# PANTHER OPERATING COMPANY, LLC — Warning Letter

**Citation:** CPF 420145034W  
**Type / status:** enforcement / historical  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2014-12-10

CLOSED warning letter citing 195.446(e)(4), 195.446(e)(5), 195.446(h).

## Document text

Warning Letter involving PANTHER OPERATING COMPANY, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.446(e)(4),  195.446(e)(5),  195.446(h). The case was opened on 2014-12-10 and is reported as closed as of 2014-12-10. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

420145034W_Warning_12102014.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420145034W/420145034W_Warning_12102014.pdf

420145034W_Warning_12102014_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420145034W/420145034W_Warning_12102014_text.pdf

420145034W_Warning_12102014_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
December 10, 2014
Mr. Jeff Shipper
Panther Pipeline, LTD.
16000 Stuebner Airline, Suite 420
Spring, TX 77379
CPF 4-2014-5034W
Dear Mr. Shipper:
On June 17, 2014, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected Panther
Pipeline, LTD. (Panther) Control Room facilities in Texas City, TX.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed probable violations of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and the
probable violations are:
1. §195.446 Control room management
(e) Alarm management. Each operator using a SCADA system must have a written
alarm management plan to provide for effective controller response to alarms. An
operator's plan must include provisions to:
(4) Review the alarm management plan required by this paragraph at least once
each calendar year, but at intervals not exceeding 15 months, to determine the
effectiveness of the plan



At the time of the control room inspection, Panther had not performed a review of their alarm
management plan at least once each calendar year, but at intervals not exceeding 15 months, to
determine the effectiveness of the plan.
Panther could not produce documentation to show that the alarm management plan was reviewed
for effectiveness for calendar year 2013.
2. §195.446 Control room management
(e) Alarm management. Each operator using a SCADA system must have a written
alarm management plan to provide for effective controller response to alarms. An
operator's plan must include provisions to:
(5) Monitor the content and volume of general activity being directed to and
required of each controller at least once each calendar year, but at intervals not
exceeding 15 months, that will assure controllers have sufficient time to analyze and
react to incoming alarms
At the time of the control room inspection, Panther had not monitored the content and volume of
general activity being directed to and required of each controller at least once each calendar year,
but at intervals not exceeding 15 months, that will assure controllers have sufficient time to
analyze and react to incoming alarms.
Panther could not produce documentation to show the content and volume of general activity
being directed to and required of each controller was monitored for calendar year 2013.
3. §195.446 Control room management
(h) Training. Each operator must establish a controller training program and
review the training program content to identify potential improvements at least
once each calendar year, but at intervals not to exceed 15 months. An operator's
program must provide for training each controller to carry out the roles and
responsibilities defined by the operator.
At the time of the control room inspection, Panther had not reviewed the training program
content to identify potential improvements at least once each calendar year, but at intervals not to
exceed 15 months.
Panther could not produce documentation to show the training program content had been
reviewed for calendar year 2013.
Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $200,000
per violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a related series of
violations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum penalty may not
2



exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 for a
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 Panther Pipeline, LTD. 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 4-2014-5034W. 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
3

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420145034W>
- Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement`
- SHA-256: `6ba54f38a5a6c7977541c55a8bf59857e8583a6c3a0220cd4345faa05801fdd9`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T21:05:50.832Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-420145034w`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cpf": "420145034W",
  "operator": "PANTHER OPERATING COMPANY, LLC",
  "region": "Southwest",
  "pipelineType": "INTERSTATE LIQUID ONSHORE",
  "caseStatus": "CLOSED",
  "citedSections": [
    "195.446(e)(4)",
    "195.446(e)(5)",
    "195.446(h)"
  ],
  "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM",
  "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04",
  "attachmentCount": 2,
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      "bytes": 43551,
      "category": "agency_document"
    },
    {
      "name": "420145034W_Warning_12102014_text.pdf",
      "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420145034W/420145034W_Warning_12102014_text.pdf",
      "bytes": 9744,
      "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": "PANTHER OPERATING COMPANY, LLC"
}
```
