BUCKEYE PARTNERS, LP

Incident Narrative

ON AUGUST 2, 2024, BUCKEYE IDENTIFIED THAT THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS FOR A PREVIOUSLY NON-REPORTABLE INCIDENT HAD EXCEEDED THE $50,000 REPORTABLE LIMIT PRESCRIBED BY 49 CRF 195.50(E). THE ACTUAL EVENT STARTED ON FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2024, WHEN A BUCKEYE EMPLOYEE OBSERVED A STAIN ON A PIPE SUPPORT LOCATED 20 FEET OVERHEAD ON OUR PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND INSIDE A 3RD-PARTY REFINERY (MARATHON DETROIT REFINERY). OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, THE LINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND ISOLATED. THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, LOGISTICAL PLANS WERE MADE TO PROCURE AND ERECT SCAFFOLDING FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE ORIGINAL STAINING HAD NOT INCREASED AND WAS MONITORED DAILY BY LOCAL OPERATIONS; HOWEVER, BUCKEYE COULD REASONABLY DETERMINE THAT IF THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE PIPE, IT WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE CASING AND FURTHER INVESTIGATION WAS HINDERED BY A LINK-SEAL. AT THIS POINT BUCKEYE DECIDED TO PURGE THE 1.36-MILE PIPELINE TO INITIATE A CUT OUT AND REPAIR OF THIS SECTION. THIS REPAIR WAS COMPLETED ON FRIDAY JULY 26TH, AND THE LINE WAS RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATIONS. THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION, RESPONSE, AND REPAIR COSTS WERE NOT BELIEVED TO EXCEED THE REPORTABLE AMOUNT OF $50,000; THEREFORE, A NOTIFICATION TO THE NRC WAS NOT MADE. HOWEVER, AS INDICATED ABOVE, BUCKEYE IDENTIFIED ON AUGUST 2ND, 2024 THAT THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS HAD WELL EXCEEDED THE $50,000 LIMIT, MOSTLY ATTRIBUTED TO LOCATION ACCESSIBILITY. THEREFORE, WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS ORIGINAL 7000.1 REPORT AFTER IT WAS DEEMED OUR TOTAL REPAIR AND PROPERTY DAMAGE COSTS WOULD EXCEED THE REPORTING THRESHOLD. THE TOTAL AMOUNT RELEASED FROM THIS ACCIDENT WAS LESS THAN ONE PINT AND NO HAZARDOUS LIQUID IMPACTED THE GROUND.