{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 22023013NOPV","title":"FERRELLGAS — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"current","official":true,"published_on":"2023-11-16","effective_on":null,"summary":"OPEN notice of probable violation citing 191.11(a), 192.1007(f), 192.11(b), 192.285(c), 192.285(d), 192.465(d), 192.605(a), 192.616(j), 192.741(a), 192.805(b).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-22023013nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-22023013nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-22023013nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/22023013NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving FERRELLGAS. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 191.11(a),  192.1007(f),  192.11(b),  192.285(c),  192.285(d),  192.465(d),  192.605(a),  192.616(j),  192.741(a),  192.805(b). The case was opened on 2023-11-16 and is reported as open. Proposed civil penalty: $63,900. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n22023013NOPV_Operator Post-Hearing Brief_10312025_(21-224433).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_Operator%20Post-Hearing%20Brief_10312025_(21-224433).pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_Operator Response to Notice and RfH_12112023_(21-224433).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice%20and%20RfH_12112023_(21-224433).pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PCP PCO_11162023_(21-224433).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PCP%20PCO_11162023_(21-224433).pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PCP PCO_11162023_(21-224433)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PCP%20PCO_11162023_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_02072025_(21-224433).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_02072025_(21-224433).pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_02072025_(21-224433)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_02072025_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_05212025_(21-224433).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_05212025_(21-224433).pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_05212025_(21-224433)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_05212025_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_08092024_(21-224433).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_08092024_(21-224433).pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_08092024_(21-224433)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_08092024_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_09112024_(21-224433).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_09112024_(21-224433).pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_09112024_(21-224433)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_09112024_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_10182024_(21-224433).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_10182024_(21-224433).pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_10182024_(21-224433)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Rescheduled_10182024_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_02092024_(21-224433).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Scheduled_02092024_(21-224433).pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_02092024_(21-224433)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/22023013NOPV/22023013NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Scheduled_02092024_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_10182024_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\nDate: October 18, 2024\nFrom: Larry White\nTo: File\nRe: Continuance of Hearing, Ferrellgas, LP\nCPF No. 2-2023-013-NOPV\nBy electronic mail dated October 17, 2024, Megan Haines, Counsel for Ferrellgas LP, and Ryan\nMcClure, Counsel for OPS Southern Region, submitted a joint request for a further continuance of\nthe hearing previously rescheduled for October 28, 2024. The request explained that Ferrellgas has\nexperienced significant impacts following Hurricane Milton.\nI granted the request for a continuance until February 18, 2025 which will be the new hearing date if\na consent agreement is not completed by that time.\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_05212025_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\nMay 21, 2025\nVIA EMAIL TO: MBalaster@reedsmith.com, Ryan.McClure@dot.gov et al.\nMs. Mary Balaster, Esq.\nCounsel for Respondent Ferrellgas, LP\nReed Smith\n1221 McKinney Street, Ste. 2100\nHouston, TX 77010\nMr. Ryan McClure, Esq.\nCounsel for the Agency\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)\n1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.\nWashington, DC 20590\nRe: PHMSA Case No.: 2-2023-013-NOPV, Ferrellgas, LP, Notice of Hearing and\nOrder Regarding Prehearing Statement\nDear Ms. Balaster and Mr. McClure,\nIn accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.211, a hearing will be held regarding the Notice of\nProbable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty and Proposed Compliance Order issued by\nPHMSA in the above referenced case. The hearing will take place on August 12,\n2025, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The hearing will be held virtually via\nMicrosoft Teams. Hearing login information will be provided later.\nEach party is directed to submit to the presiding official and the other party by email a\npre-hearing statement, due no later than July 29th, 2025, including the following\ninformation:\n1. A statement of facts\n2. A list of all agreed upon facts\n3. Defenses (by Respondent)\n4. A witness list including a description and anticipated length of each witness’\nanticipated testimony. The description must be sufficient to show how the\nanticipated testimony may prove or disprove a fact significant to the case.\n\n\n\n5. A copy of all exhibits with an index identifying the documents. All exhibits must\nbe marked for identification in the lower right corner of each page. Documents\nalready in the case file should not be included.\nThe parties must confer regarding item 2 above. Failure to submit items 4 and 5 above\nmay result in disallowance of that evidence at the hearing. The parties may supplement\ntheir hearing exhibits or witness list with fair notice to the other party and the presiding\nofficial.\nA brief pre-hearing conference may be held 7-10 days prior to the hearing if the\npresiding official deems it appropriate.\nThe presiding official strongly recommends that a court reporter transcribe the hearing.\nIf Respondent elects to transcribe the hearing, Respondent should notify the presiding\nofficial (with copy to the other party) as soon as practicable.\nThe Agency is required to be represented by counsel for these proceedings.\nRegards,\nDolores Francis\nPresiding Official\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_08092024_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\nDate: August 9, 2024\nFrom: Larry White\nTo: File\nRe: Continuance of Hearing, Ferrellgas, LP\nCPF No. 2-2023-013-NOPV\nBy electronic mail dated July 24, 2024, Ryan McClure, Counsel for OPS Southern Region, and\nMichelle Maggi, a representative for Ferrellgas, LP submitted a joint request for a continuance of\nthe hearing previously scheduled for August 7, 2024. The request explained that the parties were\nengaged in settlement discussions to resolve the case which would make a hearing unnecessary and\nthe additional time was needed to pursue the negotiations.\nI granted the request for a continuance until September 12, 2024 which will be the new hearing date\nif resolution by consent agreement is not completed by that time.\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_02072025_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\nDate: February 7, 2025\nFrom: Joseph St. Peter\nTo: File\nRe: Continuance of Informal Hearing in CPF No. 2-2023-013-NOPV (Ferrellgas, LP)\nBy electronic mail on February 2, 2025, Ryan McClure, Counsel for Southern Region, requested\na call to discuss a request to reschedule the informal hearing scheduled on February 18, 2025, in\nthe above-listed matter. A call to discuss the request with the parties was held on February 7,\n2025, during which the parties indicated preference to reschedule the February 18 hearing date.\nThe parties also indicated they may engage in further settlement discussions. The request is\ngranted, and the informal hearing in this case will be held via videoconference on Wednesday\nMay 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Pre-hearing submissions under 49 CFR §\n190.211(d) are due no later than May 5, 2025. The videoconference information will be\nprovided to the parties prior to the hearing.\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Rescheduled_09112024_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\nDate: September 11, 2024\nFrom: Larry White\nTo: File\nRe: Continuance of Hearing, Ferrellgas, LP\nCPF No. 2-2023-013-NOPV\nBy electronic mail dated August 28, 2024, Megan Haines, Counsel for Ferrellgas LP, and Ryan\nMcClure, Counsel for OPS Southern Region, submitted a joint request for a further continuance of\nthe hearing previously rescheduled for September 12, 2024. The request explained that the parties\nwere pursuing a resolution of the case which would make a hearing unnecessary, and the additional\ntime was needed due to the change in Respondent’s counsel to complete an agreement.\nI granted the request for a continuance until October 28, 2024 which will be the new hearing date if\na consent resolution is not completed by that time.\n\n22023013NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_02092024_(21-224433)_text.pdf\n\nFebruary 9, 2024\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: rufusyoungblood@ferrellgas.com and\njames.urisko@dot.gov\nMr. Rufus Youngblood\nDirector, Safety\nFerrellgas, LP\nOne Liberty Plaza\nLiberty, MO 64068\nMr. James Urisko\nDirector, Southern Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n230 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 2100\nAtlanta, GA 30303\nRe: Notice of Hearing, Ferrellgas, LP\nCPF No. 2-2023-013-NOPV\nDear Mr. Youngblood and Mr. Urisko:\nIn accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.211, an informal hearing will be held regarding the Notice of\nProbable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order issued by the\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in the above-referenced case. The\nhearing will be held via videoconference on August 7th, 2024, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern\nTime. The videoconference information will be provided prior to the hearing.\nAt least 10 calendar days prior to the hearing (or by July 29th, 2024), both parties must submit\nand exchange any additional written materials they intend to present at the hearing and the name\nand email address of each attendee. This information should be provided electronically.\nMaterials not submitted by this date may be excluded. If you have any questions, please do not\nhesitate to contact me.\nSincerely,\nLarry White\nPresiding Official\n\n\n\ncc: Mr. Matthew Woolf, Esq., Counsel, Ferrellgas, LP, matthewwoolf@ferrellgas.com\nMr. Ryan McClure, Counsel, Southern Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA,\nryan.mcclure@dot.gov","truncated":false,"body_characters":10887}