{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA-2016-0007","title":"EL Paso Natural Gas Company, L.L.C. — Pipeline Special Permit","source_type":"permit","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"current","official":true,"published_on":"2016-09-01","effective_on":"2016-09-01","summary":"PHMSA-2016-0007, issued 2016-09-01 for EL Paso Natural Gas Company, L.L.C.'s gas transmission system.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-special-permit-phmsa-2016-0007.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-special-permit-phmsa-2016-0007.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-special-permit-phmsa-2016-0007","source_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docket/PHMSA-2016-0007","body":"PHMSA pipeline special permit PHMSA-2016-0007. Operator: EL Paso Natural Gas Company, L.L.C.. System: Gas Transmission. Issue date: 2016-09-01. Renewal: Mar 17, 2023.\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nSpecial Permit Analysis and Findings\nClass 1 to 3 Location\nSpecial Permit Information:\nDocket Number: PHMSA-2016-0007\nRequested By: El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC\nOperator ID#: 4280\nOriginal Date Requested: January 11, 2016\n1st Renewal Issuance Date: March 17, 2023\nCode Section(s): 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d), 192.619(a), and 192.5\nPurpose:\nThe Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) provides this\ninformation to describe the facts of the subject special permit application submitted by El Paso\nNatural Gas Company, LLC1 (EPNG), to discuss any relevant public comments received with\nrespect to the application, to present the engineering/safety analysis of the special permit\napplication, and to make findings regarding whether the requested special permit should be\ngranted and if so under what conditions. EPNG requests that PHMSA waive compliance from\n49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 192.611(a) and (d), 192.619(a), and 192.5 for 16 special\npermit segments of approximately 4.214 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline segments.\nPipeline System Affected:\nThis special permit request applies to 16 special permit segments of natural gas transmission\npipeline operated by EPNG and located in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas where\na change has occurred from an original Class 1 location to a Class 3 location. This special\npermit allows EPNG to continue to operate the 16 pipeline segments and 4.214 miles at their\n1 El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC (EPNG) is owned by Kinder Morgan, Inc.\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 1 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\ncurrent maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) shown in pounds per square inch gauge\n(psig).\nSpecial Permit Request:\nEPNG applied to PHMSA on March 4, 2021, for a renewal of a previously granted special\npermit seeking relief from the Federal pipeline safety regulations in 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d),\n192.619(a), and 192.5 for 16 segments and 4.214 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline as\ndescribed in Appendix A of the Special Permit Conditions. The special permit segments are\nlocated in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and are identified using EPNG station\nreferences of mile post (MP) and station (SS).\nSpecial permit segments are divided into two (2) categories: Type A special permit segments\nand Type B special permit segments.\n• Type A special permit segments include those special permit segments as described in\nTable 1 – Type A Special Permit Segments, where there is a cluster, as described in 49\nCFR 192.5(c), of more than 10 buildings intended for human occupancy in a “class\nlocation unit” and for which the MAOP has not been confirmed in accordance with 49\nCFR 192.611(a) or where the pipe installed has been identified to have a seam type or\nmanufacturer type that is problematic for maintaining pipeline integrity. Type A special\npermit segments total approximately 0.618 miles (3,262.41 feet) of pipe in this proposed\nspecial permit renewal. Type A special permit segments must meet Condition 1(d) and\nConditions 8(b)(i) and (c) of the Special Permit Conditions.\nTable 1 – Type A Special Permit Segments\nSpecial\nPermit\nOutside\nLine\nDiameter\nSegment\nNumber2\nName\n(inches)\nSegment\nLength\n(feet)3\nStart Survey\nStation\nEnd Survey\nStation\nCounty, State No.\nDwellings\nYear\nSeam\nExternal\nInstalled\nType\nCoating\n(MP - SS)\n(MP - SS)\n4 (KM 15) 26 1100 250.23 0471 – 4897 0471 – 5199 Pima, AZ 2 1947 FW CTE 21 (KM 173) 30 1300 831.24 0386 – 3866 0386 – 4697 McKinley, NM 1 1954 FW CTE 25 (KM 281) 26 1100 2,180.94 0204 – 3749 0205 – 648 El Paso, TX 2 1947 FW CTE Note: FW is a flash welded pipe longitudinal seam.\n2 EPNG has not elected to request a renewal for special permit segments 6 (KM 21), 7 (KM 22), 8 (KM 23), 9\n(KM 24), 10 (KM 25), 11 (KM 26), 12 (KM 27), 14 (KM 29), 15 (KM 30), 20 (KM 172), 22 (KM 174), 23 (KM\n175), and 24 (KM 176). These segments must now meet the requirements of 49 CFR 192.611(a).\n3 Differences between the actual length and what is calculated from the begin and end station is due to station\nequations.\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 2 of 13\nMAOP\n(psig)\n809\n836\n809\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nCTE is coal tar enamel pipe coating type.\n• Type B special permit segments include those special permit segments where there is a\ncluster, as described in 49 CFR 192.5(c), of 10 or fewer buildings intended for human\noccupancy in a “class location unit” and the MAOP has not been confirmed in\naccordance with 49 CFR 192.611. Type B special permit segments total approximately\n3.596 miles (18,985.84 feet) of pipe as described in Table 2 – Type B Special Permit\nSegments.\nTable 2 – Type B Special Permit Segments\nSpecial\nPermit\nOutside\nLine\nDiameter\nName\nLength\n(feet)\nStart Survey\nStation\nEnd Survey\nStation\nCounty or\nParish, State\nNo.\nYear\nSeam\nExternal\nSegment\nNumber4\nDwellings\nInstalled\nType\nCoating\n(inches)\n(MP - SS)\n(MP - SS)\n1 (KM 11) 26 1100 1,412.75 0428 – 5065 0429 – 1197 Cochise, AZ 1 1947 SMLS CTE 2 (KM 12) 26 1100 3,381.29 0430 – 1109 0430 – 4491 Cochise, AZ 6 1947 SMLS CTE 3 (KM 13) 26 1100 1,456.14 0445 – 4824 0446 – 1047 Cochise, AZ 1 1947 SMLS CTE 5 (KM 17) 30 1103 1,448.51 0445 – 4670 0446 – 1038 Cochise, AZ 1 1950 DSAW CTE 13 (KM 28) 34 1204 2,454.82 0254 – 241 0254 – 2696 Coconino, AZ 6 1956 DSAW CTE 16 (KM 31) 36 1208 1,371.77 0254 – 1272 0254 – 2644 Coconino, AZ 1 1992 DSAW FBE 17 (KM 169) 24 1200 87.04 0000 – 5193 0000 – 5280 San Juan, NM 0 1950 DSAW CTE 18 (KM 170) 24 1200 620.54 0002 – 3859 0002 – 4479 San Juan, NM 3 1950 DSAW CTE 19 (KM 171) 24 1201 2,571.93 0002 – 1677 0002 – 4256 San Juan, NM 9 1966 DSAW CTE 26 (KM 282) 30 1103 710.25 0204 – 3758 0204 – 4469 El Paso, TX 1 1950 DSAW CTE 27 (KM 283) 30 1103 924.93 0204 – 5009 0205 – 657 El Paso, TX 1 1950 DSAW CTE 28 (KM 284) 30 2000 1,182.64 0816 – 2998 0816 – 4180 El Paso, TX 1 2003 DSAW FBE 29 (KM 285) 30 2000 1,363.23 0816 – 4218 0817 – 468 3 2003 DSAW FBE El Paso, TX Note: DSAW is double submerged arc welded pipe longitudinal seam.\nSMLS is seamless longitudinal seam.\nFBE is fusion bonded epoxy pipe coating type.\n• The special permit inspection areas are defined as the one (1) mile continuous segment\non both sides of the special permit segment plus the footage in the special permit\nsegment. Table 3 – Type A Special Permit Inspection Areas and Table 4 – Type B\nSpecial Permit Inspection Areas list the boundaries for the special permit inspection\narea associated with each special permit segment. The EPNG special permit inspection\nareas total 36.36 miles of pipe.\n4 Type B special permit segment 6 (KM 21) had been Federal Register Noticed in the renewal request. On\nJanuary 6, 2023, EPNG requested the removal of this special permit segment as it is no longer classified as a\nClass 3 location due to a decrease in dwellings for human occupancy near special permit segment 6 (KM 21).\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 3 of 13\nMAOP\n(psig)\n837\n837\n837\n837\n894\n845\n845\n845\n845\n809\n809\n944\n944\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nTable 3 – Type A Special Permit Inspection Areas\nOutside\nInspection Area\nSpecial Permit\nDiameter\nLine Name Segment Number\nInspection Area Start\n(MP – SS)\nInspection Area End\n(MP – SS)\n4 (KM 15) (inches)\n26 1100 0470 – 4962 0472 – 5211 Length\n(Miles)\n2.06\n21 (KM 173) 30 1300 0385 – 3934 0387 – 4968 2.21\n25 (KM 281) 26 1100 0203 – 3740 0206 – 645 2.41\nTable 4 – Type B Special Permit Inspection Areas\nOutside\nSpecial Permit\nSegment Number\nDiameter\nLine Name Inspection Area Start\n(MP – SS)\nInspection Area End\n(MP – SS)\nInspection Area\nLength (Miles)\n(inches)\n1 (KM 11) 26 1100 0427 – 5049 0430 - 786 2.27\n2 (KM 12) 26 1100 0429 – 1520 0431 – 4892 2.64\n3 (KM 13) 26 1100 0444 – 4626 0447 – 350 2.28\n5 (KM 17) 30 1103 0444 – 4886 0447 – 373 2.27\n13 (KM 28) 34 1204 0253 – 248 0255 – 2885 2.46\n16 (KM 31) 36 1208 0253 – 1377 0255 – 2974 2.26\n17 (KM 169) 24 1200 0000 – 0 0001 – 5593 2.06\n18 (KM 170) 24 1200 0001 – 4270 0004 – 430 2.16\n19 (KM 171) 24 1201 0001 – 2082 0004 – 206 2.49\n26 (KM 282) 30 1103 0203 – 3792 0205 – 4472 2.13\n27 (KM 283) 30 1103 0203 – 5043 0206 – 549 2.18\n28 (KM 284) 30 2000 0815 – 3072 0817 – 4346 2.22\n29 (KM 285) 30 2000 0815 – 4293 0818 – 542 2.26\nSubsequent to the issuance of this special permit, those special permit segments that have been\npressure tested or replaced such that the MAOP has been made commensurate with the present\nclass location as defined in 49 CFR 192.611 would no longer be included in this special permit.\nThis special permit allows EPNG to continue to operate the special permit segments at their\ncurrent maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) until either replaced, hydrostatically\ntested, or operated in accordance with the special permit conditions. The Federal pipeline safety\nregulations in 49 CFR 192.611(a) require natural gas pipeline operators to confirm or revise the\nMAOP of a pipeline segment after a change in class location. A special permit would allow\nEPNG to continue to operate each of the 16 special permit segments at their existing MAOP’s\ndespite a change in class location for the special permit specified time interval.\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 4 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nPublic Notice:\nOn May 27, 2022, PHMSA posted a notice of this special permit request in the Federal Register\n(87 FR 32231) with a closing date of June 27, 2022. PHMSA has reviewed all public comments\nreceived for Docket Number PHMSA-2016-0007. PHMSA received public comments\nconcerning this special permit request that have been addressed in the Final Environmental\nAssessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FEA and FONSI).\nThe EPNG special permit application letter, Federal Register notice, Final Environmental\nAssessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and all other pertinent documents are available\nfor review in Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0007 in the Federal Docket Management System\n(FDMS) located at www.Regulations.gov.\nAnalysis:\nBackground: On June 29, 2004, PHMSA published in the Federal Register (69 FR 38948) the\ncriteria it uses for the consideration of class location change waivers, now being granted through\nspecial permits. First, certain threshold requirements must be met for a pipeline section to be\nfurther evaluated for a class location change special permit. Second, the age and manufacturing\nprocess of the pipe; system design and construction; environmental, operating and maintenance\nhistories; and integrity management program elements are evaluated as significant criteria.\nThese significant criteria are presented in matrix form and can be reviewed in the FDMS, Docket\nNumber PHMSA–RSPA-2004-17401. Third, such special permits will only then be granted\nwhen pipe conditions and the operator’s integrity management program provides a level of safety\nequal to a pipe replacement or pressure reduction.\nThreshold Requirements: Each of the threshold requirements published by PHMSA in the\nJune 29, 2004, Federal Register notice is discussed below in regards to the EPNG special permit\npetition.\n1) No pipeline segments in a class location changing to Class 4 location will be considered.\nThis special permit request is for 16 special permit segments on the EPNG pipeline system\nwhere a class location change has occurred from Class 1 to Class 3 locations as defined in 49\nCFR 192.5(c) for cluster locations and segments outside the cluster (and inside the sliding\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 5 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nmile for the class location) where an additional dwelling(s) have been identified. EPNG has\nmet this requirement.\n2) No bare pipe will be considered. These EPNG special permit segments are coated with an\nexternal protective coating. EPNG has met this requirement.\n3) No pipe containing wrinkle bends will be considered. There are no wrinkle bends in the\nspecial permit segments. EPNG has met this requirement.\n4) No pipe segments operating above 72% of the specified minimum yield strength (SMYS)\nwill be considered for a Class 3 special permit. The special permit segments operate at or\nbelow 72% SMYS. EPNG has met this requirement.\n5) Records must be produced that show a hydrostatic test to at least 1.25 x maximum allowable\noperating pressure (MAOP). EPNG will pressure test any segments that do not meet this\nrequirement through the special permit conditions.\n6) In-line inspection (ILI) must have been performed with no significant anomalies identified\nthat indicate systemic problems. EPNG will meet this requirement through the special\npermit conditions.\n7) Criteria for consideration of class location change waiver, now being granted through special\npermits, published by PHMSA in the Federal Register (69 FR 38948), define a waiver\ninspection area (special permit inspection area) as up to 25 miles of pipe either side of the\nwaiver segment (special permit segment). The special permit inspection area must be\ninspected according to EPNG’s integrity management program and periodically inspected\nwith an in-line inspection technique. The special permit inspection area extends one-mile\nout from either side of the special permit segments and the Class location 3 sliding mile.\nThis additional length was used since the Type B areas that are not being replaced are\nlocations with 10 or fewer buildings intended for human occupancy in a “class location unit”\nand are outside the original “cluster area.\n” This special permit is contingent upon EPNG’s\nincorporation of each of the special permit segments in its written integrity management\nprogram as a “covered segment” in a “high consequence area” (HCA) per 49 CFR 192.903.\nCriteria Matrix: The original and supplemental data submitted by EPNG for the special permit\nsegment have been compared to the class location change special permit criteria matrix. The\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 6 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nspecial permit segments fall in the probable acceptance column of the criteria matrix for all\ncriteria except for:\n• Possible acceptance – pipe coating and several leaks within 20-miles of the special\npermit segment.\n• Requires substantial justification - pipe manufacture and pipe material\nThe data findings below fall within the “possible acceptance and requires substantial\njustification” columns of the criteria matrix:\n1) Pipe design and construction, including pipe manufacture, material and design stress:\n• EPNG pipeline special permit segments have:\no Pipe manufactured with the following pipe seams: low-frequency electric\nresistance welded, flash welded, seamless, and double submerged arc welded.\no Pipe coatings included: coal tar enamel and fusion bonded epoxy.\no Pipe design stress was 72% specified minimum yield strength or lower.\no Several leaks within 20-miles of the special permit segment: EPNG will be\nrequired to conduct a stress corrosion cracking assessment (SCCDA) of the\nspecial permit segments to evaluate where the risk of stress corrosion cracking\n(SCC) is present. EPNG will be required to implement a plan to improve\ncathodic protection reliability and perform inspections for SCC during\nexcavations.\n• To further address pipe manufacturing, material, construction, pipe coating, SCCDA, and\npossible pipe leak issues, this special permit will include conditions requiring EPNG to\ntreat all special permit segments as “covered segments” in an HCA per 49 CFR 192.903.\n• EPNG will also be required to perform ILI assessments, anomaly repairs, close interval\nsurveys, identify any pipeline segment that may be susceptible to pipe seam issues\nbecause of the vintage of the pipe, the manufacturing process of the pipe, or other issues\nand SCCDA along the entire length of the special permit inspection areas and special\npermit segments according to the requirements of 49 CFR 192.929 after the grant of this\nspecial permit.\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 7 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\n• This special permit will include a condition that EPNG must continue to operate each\nspecial permit segment at or below its existing MAOP.\nPHMSA has determined that imposing the special permit conditions will address these concerns\nand provide equivalent safety for these areas.\nOperational Integrity Compliance:\nTo inform PHMSA’s decision about whether a special permit could provide a level of safety\ngreater than or equal to a pipe replacement or pressure reduction and is consistent with pipeline\nsafety, PHMSA reviewed this special permit request to understand the known type of integrity\nthreats that are in the special permit segments and special permit inspection areas. This\nintegrity information was used to consider special permit conditions to provide a systematic\nprogram to review and remediate the pipeline for safety concerns. Additional operational\nintegrity review and remediation requirements are required by this special permit to ensure that\nthe operator has an ongoing program to locate and remediate safety threats. These threats to\nintegrity and safety include any issues with the pipe coating quality, cathodic protection\neffectiveness, operations damage prevention program, pipe depth of soil cover, weld seam and\ngirth weld integrity, anomalies in the pipe steel and welds, and material and structures either\nalong or near the pipeline that could cause the cathodic protection system to be ineffective.\nPHMSA has carefully designed a comprehensive set of conditions that EPNG must implement to\ncomply with this special permit.\nPast Enforcement History – January 1, 2011 through July 31, 2022:\nDuring January 1, 2011 through July 31, 2022, EPNG was cited in 18 enforcement actions with a total\nof $307,400 in assessed civil penalties. PHMSA issued one (1) Corrective Action Order, three (3)\nNotice of Amendments, five (5) Notice of Probable Violations, and nine (9) Warning Letters to EPNG\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 8 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\n. Tables 5 and 6 below shows PHMSA’s enforcement actions and civil penalties for EPNG:\nTable 5: EPNG Enforcement Matters from\nJanuary 1, 2011 through July 31, 2022\nNotice of\nStatus Corrective\nAction Order\nNotice of\nSafety\nProbable\nAmendment\nOrder\nWarning\nLetter Total\nViolation\nCLOSED 0 3 5 0 9 17\nOPEN 1 0 0 0 0 1\nTotal 1 3 5 0 9 18\nTable 6: EPNG Enforcement Civil Penalty Status\nJanuary 1, 2011 through July 31, 2022\nProposed Awaiting Order Withdrawn/Reduced Collected\n$473,800 $166,400 $307,400\nAssessed $307,400 Summary of Enforcement Findings for EPNG includes:\n• Atmospheric Corrosion Control: General and Monitoring; External Corrosion Control:\nCathodic Protection, Examination of Buried Pipe, Maintenance and Normal Operations,\nMonitoring; Internal Corrosion Control: Inspection Internal Surface; Integrity\nManagement: Continual Process Evaluation and Assessment; Maintenance: Compressor\nStations-Gas Detection, Compressor Stations-Inspection and Testing of Relief Devices,\nCompressor Stations-Storage of Combustible Materials, Line Markers, Pressure Limiting and\nRegulating Stations Inspection and Testing, Relief Devices, Patrolling, Record Keeping,\nValve Maintenance; OME Procedural Manual: General, Maintenance and Normal\nOperations; Operations: Continual Surveillance, MAOP, Odorization of Gas; Operator\nQualification: Qualification Program and Recordkeeping; Public Awareness: Develop and\nImplement Public Awareness and Documentation; Reporting: Immediate Reporting\nIncident, Filing Safety Related Conditions Reporting (SRCR);\n• 49 CFR 191.3, 191.5, 191.23, 191.25, 191.619, 92.459, 192.463, 192.465, 192.479,\n192.481, 192.605, 192.613, 192.616, 192.619, 192.625, 192.705, 192.707, 192.709,\n192.731, 192.735, 192.736, 192.739, 192.743, 192.745, 192.805, 192.807, and 192.937.\nTable 7 below shows PHMSA’s enforcement actions and civil penalties for EPNG and the specific 49\nCFR Parts 191 and 192 violations:\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 9 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 10>>>\n\nTable 7: Summary of Enforcement Findings from EPNG\nJanuary 1, 2011 to July 31, 2022\nNotice of Amendment\nOME Procedural Manual 2 Public Awareness 4\nNotice of Amendment Total: 6\nNotice of Probable Violation\nCorrosion Control 3 OME Procedural Manual 1 Operation and/or Maintenance 5\nOperator Qualifications 1 Public Awareness 1 Reporting 1\nNotice of Probable Violation Total: 12\nWarning Letter\nCorrosion Control 12 OME Procedural Manual 9 Operation and/or Maintenance 27\nOperator Qualifications 3 Public Awareness 4 Reporting 3\nWarning Letter Total: 58\nGrand Total: 24\nSummary of Enforcement Findings for the Kinder Morgan Gas Pipelines Companies - CIG,\nEPNG, NGPL, SNG, Tejas, and TGP:\nFrom January 1, 2011, through July 31, 2022, Kinder Morgan, the operator of SNG, was cited in 64\nenforcement actions with a total of $1,077,800 in assessed civil penalties on its Colorado Interstate\nGas Company (CIG), El Paso Natural Gas Company (EPNG), Natural Gas Pipeline of America\n(NGPL), Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG), Tejas Pipeline (Tejas), and Tennessee Gas Pipeline\nCompany (TGP) pipeline systems. PHMSA issued seventeen (17) Notice of Amendments, twenty-two\n(22) Notices of Probable Violations, twenty-two (22) Warning Letters, one (1) Safety Order, and nine\n(9) Corrective Action Orders to Kinder Morgan.\nTables 8 and 9 below show PHMSA’s enforcement actions and civil penalties for Kinder\nMorgan on these pipeline systems – CIG, EPNG, NGPL, SNG, Tejas, and TGP - with operator\nidentification numbers (OPID#) 2564, 4280, 13120, 18516, 4900, and 19160.\nTable 8: Kinder Morgan Enforcement Matters from\nJanuary 1, 2011 through July 31, 2022\nNotice of\nStatus Corrective\nAction Order\nNotice of\nSafety\nProbable\nAmendment\nOrder\nWarning\nLetter Total\nViolation\nCLOSED 5 17 22 1 22 67\nOPEN 4 0 0 0 0 4\nTotal 9 17 22 1 22 71\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 10 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 11>>>\n\nTable 9: Kinder Morgan Enforcement Civil Penalty Status\nJanuary 1, 2011 through July 31, 2022\nProposed Awaiting Order Assessed Withdrawn/Reduced Collected\n$1,461,500 $0 $1,077,800 $383,700 $1,077,800\nThe type of 49 CFR Part 192 enforcement violations against Kinder Morgan on these six (6)\npipeline systems from January 1, 2011 through July 31, 2022 were as follows:\nSummary of Enforcement Findings for CIG, EPNG, NGPL, SNG, Tejas, and TGP\nincludes:\n• Atmospheric Corrosion Control: General and Monitoring; Construction: Compliance with\nStandards; Control Room Management: Alarm Management, Fatigue Mitigation, and Roles\nand Responsibilities; Design: Compressor Station Design and Construction, Pressure\nRelieving and Limiting Stations, and Supports and Anchors; External Corrosion Control:\nCathodic Protection, Examination of Buried Pipe, Maintenance and Normal Operations,\nMonitoring, Protective Coating, and Test Stations; Gas Transportation: Conversion of\nService, and Underground Natural Gas Storage; Internal Corrosion Control: General,\nInspection Internal Surface, and Records; Integrity Management: Addressing Integrity\nIssues, Continual Process Evaluation and Assessment, High Consequence Area\nIdentification, Preventative and Mitigative Measures, Program Elements, and Threat\nIdentification; Maintenance: Compressor Stations-Gas Detection, Compressor Stations-\nInspection and Testing of Relief Devices, Compressor Stations-Storage of Combustible\nMaterials, Leak Surveys, Line Markers, Permanent Field Repair of Damage, Pressure\nLimiting and Regulating Stations Inspection and Testing, Relief Devices, Patrolling, Record\nKeeping, and Valve Maintenance; OME Procedural Manual: Emergency Plans, General,\nMaintenance and Normal Operations, Safety Related Conditions Reporting (SRCR);\nOperations: Change in Class Location, Continual Surveillance, Emergency Plans, General,\nMAOP, Odorization of Gas, and Overpressure Safety Devices; Operator Qualification:\nQualification Program and Recordkeeping; Public Awareness: Develop and Implement\nPublic Awareness and Documentation; Reporting: Incident Reports, Immediate Reporting\nIncident, Filing SRCR, Offshore Pipeline Condition Report; Welding: Limitations on\nWelders, Procedures, and Qualifications.\n• 49 CFR 191.3, 191.5, 191.15, 191.22, 191.23, 191.25, 191.27, 191.605, 192.3, 192.12,\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 11 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 12>>>\n\n192.14, 192.161, 192.163, 192.199, 192.201, 192.225, 192.227, 192.229, 192.303,\n192.436, 192.459, 192.461, 192.463, 192.465, 192.469, 192.475, 192.479, 192.481,\n192.491, 192.603, 192.605, 192.611, 192.613, 192.615, 192.616, 192.619, 192.625,\n192.631, 192.705, 192.706, 192.707, 192.709, 192.713, 192.731, 192.735, 192.736,\n192.739, 192.743, 192.745, 192.805, 192.807, 192.905, 192.911, 192.917, 192.921,\n192.933, 192.935, and 192.937.\nTable 10 below gives a complete summary of the findings and the specific 49 CFR Parts 191 and 192\nviolations:\nTable 10: Summary of Enforcement Findings for\nCIG, EPNG, NGPL, SNG, Tejas, and TGP\nJanuary 1, 2011 through July 31, 2022\nNotice of Amendment\nConstruction 1 Control Room Management 4 Integrity Management 10\nOME Procedural Manual 11 Operation and/or Maintenance 2 Operator Qualification 3\nPublic Awareness 8 Reporting 3 Transportation of Gas 5\nWelding of Steel in Pipelines 3\nNotice of Amendment Total: 50\nNotice of Probable Violation\nControl Room Management 1 Corrosion Control 13 Design 2\nIntegrity Management 10 OME Procedural Manual 14 Operation and/or Maintenance 26\nOperator Qualification 7 Public Awareness 2 Reporting 5\nWelding of Steel in Pipelines 1\nNotice of Probable Violation Total: 81\nWarning Letter\nCorrosion Control 11 Design 1 Integrity Management 1\nOME Procedural Manual 10 Operation and/or Maintenance 31 Operator Qualification 2\nPublic Awareness 4 Reporting 1 Transportation of Gas 1\nWarning Letter Total: 62\nGrand Total: 193\nFindings:\nBased on the information submitted by EPNG and PHMSA’s analysis of the technical,\noperational, and safety issues, PHMSA finds that granting this special permit with conditions\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 12 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 13>>>\n\nthat requires EPNG to operate the 16 special permit segments on the 24-inch diameter, 26-inch\ndiameter, 30-inch diameter, 34-inch diameter, and 36-inch diameter Pipelines located in Cochise\nand Pima Counties, Arizona; McKinley and San Juan Counties, New Mexico; and El Paso\nCounty, Texas at their current MAOP for a Class 1 to Class 3 location change segment is\nconsistent with pipeline safety.\nPHMSA has designed the special permit conditions to effectively assess and remediate threats to\nthe special permit segments and special permit inspection areas, including pressure testing,\nobtaining pipe material records, and conducting assessments to evaluate pipe girth welds that\nhave not been non-destructively tested, any pipe with missing material records, and SCC. To\nensure EPNG properly implements the special permit conditions, EPNG will be required to give\nPHMSA an annual review of their compliance with the special permit.\nPHMSA finds the issuance and full implementation of this special permit that waives the\nrequirements of 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d), 192.619(a), and 192.5 for a Class 1 location change\nto a Class 3 location is not inconsistent with pipeline safety. This special permit requires EPNG\nto implement the special permit conditions that include safety requirements on the operations,\nmaintenance, and integrity management of the special permit segments and the special permit\ninspection areas. EPNG will be required to implement the special permit conditions along the\nspecial permit segments and special permit inspection areas in pipeline segments that are not\nhigh consequence areas and would not normally be required by 49 CFR Part 192 to be assessed\non a periodic interval for threats.\nCompleted in Washington DC on: March 17, 2023.\nPrepared by: PHMSA - Engineering and Research Division\nPHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Special Permit Analysis and Findings – AZ, NM, and TX\nPage 13 of 13\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMarch 17, 2023\nMr. Kenneth W. Grubb\nChief Operating Officer\nKinder Morgan Natural Gas Division\n1001 Louisiana Street, Suite 1000\nHouston, Texas 77002\nRe: Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0007\nSpecial Permit Renewal from March 17, 2023, to March 17, 2028\nDear Mr. Grubb:\nOn March 4, 2021, pursuant to 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 190.341, El Paso Natural\nGas Company, LLC (EPNG)1 applied to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA) for a special permit. EPNG requested a renewal of a previously\ngranted special permit to waive compliance with 49 CFR §§ 192.611(a) and (d), 192.619(a), and\n192.5 for Class 1 to Class 3 location changes on 16 pipeline segments for approximately 4.214\nmiles of 24-inch diameter, 26-inch diameter, 30-inch diameter, 34-inch diameter, and 36-inch\ndiameter gas transmission pipelines (Pipelines). The Pipelines are located in Cochise and Pima\nCounties, Arizona; San Juan County, New Mexico; and El Paso County, Texas. A gas\ntransmission pipeline operator is required by 49 CFR § 192.611 to confirm or revise the\nmaximum allowable operating pressure of a pipeline segment where the class location has\nchanged as defined in 49 CFR § 192.5.\nOn May 27, 2022, PHMSA published a Federal Register notice (87 FR 32231) announcing the\nSpecial Permit Request. The Special Permit Request letter, Final Environmental Assessment\n(FEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), Special Permit Analysis and Findings\n(SPAF), and all other pertinent documents for this special permit are available in Docket No.\nPHMSA-2016-0007 in the Federal Docket Management System located at\nwww.regulations.gov.\n2\n1 El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC is owned by Kinder Morgan, Inc.\n2 https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=PHMSA-2016-0007.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nSubject to the stated terms and conditions, PHMSA grants this special permit (enclosed) based\non the information provided by EPNG and the findings set forth in the SPAF, FEA, and FONSI.\nThis special permit provides relief from certain provisions of the Federal pipeline safety\nregulations for the Pipelines and requires EPNG to comply with conditions and limitations\ndesigned to maintain pipeline safety as defined in the special permit. Note that in accordance\nwith 49 CFR § 190.341(j), PHMSA reserves the right to revoke, suspend, or modify this special\npermit if circumstances occur in which its continuance would be inconsistent with pipeline\nsafety. If EPNG elects not to implement the special permit conditions, EPNG must notify\nPHMSA within 60 days and comply with 49 CFR § 192.611 within 18 months of the date of this\nletter.\nMy staff would be pleased to discuss this special permit or any other regulatory matter with you.\nSentho White, Director of PHMSA Engineering and Research Division, may be contacted at\n(202) 366-2415, on technical matters; and James Urisko, Director, Office of Pipeline Safety,\nSouthern Region, may be contacted at (404) 832-1150, for operational matters specific to this\nspecial permit.\nSincerely,\nAlan K. Mayberry\nAssociate Administrator for Pipeline Safety\nEnclosure: Special Permit – PHMSA-2016-0007\nSpecial Permit: PHMSA-2016-0007 – El Paso Natural Gas Company, LLC Page 2 of 2\nLetter of Decision for Renewal – Class 1 to 3 Location – Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas","truncated":false,"body_characters":32265}