# NORGASCO INC — Notice of Probable Violation

**Citation:** CPF 520090021  
**Type / status:** enforcement / historical  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2009-09-09

CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.805.

## Document text

Notice of Probable Violation involving NORGASCO INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.805. The case was opened on 2009-09-09 and is reported as closed as of 2010-07-14. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520090021_Final Order_07142010.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520090021/520090021_Final%20Order_07142010.pdf

520090021_Final Order_07142010_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520090021/520090021_Final%20Order_07142010_text.pdf

520090021_nopv pco_09092009.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520090021/520090021_nopv%20pco_09092009.pdf

520090021_nopv pco_09092009_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520090021/520090021_nopv%20pco_09092009_text.pdf

520090021_operator_response_to_notice_09242009.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520090021/520090021_operator_response_to_notice_09242009.pdf

520090021_Final Order_07142010_text.pdf

JUL 14 2010
Mr. Leroy H. Frank
Vice President of Operations
Norgasco, Inc.
4341 B Street, Suite 306
Anchorage, AK 99503
Re: CPF No. 5-2009-0021
Dear Mr. Frank:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of
violation and finds that Norgasco, Inc. has completed the actions specified in the Notice to
comply with the pipeline safety regulations. Therefore, this case is now closed. Service of the
Final Order by certified mail is deemed effective upon the date of mailing, or as otherwise
provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey D. Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Enclosure
cc: Mr. Chris Hoidal, Director, Western Region, PHMSA
Mr. Dennis Hinnah, Deputy Director, Western Region, PHMSA
CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED[7005 1160 0001 0039 0690]



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
______________________________
)
In the Matter of )
)
Norgasco, Inc., ) CPF No. 5-2009-0021
)
Respondent. )
______________________________)
FINAL ORDER
On April 22, 2009, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a representative of the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) conducted an on-
site pipeline safety inspection of the facilities and records of Norgasco, Inc. (hereinafter
“Norgasco” or “Respondent”) in Anchorage, Alaska. Norgasco operates a natural gas
distribution system serving approximately 55 customers in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The inspection
included a review of Norgasco’s Operator Qualification (OQ) Manual and Program.
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Western Region, OPS (Director), issued to
Respondent, by letter dated September 9, 2009, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed
Compliance Order (Notice). In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice proposed
finding that Respondent had violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.805.
Norgasco responded to the Notice by letter dated September 24, 2009 (Response). Norgasco did
not contest the allegations of violation, but provided information concerning the corrective
actions it has taken. Norgasco did not request a hearing and therefore has waived its right to one.
FINDING OF VIOLATION
In its Response, Norgasco did not contest the allegation in the Notice that it violated 49 C.F.R.
Part 192, as follows:
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.805, which states:



2
§ 192.805 Qualification program.
Each operator shall have and follow a written qualification program.
The program shall include provisions to:
(a) Identify covered tasks;
(b) Ensure thorough evaluation that individuals performing covered
tasks are qualified;
(c) Allow individuals that are not qualified pursuant to this subpart to
perform a covered task if directed and observed by an individual that is
qualified;
(d) Evaluate an individual if the operator has reason to believe that the
individual’s performance of a covered task contributed to an incident as
defined in Part 191;
(e) Evaluate an individual if the operator has reason to believe that the
individual is no longer qualified to perform a covered task;
(f) Communicate changes that affect covered tasks to individuals
performing those covered tasks; and
(g) Identify those covered tasks and the intervals at which evaluation
of the individual’s qualifications is needed.
The Notice alleged that Norgasco violated § 192.805 by failing to have an adequate written OQ
program. Specifically, it alleged that Norgasco’s OQ program failed to: (1) include a complete
list of covered tasks; (2) address contract personnel performing covered tasks; (3) address non-
qualified individuals performing covered tasks under the direction and observation of qualified
individuals; (4) address how the operator’s personnel would be trained; (5) address qualification
records; (6) address how changes in covered tasks would be communicated to individuals
performing them; and (7) address the notification of PHMSA about significant changes to the
OQ plan. Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a
review of all the evidence, I find that Norgasco violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.805 by failing to have
an adequate written OQ program.
COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to Item 1 in the Notice for a violation of
§ 192.805. Under 49 U.S.C. § 60118(a), each person who engages in the transportation of
hazardous liquids or who owns or operates a pipeline facility is required to comply with the
applicable safety standards established under chapter 601. The Director has indicated that
Respondent has taken the following actions specified in the proposed compliance order:
With respect to Item 1, Norgasco has updated its written OQ procedures by:
(1) including a complete list of the covered tasks; (2) addressing contract personnel
performing covered tasks; (3) addressing non-qualified individuals performing covered
tasks while being directed and observed by a qualified individual; (4) addressing training
for operator’s personnel to recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions; (5)
addressing qualification records; (6) addressing how changes in covered tasks would be
communicated to individuals performing them; and (7) addressing the notification to



3
PHMSA about significant changes to the OQ plan. Norgasco submitted an updated copy
of its OQ manual that reflects these changes.
Accordingly, I find that compliance has been achieved with respect to this violation. Therefore,
the compliance terms proposed in the Notice are not included in this Order.
The terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon receipt.
___________________________________ __________________________
Jeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520090021>
- Source ID: `phmsa-enforcement`
- SHA-256: `479adb862ec01c94ba83f00799f9002d392baa64ce5865d7a16b8b31e5a6c06c`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:44:44.458Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T22:22:11.777Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-enforcement-520090021`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cpf": "520090021",
  "operator": "NORGASCO INC",
  "region": "Western",
  "pipelineType": "GAS INTRASTATE ONSHORE",
  "caseStatus": "CLOSED",
  "citedSections": [
    "192.805"
  ],
  "dataAsOf": "08/04/2026 12PM",
  "caseDataAsOf": "2026-08-04",
  "attachmentCount": 5,
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  ],
  "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": "NORGASCO INC"
}
```
