor in my office,\nat (202) 366-6318 or aaron.glaser@dot.gov.\nTeresa A. Gonsalves\nChief Counsel\ncc: Charles L. Schlumberger, Senior Litigation Counsel, Florida Power & Light Company, 700\nUniverse Boulevard, Juno Beach, Florida, 33408-0420\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nK-M\nKING-MURRAY COMPANY OPERATING LLC\nFuel Infrastructure Operations & Maintenance\nPHYSICAL ADDRESS:\n29760 HILLBROOK ST\nLIVONIA, MI 48152\nPHONE: 313-617-5771\n29760 HILLBROOK ST\nMAILING ADDRESS:\nLIVONIA, MI 48152\nApril 1, 2016\nMr. Wayne T. Lemoi\nNational Safety Coordinator\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPAMSA\n233 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 600\nAtlanta, Georgia 30303\nVia e-mail:\nwayne.lemoi@dot.gov\nRe: Operator Qualification Records\nMr. Lemoi,\nKing-Murray Operating Company, LLC (\"King-Murray\"), OPID 38917, is providing\noperations and maintenance services as a contractor for NRG Energy's Osceola\nPipeline in Florida. Until October 2015, King-Murray provided pipeline operations\nand maintenance services as a contractor for Florida Power and Light Company\n(\"FPL.\"), at which time FPL allegedly terminated King-Murray's contract and had\nFPL's affiliate company Nextera Energy Pipeline Services LLC (\"Nextera\") begin\nperforming the operations and maintenance services.\nFPL has sought an injunction against King-Murray in the US District Court, Southern\nFlorida, West Palm Beach Division in Case Number 9:16-cv-80259-DMM (\"Case\") in\norder to take possession of all of King-Murray Operator Qualification Training\nRecords. King-Murray has counter-sued FPL to retain its training records, as well as\nfor violation of affiliate rules, breach of contract, fraud, negligence, conspiracy and\nother infractions. These are training and qualification records for King-Murray\npersonnel that perform work on the NRG owned pipeline and previously performed\nwork on the FPL owned facilities. Attached is an example of information that King-\nMurray has provided to FPL and is willing to provide to FPL, however, FPL has\ndeclared that this is insufficient even though FPL accepts similar reports from other\ncontractors.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nKing-Murray is vigorously defending the action brought against it. King-Murray\nbelieves that it must retain those Operator Qualifications for the personnel that\nwere trained by King-Murray, both present and former King-Murray personnel\nsince King-Murray is still providing services for NR Energy and must retain its\nrecords for a minimum five-year period as specified in FPSC Rule 25-12 and 49 CFR\nPart 192.807 and 49 CFR Part 195.507 for services provided to FPL..\nFPL's latest filing in the Case and arguments before the US District Court, leads King-\nMurray to believe that FPL and Nextera are suing King-Murray for possession of its\noperator qualification records because FPL and Nextera did not train or qualify their\npersonnel, some of which were former King-Murray personnel, when FPL and\nNextera began operations of the FPL owned facilities in October 2015. Rather than\ntrain their new employees, FPL and Nextera are presently relying solely upon the\npersonnel's work history with King-Murray Operating in violation of the 0Q\nrequirements contained in 49 CFR Part 192.809. King-Murray has provided FPL\nwith a summary of qualifications for each of King-Murray's current and former\nemployees, listing the person, the covered tasks and the date upon which the\nqualification will expire.\nKing-Murray is requesting clarification and affirmation that as an operator\nproviding operations and maintenance services to an owner that it must retain\nthese records or be in violation of FPSC Rule 25-12 and 49 CFR Part 192. King-\nMurray has informed FPL that it would make its records available to PHMSA or\nother regulatory agency for inspection during an audit if requested. A written or\nverbal opinion from PHMSA upon which King-Murray can rely upon for clarification\nof the regulations in the Case on or before April 18, 2016 would be greatly\nappreciated.\nSincerely,\nFrank M. Murray\nGeneral Manager\nAttachment\nCc: Mr. Rick Moses, FPSC, Bureau of Safety Chief RMoses@PSC.STATE.FL.US\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nCourse Type Certificate Description Certificate Score Date Expiration Date User Name Employee Id\nTNG 195-0000 Documentation & Reporting MEA1363 8/13/14 8/12/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0060 (CT60) e-TNG General Abnormal Operating Conditions MEA1485 8/13/14 8/12/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0060 (CT60) KNT General Abnormal Operating Conditions MEA1484 8/13/14 8/12/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT & TNG 195-0060 CT-60 General Abnormal Operating Conditions MEA11862 8/13/14 8/12/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0403 Corrosion Monitoring - Internal MEA1243 11/7/14 11/6/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0403 Corrosion Monitoring - Internal MEA1358 11/7/14 11/6/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0404 Prevention of Atmospheric Corrosion MEA1359 12/15/14 12/14/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0405 MEAsure Wall Thickness Of Pipe MEA1245 12/16/14 12/15/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0405 MEAsure Wall Thickness Of Pipe MEA1360 12/16/14 12/15/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0406 Inspect Internal Pipe Surfaces MEA1246 12/16/14 12/15/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0406 Inspect Internal Pipe Surfaces MEA1361 12/16/14 12/15/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nPEF 195-0407 Application & Repair of External Coatings MEA1198 11/13/14 11/12/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0407 Application & Repair of External Coatings MEA1247 8/15/14 8/14/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0407 Application & Repair of External Coatings MEA1362 8/15/14 8/14/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0501 Cathodic Protection Systems: Rectifier Maintenance And Repair MEA1364 1/16/15 1/15/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0501 Cathodic Protection: Rectifier Maintenance And Repair MEA1248 1/16/15 1/15/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0503 Cathodic Protection Systems MEA1249 1/19/15 1/18/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0503 Cathodic Protection Systems: Maintain Test Leads MEA1365 1/19/15 1/18/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0505 Cathodic Protection Systems: Inspect Cathodic Protection Rectifier MEA1366 11/6/14 11/5/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0505 Cathodic Protection Systems: Inspect Rectifier MEA1250 11/6/14 11/5/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0515 Cathodic Protection Systems: Conduct Cathodic Protect. Remediation MEA1369 1/14/15 1/13/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0515 Cathodic Protection Systems: Conduct Cathodic Protection Remediation MEA1253 1/14/15 1/13/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0721 CT-0721 KNT Joining of Pipe: Threaded Joints MEA11859 1/19/15 1/18/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0804 Inspection After Excavation Activities & Leak Survey After Blasting MEA1255 5/11/15 5/10/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0804 Inspection After Excavation Activities & Leak Survey After Blasting MEA1371 5/5/15 5/4/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nPEF 195-0808 Inspect Buried Pipe When Exposed MEA1209 1/30/15 1/29/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0808 Inspect Buried Pipe When Exposed MEA1258 11/19/14 11/18/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0808 Inspect Buried Pipe When Exposed MEA1374 11/19/14 11/18/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nPEF 195-0809 Inspect, Test and Calibrate Overfill Protective Devices MEA1210 1/30/15 1/29/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-0809 Inspect, Test and Calibrate Overfill Protective Devices MEA1259 11/7/14 11/6/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-0809 Inspect, Test and Calibrate Overfill Protective Devices MEA1375 11/7/14 11/6/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nPEF 195-1301 Conduct Pressure Test MEA1215 1/31/15 1/30/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-1301 Conduct Pressure Test MEA1264 11/7/14 11/6/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-1301 Conduct Pressure Test MEA1380 11/7/14 11/6/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nPEF 195-1402BF Backfilling a Trench Following Maintenance MEA1217 11/20/14 11/19/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-1402BF Backfilling a Trench Following Maintenance MEA1266 11/19/14 11/18/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-1402BF Backfilling a Trench Following Maintenance MEA1382 11/19/14 11/18/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nPEF 195-1414PS Operations of a Pipeline System (Pipeline) MEA1223 1/30/15 1/29/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-1414PS Operations of a Pipeline System (Pipeline) MEA1272 1/30/15 1/29/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-1414PS Operations of a Pipeline System (Pipeline) MEA1388 1/30/15 1/29/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nPEF 195-1806 Inspect, Test and Calibrate Pressure Limiting Devices MEA1233 1/29/15 1/28/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-1806 Inspect, Test and Calibrate Pressure Limiting Devices MEA1282 11/7/14 11/6/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-1806 Inspect, Test and Calibrate Pressure Limiting Devices MEA1398 11/7/14 11/6/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nPEF 195-1807 Inspect, Test and Calibrate Pressure Switches and Transmitters MEA1234 1/31/15 1/30/18 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-1807 Inspect, Test and Calibrate Pressure Switches and Transmitters MEA1283 10/27/14 10/26/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-1807 Inspect, Test and Calibrate Pressure Switches and Transmitters MEA1399 10/27/14 10/26/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nKNT 195-1808 Programmable Logic Controllers MEA1284 11/6/14 11/5/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9\nTNG 195-1808 Programmable Logic Controllers MEA1400 11/6/14 11/5/17 Zeiszler, Mike 9","truncated":false,"body_characters":11385}