I202403 NOPV Response

EXECUTIVE OFFICES
INTERMOUNTAIN GAS COMPANY
555 SOUTH COLE ROAD-P.O.BOX 7608• BOISE,IDAHO 83707• [phone]• FAX:[phone]
March 25,2024
Mr.Jeff Brooks,Programs Manager
Idaho Public Utility Commission
PO Box 83720
Boise,ID 83720-0074
Subject:Response to the Letter of Concern dated March 11,2024(Report#1202403)
Dear Mr.Brooks,
This letter is intended to address one(1)area of concern stemming from a construction inspection conducted by the
Idaho Public Utilities Commission(IPUC)on March 7,2024,of Intermountain Gas Company(IGC).
AREA OF CONCERN
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.
OPS 307 Polyethylene(PE)Main and Service Construction
Butt fusions shall be made in accordance with TR-33 Appendix A.
TR-33 Generic Butt Fusion Joining Procedure for Field Joining of Polyethylene Pipe—3.0
ALIGN
The pipe profiles must be rounded and aligned with each other to minimize mismatch(high-low)of
the pipe walls.This can be accomplished by tightening clamping jaws until the outside diameters of
the pipe ends match.The jaws must not be loosened or the pipe may slip during fusion.Re-face the
pipe ends and remove any chips from re-facing operation with a clean,lint-free cotton cloth.
Finding(s)•
Staff observed a contractor for IGC fuse a section 2"PE main to a 2"PE end cap without re-facing the pipe
ends after adjusting the clamp handles.Per TR-33,anytime the clamps are adjusted the pipe ends must be re-
faced prior to using the heat plate.
Intermountain Gas Response
IGC acknowledges the findings brought forth by the IPUC.Upon further investigation,operator qualifications
were suspended for the employee who performed the butt fusion. The employee has since been retrained and
requalified.
Please contact Josh Sanders at(701)222-7773 with questions or comments.
Respectfully Submitted,
Pat Darras
Vice President,Engineering&Operations Services
Intermountain Gas Company