# PACIFIC OPERATORS OFFSHORE — Notice of Probable Violation

**Citation:** CPF 520042002  
**Type / status:** enforcement / historical  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2004-03-12

CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 191.17, 192.465(b), 192.467(c), 192.477, 192.481, 192.605(a), 192.605(b)(2), 192.614(c)(6)(ii), 192.615(a)(3)(iv), 192.615(c), 192.705(b), 192.707(a)(2), 192.709(a).

## Document text

Notice of Probable Violation involving PACIFIC OPERATORS OFFSHORE. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 191.17,  192.465(b),  192.467(c),  192.477,  192.481,  192.605(a),  192.605(b)(2),  192.614(c)(6)(ii),  192.615(a)(3)(iv),  192.615(c),  192.705(b),  192.707(a)(2),  192.709(a). The case was opened on 2004-03-12 and is reported as closed as of 2009-02-20. Proposed civil penalty: $22,500. Assessed civil penalty: $10,000. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520042002_Decision on Petition for Reconsideration_02052009.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520042002/520042002_Decision%20on%20Petition%20for%20Reconsideration_02052009.pdf

520042002_Decision on Petition for Reconsideration_02052009_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520042002/520042002_Decision%20on%20Petition%20for%20Reconsideration_02052009_text.pdf

CPF_NO_5-2004-2002.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520042002/CPF_NO_5-2004-2002.pdf

520042002_Decision on Petition for Reconsideration_02052009_text.pdf

CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. Robert P. Carone
President
Pacific Operators Offshore, LLC
P.O. Box 5565
Oxnard, California 93031
Re: CPF No. 5-2004-2002
Dear Mr. Carone:
Enclosed is the Decision on the Petition for Reconsideration in the above-referenced case. The
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety affirms the finding and civil penalty issued for
violation 1 of the February 6, 2007 Final Order. Therefore, the petition is denied, and payment
of the full $10,000 is due within 20 days following receipt of this decision. Your receipt of this
decision constitutes service under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey D. Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Enclosure
cc: Chris Hoidal, Director, Western Region



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON, DC 20590
____________________________________
)
In the Matter of )
)
Pacific Operators Offshore, LLC, ) CPF No. 5-2004-2002
)
Petitioner. )
____________________________________)
DECISION ON PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION
BACKGROUND
On February 6, 2007, pursuant to chapter 601, title 49 United States Code, the Acting Associate
Administrator for Pipeline Safety issued a Final Order in this case finding that Petitioner had
committed violations of the hazardous liquid pipeline safety regulations and assessing a penalty
in the amount of $10,000.
On February 21, 2007, Petitioner filed a petition for reconsideration of the Final Order.
Petitioner seeks reconsideration of the $2000 civil penalty assessed for Item 1 of the Final Order.
The Notice of Probable Violation (“Notice”) alleged that Petitioner violated 49 C.F.R. § 191.7, a
provision which requires pipeline operators to submit a yearly report of incidents, safety related
conditions, and annual pipeline summary data. The Notice alleged that Petitioner failed to file
reports for years 2000, 2001, and 2002. The Notice proposed a $6,000 civil penalty for the
violation. In its Response to the Notice, Petitioner did not contest that it violated 49 C.F.R.
191.7, nor did it offer any explanation for its failure to submit the reports. In the Final Order, the
Acting Associate Administrator found that the Petitioner had violated 49 C.F.R. § 191.17 and
reduced the civil penalty for the violation from the proposed $6,000 to $2,000.
In its Petition for Reconsideration, Petitioner did not contest the Final Order’s finding that it
violated 49 C.F.R. § 191.7 when it failed to file annual reports for years 2000, 2001, and 2002.
However, Petitioner requested “elimination, suspension, or further reduction of the revised civil
penalty” because it was a violation “wherein no conceivable safety related issue has been placed
at risk.” Petitioner further stated that its yearly filings have not changed since initial construction
in 1969.



2
DISCUSSION
The operator is responsible for filing an annual report, even if the information has not changed
from the previously-filed report. PHMSA cannot make any assumptions about the content of a
report an operator has failed to file. Data is central to PHMSA’s regulatory approach. 49 C.F.R.
Part 191 ensures that PHMSA receives current information about pipeline infrastructure. When
a pipeline operator fails to submit an annual report, PHMSA, and state and local governments
that PHMSA shares information with, must rely on data that may be incomplete in conducting
planning activities and in compiling statistics and reports. The statistics and reports are critical
for assessing the state of our nation’s pipeline infrastructure.
.
As noted above, the $2000 civil penalty assessed in the final order was significantly reduced
from the $6000 civil penalty proposed in the Notice. Petitioner did not provide an additional
basis for further reduction.
Relief Denied
Accordingly, the petition for reconsideration is hereby denied. The civil penalty of $10,000
assessed in the Final Order stands.
Accordingly, payment of the civil penalty must be made within 20 days of service. Payment
may be made by sending a certified check or money order (containing the CPF Number for this
case) payable to “U.S. Department of Transportation” to the Federal Aviation Administration,
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Financial Operations Division (AMZ-341), P.O. Box
25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.
Federal regulations (49 C.F.R. § 89.21(b)(3)) also permit this 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 (AMZ-341), Federal Aviation
Administration, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK
73125; (405) 954-8893.
This decision on reconsideration is the final agency action in this proceeding.
__________________________ __________________
Jeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520042002>
- Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement`
- SHA-256: `ab00dacee0dd0388245ae0b43448a4f119c1b5067641ca7635d6b2ea3044cd99`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T23:02:14.353Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-520042002`

### Source metadata

```json
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  "cpf": "520042002",
  "operator": "PACIFIC OPERATORS OFFSHORE",
  "region": "Western",
  "pipelineType": "GAS INTRASTATE OFFSHORE",
  "caseStatus": "CLOSED",
  "citedSections": [
    "191.17",
    "192.465(b)",
    "192.467(c)",
    "192.477",
    "192.481",
    "192.605(a)",
    "192.605(b)(2)",
    "192.614(c)(6)(ii)",
    "192.615(a)(3)(iv)",
    "192.615(c)",
    "192.705(b)",
    "192.707(a)(2)",
    "192.709(a)"
  ],
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  "jurisdiction": "US",
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}
```
