# NORTHERN NATURAL GAS CO — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 320071002W
- **title:** NORTHERN NATURAL GAS CO — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-01-16
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 192.605(a).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320071002w.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320071002w.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320071002w
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/320071002W
**body:**

Warning Letter involving NORTHERN NATURAL GAS CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.605(a). The case was opened on 2007-01-16 and is reported as closed as of 2007-01-16. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

320071002W_operator response to warning letter_01292007.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320071002W/320071002W_operator%20response%20to%20warning%20letter_01292007.pdf

320071002W_Warning Letter_01162007.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320071002W/320071002W_Warning%20Letter_01162007.pdf

320071002W_Warning Letter_01162007.pdf

@
U.S. Deporlment
of Tronsporlotion
Pipetlne ond
Hozqrdous rvlotedols Sqfe'ry
Admlnlstrqtion
901 Locust Street, Suite 462
Kansas City, MO 64106-264'l
WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REOUESTED
January 16,2007
Mr. Royce Ramsey
Vice President
Northern Natural Gas Comoanv
llll South 103'd Street
Omaha, NE 68124-1000
cPF 3-2007-1002W
Dear Mr. Ramsey:
On July 3l-August 3, August 7-9, August 28-31, and October 9-12,2006, representatives of
the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety (MN-OPS), acting as an Interstate Agent for the
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601
of 49 United States Code inspected your records and facilities in Owatonna, North Branch,
Farmington, and Carlton, MN.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and
the probable violation is:
1. $192.603 General provisions.
(b) Each operator shall keep records necessary to administer the procedures
established under $192.605.
Additionally,
$192.605 Procedural manual for operations, maintenancer and emergencies



(a) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of
written procedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities and lbr
emergency respons€. For transmission lines, the manual must also include
procedures for handling abnormal operations. This manual must lie reviewed and
updated by the operator at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each
calendar year.
Northem Natural Gas personnel were not documenting the annual review of all the
procedures in the Operation and Maintenance manual.
Your personnel indicated that a program was in place to review and update the manuals
and showed that 80 of the I 87 procedures were updated in 2005 . For 2006, approximately
the same number of procedures would be updated. However, the document did not
indicate that all the procedures were reviewed as required.
Under 49 United States Code, $ 60122, you are subject tir a civil penalty not to exceed
$100,000 for each violation for each day the violations persists up to a maximum of
$1,000,000 for any related series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and
supporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional
enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct
the item identified in this letter. Be advised that failure to do so will result in Northem
Natural Gas Compa.ny being subject to additional enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer
to CPF 3-2007-1002W.
Sincerely,
Ivan A. Huntoon
Director, Central Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
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