# WEST TEXAS GAS INC — Warning Letter

**Citation:** CPF 420111013W  
**Type / status:** enforcement / historical  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2011-10-24

CLOSED warning letter citing 192.807(a)(2).

## Document text

Warning Letter involving WEST TEXAS GAS INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.807(a)(2). The case was opened on 2011-10-24 and is reported as closed as of 2011-10-24. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

420111013W_Warning Letter_10242011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420111013W/420111013W_Warning%20Letter_10242011.pdf

420111013W_Warning Letter_10242011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420111013W/420111013W_Warning%20Letter_10242011_text.pdf

420111013W_Warning Letter_10242011_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
October 24, 2011
Mr. Richard Hatchett
V. P. of Operations
West Texas Gas, Inc.
Western Gas Interstate Co.
WTG-Hugoton, LP
211 North Colorado
Midland, TX 79701-4607
CPF 4-2011-1013W
Dear Mr. Hatchett:
On April 25-28, 2011, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected your
West Texas Gas, Inc., Western Gas Interstate Co and WTG-Hugoton, LP (WTG) Operator
Qualification Program in Amarillo, TX.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and the
probable violation is:
1. §192.807 Recordkeeping.
Each operator shall maintain records that demonstrate compliance with this
subpart.
(a) Qualification records shall include:
(2) Identification of the covered tasks the individual is qualified to perform;
WTG uses EnergyWorldNet for database storage and maintenance of OQ records and keeps
various worksheets in-house to track and accumulate information pertinent to the OQ program,
but these resources are not well-linked or integrated so that everyone within the company has
consistent information and access to the information. Due to these inconsistencies and the fact



that both sources are not synced together, it is difficult to track an individual’s qualification for a
specific covered task.
In review of the employee qualifications from the Dalhart and Guymon Districts, it was
discovered that numerous individuals were no longer qualified in core covered tasks. When
PHMSA inspectors inquired into the reasoning behind the 'not qualified' status, WTG stated the
individual or individuals no longer performs the tasks in question. WTG fails to meet the
requirements of the code.
Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
$100,000 for each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of $1,000,000
for any related series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting
documents involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement action
or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the item(s) identified
in this letter. Failure to do so will result in WTG being subject to additional enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to
CPF 4-2011-1013W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement
action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your
responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the
complete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions
you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe
the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).
Sincerely,
R. M. Seeley
Director, Southwest Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
2

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420111013W>
- Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement`
- SHA-256: `ae71530e55a77b5aec8119769425a1565a4425a0d0afdf020b78aaf8608786f5`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T16:56:21.138Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-420111013w`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cpf": "420111013W",
  "operator": "WEST TEXAS GAS INC",
  "region": "Southwest",
  "pipelineType": "GAS INTERSTATE ONSHORE",
  "caseStatus": "CLOSED",
  "citedSections": [
    "192.807(a)(2)"
  ],
  "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM",
  "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04",
  "attachmentCount": 2,
  "attachments": [
    {
      "name": "420111013W_Warning Letter_10242011.pdf",
      "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420111013W/420111013W_Warning%20Letter_10242011.pdf",
      "bytes": 32577,
      "category": "agency_document"
    },
    {
      "name": "420111013W_Warning Letter_10242011_text.pdf",
      "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420111013W/420111013W_Warning%20Letter_10242011_text.pdf",
      "bytes": 15840,
      "category": "agency_document"
    }
  ],
  "extractedAgencyDocumentCount": 1,
  "attachmentPolicy": "Official attachment links are retained. Agency-issued documents may also include a verified local PDF and page-level text representation.",
  "jurisdiction": "US",
  "operatorName": "WEST TEXAS GAS INC"
}
```
