I201908 NOPV Response

EXECUTIVE OFFICES
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY 555 SOUTH COLE ROAD•P.O.BOX 7608•BOISE,IDAHO 83707•[phone]• FAX:[phone] RECEIVED
August 15,2019
2019 AUG 19 AM 9: 21
PUBLIC
Mr.Darrin Ulmer
Pipeline Safety,Program Manager
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
P.O. Box 83720-0074
Boise,ID 83720-0074
Subject: Response to July 15,2019 Notice of Probable Violations—Nampa District
Dear Mr.Ulmer,
This letter is intended to address the July 15,2019 Notice of Probable Violations identified by Idaho Public Utilities
Commission (IPUC) as a result of the July 3, 2019 onsite specialized inspection of Intermountain Gas Company's
(IGC)contractors performing new service installations in Caldwell, ID.
PROBABLE VIOLATIONS
1. 49 CFR U92.605(a)Procedural manual for operations,maintenance,and emergencies.
Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of written procedures for conducting
operations and maintenance activities and for emergency response...
2. IGC Procedure 4100.1 2.8
Remove the squeezers and mark the plastic pie in the location of the pinch to ensure a re-squeeze will not
occur in that location.
Finding:
We observed a Das-co employee installing new 3/4" service lines to 2 new homes on Nantucket St. in
Caldwell, ID. When we approached the installation location we noticed an employee was prepping the
service stub to be squeezed off for the tie-in,he had wrapped the stub with multiple wraps of electrical tape
in the squeeze location prior to applying the squeezers directly on top of the tape. When asked why he taped
prior to squeezing he stated:"it was to show where he squeezed the line". IGC Engineering Assistant(EA)
was informed of this concern. The EA instructed the crew not to do it again. This is the second time this
incident has been observed.
Intermountain Gas Response
IGC acknowledges that during the installation of the service line at 3923 Nantucket St., Caldwell,ID, Das-co placed
black tape at the squeeze location prior to squeezing the 1/4" plastic stub. Das-co management addressed the proper
application of electric tape during their Monday, July 8, 2019 weekly safety meeting. Because instruction related to
squeezing plastic pipe is addressed in multiple procedures,annual plastic joining training and Operator Qualifications,
the MDU Utilities Group is drafting a new procedure, OPS 309 — Squeeze-Off of Plastic Pipe. OPS 309 will be
provided to the IPUC once finalized,approved and implemented.
Please contact Josh Sanders at(701)222-7773 with questions or comments.
Respectfully Submitted,
le,�O
Pat Darras
Vice President,Engineering&Operations Services
Intermountain Gas Company