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Home My WebLink AboutI202512 NOPV Idaho Public Utilities Commission Brad Little,Governor ` �- P.O. Box 83720,Boise,ID 83720-0074 Edward Lodge,President John R.Hammond,Jr.,Commissioner Dayn Hardie,Commissioner September 23, 2025 Report#I202512 Pat Darras—Vice President of Engineering & Operations Services Intermountain Gas Company 400 N 41h St. Bismarck, ND 58501 Dear Mr. Pat Darras, On September 17th, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ("Commission"), Pipeline Safety Division ("Staff'), conducted a construction inspection in Jerome, ID 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 VIOLATION(S) 1. 49 CFR 092.605 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies. 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 4192.756 Joining plastic pipe by heat fusion equipment maintenance and calibration. Each operator must maintain equipment used in joining plastic pipe in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended practices or with written procedures that have been proven by test and experience to produce acceptable joints. IGC CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION PROBABLE VIOLATIONS LETTER— Page 1 of 4 3. OPS 307 Polyethylene (PE) Main and Service Construction 4. Cleaning 4.1 Cleaning shall be performed per the manufacturer's instructions, or when butt fusing per TR-33 Appendix A. 4. TR-33 (2012 edition)- Generic Butt Fusion Joining Procedure for Field Joining of Polyethylene Pipe 4.0 MELT—Heating tools that simultaneously heat both pipe ends are used to accomplish this operation. These heating tools are normally furnished with thermometers to measure internal heater temperature so the operator can monitor the temperature before each joint is made. However, the thermometer can be used only as a general indicator because there is some heat loss from internal to external surfaces, depending on factors such as ambient temperatures and wind conditions. A pyrometer or other surface temperature-measuring device should be used before the first joint of the day is made and periodically throughout the day to insure proper temperature of the heating tool face that contacts the pipe or fitting ends. Additionally, heating tools are usually equipped with suspension and alignment guides that center them on the pipe ends. The heater faces that come into contact with the pipe should be clean, oil-free and coated with a nonstick coating as recommended by the manufacturer to prevent molten plastic from sticking to the heater surfaces. Remaining molten plastic can interfere with fusion quality and must be removed according to the tool manufacturer's instructions. Never use chemical cleaners or solvents to clean heating tool surfaces. 5. McElroy Operator's Manual—1LC Fusion Machine Clean Heater Surfaces The heater must be kept clean and Free of any plastic buildup, % g contamination and scratches. 9 Before each fusion is made,the surface of the heater must be R wiped with a clean,non-synthetic cloth. IGC CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION PROBABLE VIOLATIONS LETTER— Page 2 of 4 I LC Fusion Machine Checklist item to cheek Satisfactory Needs Repair Comments Repair UNIT Machine is clean Clamp knob bearings lubricated and move freely Movable jaw moves freely Locking cam works properly Guide rods are not damaged Clamping jaw and insert grooves are clean All nuts and bolts are tight FACER Check for play in blade holder Facer does not wobble when trapped between jaws Blades are in good condition Latch handle locks onto guide rod freely Facer moves on guide rods without excessive force Facer is clean and free of grease on blade holder surface HEATER Heater surface is clean and in good condition Thermometer is in good working order Surface temperature checked with pyrometer Finding(s) A KV employee was found fusing with a dirty heater surface. Per manufactures recommendations from the McElroy Operations Manual— 1 LC Fusion Machine: "heater surfaces must be kept clean and free of any plastic build up, contamination and scratches". KV employees were told by their manager to stop fusing until the heater can be cleaned or replaced. A 142°SE(n OO 42"447"N,114°31'12"W±9ft •3748ft >ryr :t� o t'i;Y�f" ✓r'zy • o •i� r y' M b •w, r Iron Condition Photo IGC CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION PROBABLE VIOLATIONS LETTER— Page 3 of 4 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 7, 2025, 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 23, 2025. 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 7,2025, 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 in accordance with 49 CFR 190.223(a). 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, 0--� Jeff Brooks Pipeline Safety, Program Manager Idaho Public Utilities Commission 11331 W.Chinden Blvd.Ste 201-A Boise ID 83714 Telephone:(208)33"300 Facsimile:(208)334-3762 IGC CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION PROBABLE VIOLATIONS LETTER— Page 4 of 4