DOT proposes fine for Enterprise for 2007 Kansas line spill

Nov. 2, 2009
The US Department of Transportation proposed that Enterprise Products Operating LLC pay a $466,200 fine for allegedly violating federal pipeline safety regulations.

Nick Snow
OGJ Washington Editor

WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 2 -- The US Department of Transportation proposed that Enterprise Products Operating LLC pay a $466,200 fine for allegedly violating federal pipeline safety regulations.

The proposed fine and probable violation finding stem from a Sept. 11, 2007, failure of the Enterprise Products Partners LP division’s pipeline near Englewood, Kan., which DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration recently completed investigating. About 14,700 bbl of natural gas liquids were spilled as a result of the rupture, DOT said on Oct. 28.

It said that during the investigation, PHMSA investigators discovered possible failures by Enterprise to ensure pipeline workers were adequately trained to perform necessary system repairs as required by federal operator qualification regulations. Other probable violations included failures to conduct required drug testing of maintenance personnel following the accident, it said.

DOT said that post-accident failure analysis determined the failure was due to the improper installation of pipeline system components following recently conducted maintenance activities. It noted that while the release did not result in any deaths or injuries to the public, the event closed State Highway 283 for 5 days, seriously affecting daily commuters as crews worked to secure and clean-up the spilled product.

Enterprise Products operates about 35,000 miles of pipelines in 19 states, according to DOT. It said that operators may request an administrative hearing to contest proposed violations identified by PHMSA investigators before any findings and fines from an investigation are deemed final.

Its parent, Enterprise Products Partners, became the largest US publicly traded partnership on Oct. 26 when it merged with TEPPCO Partners LP, resulting in an entity with 48,000 miles of pipelines, an $18 billion market capitalization, and a $30 billion enterprise value.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].