DOT 100-16
Friday, August 5, 2016

News Digest

PHMSA Issues Notice of Probable Violation and Proposes Civil Penalties to Kinder Morgan-Wink Pipeline, LP for Pipeline Safety Violations. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today proposed civil penalties totaling $183,800 and issued a Notice of Probable Violation and a Proposed Compliance Order to Kinder Morgan-Wink Pipeline, LP for possible violations of Federal pipeline safety regulations discovered during an integrated inspection of the operator's Wink pipeline system in Texas. Among the violations alleged are the operator's failure to meet record-keeping requirements and ensure the integrity of above-ground breakout tanks, failing to inspect and maintain cathodic protection systems used to control corrosion, and a failure to correctly determine maximum operating pressure for multiple pipeline systems. Integrated inspections are prioritized based on system-specific risk information to focus on programs, geographic areas, and threats that pose higher risks. Kinder Morgan is the largest energy infrastructure company in North America. The Wink pipeline is a 450-mile intrastate pipeline transporting crude oil from Scurry County, Texas, to El Paso, Texas. Review the details of the enforcement case here. Contact for media: Artealia Gilliard (202) 366-4831.