COLONIAL PIPELINE CO

Incident Narrative

HURRICANE HARVEY MADE LANDFALL ON 25 AUGUST 2017 AND REMAINED IN THE AREA CREATING UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF RAINFALL AND FLOODING. DURING THE STORM, ON WEDNESDAY 30 AUGUST AT 00:05, THE CONTROL ROOM RECEIVED A HIGH LEVEL/MAX FILL ALARM FOR THE BEAUMONT STATION SUMP. A CREW WAS SENT TO THE STATION TO PUMP THE SUMP DOWN BUT COULD NOT ACCESS THE FACILITY DUE TO HIGH FLOOD WATERS. ON 31 AUGUST A CREW WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THE FACILITY AND FOUND THE SUMP FULL OF FLOOD WATER WITH NO SHEEN OR SIGNS OF PRODUCT IN THE STATION. FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF FACILITY RECORDS AND DRAWINGS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A REPORTABLE VOLUME OF PRODUCT HAD BEEN RELEASED AND CONSIDERED TO HAVE REACHED THE WATERS OF THE U.S. VIA FLOOD WATERS. THE NRC WAS NOTIFIED AT 21:20 LOCAL TIME. A COURTESY CALL WAS MADE TO PHMSA'S ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DIVISION. AN INCIDENT ANALYSIS IS PLANNED FOR THIS EVENT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: CORRECTED LONGITUDINAL COORDINATE. FINAL REPORT UPDATE: INCIDENT ANALYSIS COMPLETED ON 1/24/2018. CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN DEVELOPED TO PREPARE SUMPS PRIOR TO FORECASTED FLOODING TO MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.