# AERA ENERGY LLC — Notice of Probable Violation

**Citation:** CPF 520041013  
**Type / status:** enforcement / historical  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2004-03-26

CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.281(e), 192.283(d), 192.285(d), 192.287.

## Document text

Notice of Probable Violation involving AERA ENERGY LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.281(e),  192.283(d),  192.285(d),  192.287. The case was opened on 2004-03-26 and is reported as closed as of 2006-05-17. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520041013_final order_05172006.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520041013/520041013_final%20order_05172006.pdf

CPF_NO_5-2004-1013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520041013/CPF_NO_5-2004-1013.pdf

520041013_final order_05172006.pdf

400 Seventh Street, S.W.
U.S. Department Washington, D.C. 20590
of Transportation
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration
MAY 1 7 2090
Mr. Eugene J. Voiland
President and CEO
Aera Energy LLC
10000 Ming Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93 1 1
Re: CPF No. 5-2004- 10 13
Dear Mr. Voiland:
Enclosed is the Final Order issued by the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety in
the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of violation and finds that Aera Energy LLC
has completed the actions specified in the Notice required to comply with the pipeline safety
regulations. This case is now closed. Your receipt of the Final Order constitutes service
under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
Sincerely,
James Reynolds
Pipeline Compliance Registry
Office of Pipeline Safety
Enclosure
cc: Frank Curnmings
Manager, Environmental, Safety & Health
Aera Energy LLC
Mark K. Poe
Environment, Health & Safety Advisor
Aera Energy LLC
CERTIFIED MAIL -RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, DC 20590
In the Matter of
Aera Energy LLC, CPF NO. 5-2004-1013
Respondent
FINAL ORDER
On July 29,2003,' pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 9 601 17, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Office of Pipeline Safety conducted an on-site
pipeline safety inspection of the Aera Energy LLC (Respondent) pipeline facilities and records in
Huntington Beach, California.
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Western Region, PHMSA, issued to Respondent, by
letter dated March 26, 2004, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Compliance Order
(Notice). In accordance with 49 C.F.R. 9 190.207, the Notice proposed finding that Respondent
had violated sections of 49 C.F.R. Part 192 and proposed that Respondent take certain measures
to correct the alleged violation.
Respondent responded to the Notice by letter dated April 27,2004 (Response). Respondent did
not contest with the allegation of violation and submitted information concerning the corrective
actions it has taken including copies of revised sections of its operations and maintenance
procedures manual. Respondent did not request a hearing, and therefore has waived its right to
one.
FINDING OF VIOLATION
Respondent did not contest the violation alleged in the notice. Accordingly, I find that
Respondent violated the following sections of 49 C.F.R. Part 192 as more fully described in the
Notice:
1) 49 C.F.R. 192.605-failing to have in its written manual for operations, maintenance, and
emergencies the following procedures:
'
The March 26,2004 Notice of Proposed Violation and Proposed Compliance Order states that the on-site pipeline
safety inspection occurred on July 29,2003; however, the Respondent's April 27, 2004 Response states that the
inspection occurred on April 29,2003.



la) 49 C.F.R. 5 192.28 1-procedures for conducting plastic pipe joining;
lb) 49 C.F.R. 5 192.283-procedures for qualifying plastic pipe joining methods;
lc) 49 C.F.R. $192.285-procedures for qualifying personnel to make plastic pipe joints;
and
Id) 49 C.F.R. 5192.287-procedures for inspecting and evaluating plastic pipe joints.
This finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action
taken against Respondent.
COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed a Compliance Order for violation of the regulations listed above. Under
49 U.S.C. 60118(a), each person who engages in the transportation of gas or who owns or
operates a pipeline facility is required to comply with the applicable safety standards established
under Chapter 601. Respondent stated in its Response that, since the inspection, it has amended
its procedures for the plastic pipelines, and included copies of the pertinent section of its
operations and maintenance manual. The Regional Director has reviewed the revised manual
sections and has determined that the revisions addressed the proposed compliance actions.
Accordingly, since compliance has been achieved with respect to this violation, the compliance
terms are not included in this Order.
The terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective on receipt.
n
fi Sta e Ger d
MAY 1 7 306
Date Issued

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520041013>
- Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement`
- SHA-256: `382227cee39c5d57d14ed72ce374fba04b7ab84025e36e0d6222ca9f27b8215f`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T15:27:51.307Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-520041013`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cpf": "520041013",
  "operator": "AERA ENERGY LLC",
  "region": "Western",
  "pipelineType": "GAS INTERSTATE ONSHORE",
  "caseStatus": "CLOSED",
  "citedSections": [
    "192.281(e)",
    "192.283(d)",
    "192.285(d)",
    "192.287"
  ],
  "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM",
  "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04",
  "attachmentCount": 2,
  "attachments": [
    {
      "name": "520041013_final order_05172006.pdf",
      "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520041013/520041013_final%20order_05172006.pdf",
      "bytes": 106659,
      "category": "agency_document"
    },
    {
      "name": "CPF_NO_5-2004-1013.pdf",
      "url": "https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520041013/CPF_NO_5-2004-1013.pdf",
      "bytes": 106659,
      "category": "case_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": "AERA ENERGY LLC"
}
```
