HomeMy WebLinkAboutI202302 NOPV 04
�'��' Idaho Public Utilities Commission Brad Little,Governor
` � P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0074 Eric Anderson,President
�� John R.Hammond,Jr.,Commissioner
Edward Lodge,Commissioner
Apr 10, 2023 Report # I202302
Pat Darras—Vice President of Engineering& Operations Services
Intermountain Gas Company
400 N 4`h St.
Bismarck, ND 58501
Dear Mr. Darras:
On Mar 27-30, 2023, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ("Commission"), Pipeline Safety
Division ("Staff'), conducted a Records inspection of Intermountain Gas Company ("IGC")
pursuant to Chapter 601 of Title 49, United States Code.
Staff observed that some of the Idaho natural gas distribution system owned and operated by IGC
was out of compliance on item(s). This results in probable violations of the pipeline safety
regulations Title 49,Code of Federal Regulations,Part 192. The probable violations are as follows:
PROBABLE VIOLATIONS)
1. 49 CFR &192.605 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies.
(a) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of
written procedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities and for
emergency response. For transmission lines, the manual must also include procedures
for handling abnormal operations. This manual must be reviewed and updated by the
operator at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year.
This manual must be prepared before operations of a pipeline system commence.
Appropriate parts of the manual must be kept at locations where operations and
maintenance activities are conducted.
2. 49 CFR &192.475 Internal corrosion control: General
(b) Whenever any pipe is removed from a pipeline for any reason, the internal surface
must be inspected for evidence of corrosion.
1GC -Inspection, Evaluation, and Repair of Pipelines—OPS 327
3.9 Whenever the internal surface of steel pipe is exposed (damage, repair, replacement,
etc.) the internal surface shall be inspected for evidence of internal corrosion.
11331 W.Chinden Blvd.,Building 8 Suite 201-A,Boise ID 83714
Telephone:(208)334-0300 Facsimile:(208)334-3762
Findings)
Project#583-0342 Report #600-9050 at 168 Bonny Dr. Twin Falls had 13'of steel pipe
replaced. The Form 457 indicates that there was no internal inspection completed on the
removed pipe section as required by 49 CFR §192.475 and IGC OPS Procedure 327.
3. 49 CFR �192.605 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies.
(b) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of
written procedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities and for
emergency response. For transmission lines, the manual must also include procedures
for handling abnormal operations. This manual must be reviewed and updated by the
operator at intervals not exceeding 15 months,but at least once each calendar year.
This manual must be prepared before operations of a pipeline system commence.
Appropriate parts of the manual must be kept at locations where operations and
maintenance activities are conducted.
4. 49 CFR 4192.727 Abandonment or deactivation of facilities.
(b) Each pipeline abandoned in place must be disconnected from all sources and supplies
of gas; purged of gas; in the case of offshore pipelines, filled with water or inert
materials; and sealed at the ends. However, the pipeline need not be purged when the
volume of gas is so small that there is no potential hazard.
IGC -Pipeline Purging and Cleaning—OPS 603
4.0 Purging out of service.
4.1. When purging large diameter mains, or long distances of pipelines when there is a
significant probability of odor calls, contact local emergency services and Scheduling,
a minimum of two (2) hours prior to commencing.
4.2. Purging out of service may be required when existing mains and services are taken
out of service and the removal of residual natural gas is necessary.
4.3. Mains and services four inches (4") and smaller in diameter, do not require purging
out of service provided they do not exceed the maximum allowable lengths shown in
Table 2 below.
Finding(s)
Project 4421-0625 at E 41s' St in Garden City and Project#425-9831 at Eisenman and
Gowen in Boise where pipelines were abandoned were not purged as required by 49 CFR
§192.727 and IGC OPS Procedure 603.
REQUESTED ACTIONS
A reply to this correspondence is required no later than 45 days from the date of this letter. Please
submit a written reply providing a statement of all relevant facts including a complete description
of the corrective action(s) taken with respect to the above referenced probable violations, and all
actions to be taken to prevent future failures in these areas of concern. This written reply must be
signed by an IGC official with authority to bind the company.
Please send all documents to our office at 11331 W. Chinden Blvd, Boise, Idaho 83714-1021. Be
advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement action may be a public record
and subject to disclosure under Idaho's Public Records Law. See Idaho Code §§74-101 et seq.
If you wish to dispute any of the above referenced potential violations, you have the right to
appear before the Pipeline Safety Division in an informal conference before May 25, 2023, at the
above address. You have the right to present relevant documents and evidence to the Pipeline
Safety Division at that conference. The Pipeline Safety Division will make available to you any
evidence which indicates that you may have violated the law, and you will have the opportunity
to rebut this evidence. See Commission Orders 35095 and 35334, which can be found at
https://puc.idaho.gov/. If you intend to request an informal conference,please contact the Pipeline
Safety Division no later than May 10, 2023.
If you wish to dispute any of the allegations in this Notice,but do not want an informal conference,
you may send the Pipeline Safety Division a written reply to this Notice. This written reply must
be filed with the Commission on or before May 25, 2023, and must be signed by an IGC official
with authority to bind the company. The reply must include a complete statement of all relevant
facts, and all documentation, evidence, and argument IGC submits to refute any of the above
referenced probable violations.
If you do not respond to this notice by May 25, 2023, you may be subject to any Commission
enforcement action as allowed under Idaho law, including but not limited to, potential civil
penalties of up to two hundred thousand ($200,000). Sea Idaho Code §61-712A.
If you have any questions concerning this Notice,please contact me at(208) 334-0333. All written
responses should be addressed to me at the above address, or you may fax your response to (208)
334-3762.
We appreciate your attention to this matter and your effort to promote pipeline safety.
Sincerely,
Av�
J ff Brooks
Pipeline Safety, Program Manager
Idaho Public Utility Commission