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HomeMy WebLinkAboutI202416 NOPV �'��' 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 September 19, 2024 Report#I202416 Pat Darras—Vice President of Engineering & Operations Services Intermountain Gas Company 400 N 4th St. Bismarck, ND 58501 Dear Mr. Pat Darras: On September 19, 2024, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ("Commission"), Pipeline Safety Division ("Staff'), conducted a construction inspection in Emmett, Idaho on service line number 413-04818 of Intermountain Gas Company ("IGC") pursuant to Chapter 601 of Title 49, United States Code. Staff observed that some of the Idaho natural gas system(s) owned and operated by IGC ("Company") 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 4192.605 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 4192.273 General a) The pipeline must be designed and installed so that each joint will sustain the longitudinal pullout or thrust forces caused by contraction or expansion of the piping or by anticipated external or internal loading. IGC EMMETT CONSTRUCTION PROBABLE VIOLATIONS LETTER— Page I of 4 (b) Each joint must be made in accordance with written procedures that have been proven by test or experience to produce strong gastight joints. (c) Each joint must be inspected to insure compliance with this subpart. 3. OPS 204 Qualifying Plastic Joiners External Compressions Ring Mechanical Fittings: 192-1005.03 Joining of Plastic Pipe Met-Fit 2.6.1 A section of three-fourths inch(3/4") IPS, one and one-fourth inch(1 1/4") IPS, or two-inch (2") IPS will be joined with an external compression ring fitting per the manufacturer's procedure and/or instructions. 4. JM Eagle Met Fit Per manufacture recommendations: • Series 200 Hydraulic Tool System Figure 3 on PDF Pg. 7(attached below) PIPE READY TO INSERT INTO FITTING RING POSITIONED ON PIPE. nttfng pipe ring range Figure 1 TOOL POSITIONED OVER PIPE AND FITTING. 0 0 E-1 -P e_The tool is lowered down over fittings, as adapter jaws aligned with should on fitting shown in Figure 3. Note the location of the rear,stationary adapter jaws over the shoul- der of the fitting,and the front moveable set of adapterjaws in the back of the ring flange. ring positioned for Installation Figure 2 TOOL BEING LOWERED OVER FITTING AND RING. Atting to make contact with adapterjaws O O E� adapter jaws ring flange adapter jaws Figure 3 f.After the ring has been installed past the fitting's locking rib, g_Inspect to insure rings are bottomed out sufficiently to pass release the hydraulic pump by turning the pump valve shown the locking rib on the fitting. If this is not the case, rotate in Figure 1 and remove the tool from the installed ring. the tool 90 degrees and repeat the crimping procedure. IGC EMMETT CONSTRUCTION PROBABLE VIOLATIONS LETTER— Page 2 of 4 Findings) An IGC crew was observed not following the manufacturer's recommendations while installing a 2"met-fit coupler. Per Figure 3 (Pg. 7) of JM Eagle's 2"Met-Fit manufacturer's recommendations, the movable part of the hydraulic tool shall be placed on the compression ring side of the Met-Fit coupler. IGC crew installed the 2"Met-Fit coupler with the tool turned in the opposite orientation of what is recommended in Figure 3 (movable part not on ring side). 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 a Company 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 November 3, 2024, 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 October 19, 2024. 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 November 3,2024, and must be signed by a Company official with authority to bind the Company. The reply must include a complete statement of all relevant facts, and all documentation, evidence, and argument the Company submits to refute any of the above referenced probable violations. These violations 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 dollars ($200,000). See Idaho Code §61-712A. IGC EMMETT CONSTRUCTION PROBABLE VIOLATIONS LETTER— Page 3 of 4 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, Jeff Brooks Pipeline Safety, Program Manager Idaho Public Utilities Commission 11331 W.Chinden Blvd.Ste 201-A Boise ID 83714 Telephone:(208)334-0300 Facsimile:(208)334-3762 IGC EMMETT CONSTRUCTION PROBABLE VIOLATIONS LETTER— Page 4 of 4