I201913 NOPV

Idaho Public Utilities Commission Brad Little,Govemor
PO Box 83720,Boise,ID 83720-0074 Paul K)ellander,Commissioner
Kristine Raper,Commissioner
Eric Anderson,Commissioner
December 23, 2019 Report# 1201913
Pat Darras
Intermountain Gas Company
400 N 4`h St.
Bismarck, ND 58501
Dear Mr. Darras:
On December 20, 2019, representatives of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, Pipeline Safety,
pursuant to Chapter 601 of Title 49, United States Code, conducted an onsite construction inspection of
project 191GC-1063 located at Cloverdale and Kittredge Dr in Boise Idaho.
During the inspection it was observed that some of the Idaho natural gas distribution system owned and
operated by IGC was out of compliance on some items. 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. §192.605(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. Standard Operating Procedures(SOP)4027—Plastic Qualifications and Joining
JOINING OF PLASTIC PIPE
2.1. BUTT FUSION
2.1.6. The surface temperature of the heating tool faces shall be in accordance with
manufacturer recommendations.The heating tool shall have a built-in thermometer.
Pyrometers are the preferred method to assure proper heating tool face temperature.
Findin>;:
During the inspection the IPUC inspectors had observed a Dasco crew performing fusions on a
new 6" PE pipe install. While observing the fusing crew the inspectors noticed that the Dasco
fuser was not checking the iron temperature prior to performing each fusion as per Plexco
11331 W.Chinden Blvd.,Building 8,Suite 201-A,Boise ID 83714
Telephone:[phone] Facsimile:[phone]

bulletin no. 105Y requirement. Prior to the next fuse the inspectors asked the employee to show
them what the temperature of the iron was set to, the Dasco employee then got the pyrometer
out and checked the temperatrue and it was reading between 448-450 degrees. The required
temperature for butt fusion is 500+or—10 degrees per Plexco bulletin no. 105Y
requirement. At that time,the IPUC inspectors contacted IGC leadership.
REQUESTED ACTION
A reply to this letter, as outlined below, is required no later than 45 days from the date of this letter.
Please send all documents to our office at P.O. Box 83720-0074, Boise, Idaho 83720-0074. Be advised
that all material you submit in response to this enforcement action may be a public record, subject to
disclosure under Idaho's Public Records Law. See Idaho Code §74-101-126.
You have a right to appear before the Pipeline Safety Division in an informal conference before February
6, 2019, at the Commission's offices at 11331 W Chinden Blvd, Boise. You have the right to present
relevant documents to the Commission at that conference. The Commission 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. If you intend to request an informal conference, please contact the Pipeline Safety
Division no later than January 23, 2019.
If you wish to dispute 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 February 6, 2019, and must be signed by a Company Official. The reply must
include a complete statement of all relevant facts including a complete description of the corrective
action(s) taken and any and all actions to be taken to prevent future failures in these areas of concern.
If you do not respond to this notice, as specified above, by February 6, 2019, you may be subject to
statutory civil penalties and further enforcement, as allowed by law. Idaho Code § 61-712A states that
"[a]ny person who violates or fails to comply with, or who procures, aids or abets any violation of title
61, Idaho Code, governing safety of pipeline facilities and the transportation of gas, or of any order,
decision, rule or regulation duly issued by the Idaho public utilities commission governing the safety of
pipeline facilities and the transportation of gas, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not to exceed two
thousand dollars ($2,000) for each violation for each day that the violation persists. However, the
maximum civil penalty shall not exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000)for any related series
of violation."
If you have any questions concerning this notice, please contact me at [phone]. Also all written
responses should be addressed to me at the above address or you may fax your response to (208) 334-
4045. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your effort to promote pipeline safety.
Sinc r ly,
D rrin I _
Pipeline Safety, Program Manager
Idaho Public Utility Commission
IGC SOP NOTICE OF PROBABLE VIOLATION — PAGE 2