ARCHIVED – Administrative Monetary Penalty – Westcoast Energy Inc. carrying on business as Spectra Energy Transmission - AMP-008-2015

NOTICE OF VIOLATION

REFERENCE NUMBER: AMP-008-2015

Information for Pipeline Company / Third Party / Individual:

Information for Pipeline Company / Third Party / Individual

Name:	Westcoast Energy Inc. (Spectra Energy Transmission)
Contact:	Mark Fiedorek
Title:	President
Address:	Fifth Avenue Place, East Tower 425 - 1st Street SW Suite 2600 T2P 3L8
City:	Calgary
Province / State:	Alberta
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:

TOTAL PENALTY AMOUNT:
$ 6,300

Date of Notice:
17 April 2015

Regulatory Instrument #:
n/a

On 20 March 2015 Westcoast Energy Inc. carrying on business as Spectra Energy Transmission was observed to be in violation of a NEB regulatory requirement. This violation is subject to an administrative monetary penalty, as outlined below.

1. VIOLATION DETAILS

Location of Violation:

NEB Processing Plant Regulations

49(1.1) Failure to notify as prescribed (Type A) / Omission d’aviser tel qu’exigé (Type A)

2. RELEVANT FACTS

Briefly describe reasonable grounds to believe a violation has occurred

1. The National Energy Board Processing Plant Regulations (PPR) 49 1.1)(b) states: (1.1) A company shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Board and the appropriate authorities of the province in which its processing plant is located of any decision made by the company to suspend the operation of any portion of the plant for a period exceeding seven days.
2. On 9 March, Westcoast Energy Inc., carrying on business as Spectra Energy Transmission (Westcoast) began a scheduled partial suspension of the Pine River Gas Plant to complete a maintenance repair of Condenser Number 4 associated with Train 3 (854532). Westcoast indicated the initial planned suspension of Train 3 was six days.
3. On 20 March 2015, the NEB received a phone call from Westcoast to enquire about a suspension of operations at the Pine River Gas Plant (RDIMS 854404). Westcoast indicated the suspension of operations had extended beyond the original six day window and inquired whether Westcoast was required to file a notification through the NEB's Event Reporting System (ERS) system. The NEB advised Westcoast of the reporting requirement outlined in PPR 49(1.1)(b).
4. On 20 March 2015 at approximately 18:00 Mountain Time, Westcoast filed a report of the ongoing suspension in the ERS (RDIMS 854532). In this report, Westcoast indicated the suspension was expected to last for approximately 17 /days.
5. On 25 March 2015, the NEB requested Westcoast provide written confirmation once Train 3 was fully returned to service (RDIMS 858124).
6. On 9 April 2015, the NEB confirmed Train 3 was restarted on 3 April 2015 (RDIMS 858124).
7. Based on requirements outlines in PPR 49(1.1)(b), the NEB should have been notified of the work exceeding the seven day period on 16 March 2015. The NEB did not receive notification the shutdown was ongoing until 20 March 2015, four full working days after notification of the partial shutdown should have been received. The NEB expects regulated companies to be aware of and trained in mandatory reporting requirements intended to ensure the safety of people and environment such as the one outlined above.

3. PENALTY CALCULATION

(a) BASELINE PENALTY (Gravity Value = 0)

[Refer to AMP Regulations, Subsection 4(1)]

(b) APPLICABLE GRAVITY VALUE

[Refer to AMP Regulations, Subsection 4(2)]

Notes to explain decision to apply multiple daily penalties, or "Not Applicable"

4. TOTAL PENALTY AMOUNT

$ 6,300

Note: The total penalty amount shown is based on the period described in Step 1 above. If compliance has not been achieved, a subsequent Notice of Violation may be issued.

5. DUE DATE

Notes

You have the right to make a request for a review of the amount of the penalty or the facts of the violation, or both, within 30 days after the Notice of Violation was received.

If you do not pay the penalty nor request a review within the prescribed period, you are considered to have committed the violation and you are liable for the penalty set out in the Notice of Violation. The penalty is due on the date indicated above.

The unpaid penalty amount is a debt due to the Crown and may be recovered by collection procedures stipulated in the Financial Administration Act.

The information regarding the violation may be posted on the NEB website:

1. 30 days from the date this Notice of Violation was received or;
2. upon issuing a decision following a Request for Review.

To Make Payment:

You may remit your fee payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or by cheque payable to the order of Receiver General for Canada.

EFT payments can be arranged by contacting the Director of Financial Services, Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 16:00 Mountain Time:

Telephone: 403-606-0779 / 800-899-1265
Fax: 403-292-5503 / 877-288-8803

Cheques should be made out to the "Receiver General for Canada" and mailed to:

National Energy Board
Attention: Finance
Centre 10, 517 - 10^th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta
T2R 0A8

Your completed Payment form should be enclosed with your payment.

To Request a Review

Pursuant to the NEB Act, Section 144, you may file a request for a review of this Notice of Violation by the Board.

The date of filing is the date on which the document is received, as indicated by the date on an e-mail submission or the stamped on the document by a NEB employee.

If you elect to make a request for a review, complete and submit the attached Request for Review form to:

Administrative Monetary Penalty - Reviews
National Energy Board
Centre 10, 517 - 10^th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta
T2R 0A8

For more information on reviews, please see the Administrative Monetary Penalties Process Guide available on the NEB's website.

Sincerely,

Robert Steedman

Designated Officer
Administrative Monetary Penalties

403-299-3178

Date modified:

2022-08-03