# NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CO OF AMERICA (KMI) — Notice of Probable Violation **Citation:** CPF 420201009 **Type / status:** enforcement / historical **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2020-09-30 CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.805(b). ## Document text Notice of Probable Violation involving NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CO OF AMERICA (KMI). PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.805(b). The case was opened on 2020-09-30 and is reported as closed as of 2020-12-09. Proposed civil penalty: $31,400. Assessed civil penalty: $31,400. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status. Official case documents: 420201009_Final Order_12022020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_Final%20Order_12022020.pdf 420201009_Final Order_12022020_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_Final%20Order_12022020_text.pdf 420201009_NOPV PCP_09302020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_NOPV%20PCP_09302020.pdf 420201009_NOPV PCP_09302020_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_NOPV%20PCP_09302020_text.pdf 420201009_Operator Response to Notice_10292020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_10292020.pdf 420201009_Final Order_12022020_text.pdf December 2, 2020 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: kenneth grubb@kindermorgan.com Mr. Kenneth W. Grubb Chief Operating Officer Kinder Morgan, Inc. 1001 Louisiana, Suite 1000 Houston, Texas 77002 Re: CPF No. 4-2020-1009 Dear Mr. Grubb: Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of violation against your subsidiary, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC, and assesses a civil penalty of $31,400. When the civil penalty has been paid, this enforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order by electronic mail is effective upon the date of transmission as provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Alan K. Mayberry Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety Enclosures (Final Order and NOPV) cc: Ms. Mary McDaniel, Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA Mr. Jaime Hernandez, Director, Engineering, Compliance/Codes and Standards, Kinder Morgan, Inc., jaime_hernandez@kindermorgan.com Ms. Jessica Toll, Esq., Assistant General Counsel, Kinder Morgan, Inc., jessica_toll@kindermorgan.com. CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590 ____________________________________________ In the Matter of ) ) ) Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc., ) ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________________) ) CPF No. 4-2020-1009 FINAL ORDER On September 30, 2020, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation (Notice) to Kinder Morgan, Inc., on behalf of Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC (Respondent). The Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated the pipeline safety regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 192 and proposed a civil penalty of $31,400. Respondent did not contest the allegations of violation or the proposed civil penalty. Based upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the pipeline safety regulations listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is incorporated by reference: 49 C.F.R. § 192.805 (Item 1) ─ Respondent failed to ensure through evaluation that personnel were qualified in performing welding inspection tasks. This finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action taken against Respondent. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, Respondent is assessed a civil penalty amount of $31,400. Payment of the civil penalty must be made within 20 days of service. Federal regulations (49 C.F.R. § 89.21(b)(3)) require such payment to be made by wire transfer through the Federal Reserve Communications System (Fedwire), to the account of the U.S. Treasury. Detailed instructions are contained in the enclosure. Questions concerning wire transfers should be directed to: Financial Operations Division (AMK-325), Federal Aviation Administration, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 S MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 79169. The Financial Operations Division telephone number is (405) 954-8845. Failure to pay the $31,400 civil penalty will result in accrual of interest at the current annual rate in accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 3717, 31 C.F.R. § 901.9 and 49 C.F.R. § 89.23. Pursuant to CPF No. 4-2020-1009 Page 2 those same authorities, a late penalty charge of six percent (6%) per annum will be charged if payment is not made within 110 days of service. Furthermore, failure to pay the civil penalty may result in referral of the matter to the Attorney General for appropriate action in a district court of the United States. The terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.5. December 2, 2020 ___________________________________ _________________________ Alan K. Mayberry Date Issued Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement` - SHA-256: `548926119025343d9b39b1d5a64f787810ec708a6c819b27251f2c19ae664b69` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T13:16:29.195Z - Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-420201009` ### Source metadata ```json { "cpf": "420201009", "operator": "NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CO OF AMERICA (KMI)", "region": "Southwest", "pipelineType": "GAS INTERSTATE ONSHORE", "caseStatus": "CLOSED", "citedSections": [ "192.805(b)" ], "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM", "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04", "attachmentCount": 5, "attachments": [ { "name": "420201009_Final Order_12022020.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_Final%20Order_12022020.pdf", "bytes": 327574, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "420201009_Final Order_12022020_text.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_Final%20Order_12022020_text.pdf", "bytes": 110740, "category": "agency_document" }, { "name": "420201009_NOPV PCP_09302020.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_NOPV%20PCP_09302020.pdf", "bytes": 286721, "category": "case_document" }, { "name": "420201009_NOPV PCP_09302020_text.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_NOPV%20PCP_09302020_text.pdf", "bytes": 121976, "category": "case_document" }, { "name": "420201009_Operator Response to Notice_10292020.pdf", "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420201009/420201009_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_10292020.pdf", "bytes": 168031, "category": "party_submission" } ], "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": "NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CO OF AMERICA (KMI)" } ```