# SUPERIOR REFINING COMPANY LLC — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 320116001
- **title:** SUPERIOR REFINING COMPANY LLC — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-07-25
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 195.234(e)(4), 195.404(a)(2), 195.412(a), 195.428(a), 195.442(c)(1), 195.505(b), 195.581(a).
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320116001.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-320116001
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/320116001
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving SUPERIOR REFINING COMPANY LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.234(e)(4),  195.404(a)(2),  195.412(a),  195.428(a),  195.442(c)(1),  195.505(b),  195.581(a). The case was opened on 2011-07-25 and is reported as closed as of 2014-01-13. Proposed civil penalty: $157,900. Assessed civil penalty: $151,250. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

320116001_Closure_01132014.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320116001/320116001_Closure_01132014.pdf

320116001_Closure_01132014_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320116001/320116001_Closure_01132014_text.pdf

320116001_Decision on Petition For Reconsideration_03152013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320116001/320116001_Decision%20on%20Petition%20For%20Reconsideration_03152013.pdf

320116001_Decision on Petition For Reconsideration_03152013_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320116001/320116001_Decision%20on%20Petition%20For%20Reconsideration_03152013_text.pdf

320116001_Final Order_10122012.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320116001/320116001_Final%20Order_10122012.pdf

320116001_Final Order_10122012_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320116001/320116001_Final%20Order_10122012_text.pdf

320116001_Operator Response Notice_08252011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/320116001/320116001_Operator%20Response%20Notice_08252011.pdf

320116001_Closure_01132014_text.pdf

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
January 13, 2014
Mr. Steve Cossè
President and Chief Executive Officer
Murphy Oil Corporation
200 Peach Street
El Dorado, Arizona 71730
Mr. F. William Grube
Chief Executive Officer
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP
2780 Waterfront Parkway East Drive, Suite 200
Indianapolis, Indiana 46214
Re: CPF 3-2011-6001
Gentlemen:
On October 12, 2012, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA) issued to Murphy Oil Corporation and Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP
a Final Order in the above-referenced case. This Order included a Compliance Order and
Civil Penalty assessment. Based on our review of the documentation you provided and
confirmation of payment of the civil penalty, it has been determined that you have
complied with the terms of this Order.
Accordingly, this case is now closed and no further action is contemplated with respect to
the matters involved in this case. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Linda Daugherty
Director, Central Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

320116001_Final Order_10122012_text.pdf

OCTOBER 12, 2012
Mr. Steve Cossé
President and Chief Executive Officer
Murphy Oil Corporation
200 Peach Street
El Dorado, AR 71730
Mr. F. William Grube
Chief Executive Officer
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP
2780 Waterfront Parkway East Drive, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46214
Re: CPF No. 3-2011-6001
Gentlemen:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of
violation and assesses a civil penalty of $157,900 against Murphy Oil Corporation. It also
specifies actions that need to be taken by Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP, the current
owner, to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. The penalty payment terms are set forth
in the Final Order. When the civil penalty has been paid, this enforcement action will be 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. David Barrett, Director, Central Region, OPS
Mr. Alan Mayberry, Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations, OPS
Mr. Steve Hunkus, Vice President, World Wide Refining, Murphy Oil Corporation,
200 Peach Street, El Dorado, Arkansas 71731
Mr. David J. Podratz, Manager, Superior Refinery, Calumet Specialty Products Partners,
LP, 2407 Stinson Avenue, Superior, Wisconsin 54880
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
__________________________________________
)
In the Matter of )
Murphy Oil Corporation, )
Respondent, )
and )
)
)
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP. )
__________________________________________)
) CPF No. 3-2011-6001
FINAL ORDER
On May 18-21 and June 2-5, 2010, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a representative of the
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety
(OPS), conducted an on-site pipeline safety inspection of the facilities and records of Murphy Oil
Corporation’s (Murphy or Respondent) Superior Unit in Superior, Wisconsin.1 The Superior
Unit consists of the Superior Refinery, three breakout tanks, and approximately 6.5 miles of
pipeline within residential and industrial areas near Superior, Wisconsin.2 The pipeline is
located in a High Consequence Area (HCA).3
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Central Region, PHMSA (Director), issued to
Respondent, by letter dated July 25, 2011, a Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Civil
Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order (Notice), which also included a warning pursuant to
49 C.F.R. § 190.205. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice proposed finding that
Murphy had committed various violations of 49 C.F.R. Part 195 and proposed assessing a civil
penalty of $157,900 for the alleged violations. The Notice also proposed ordering Respondent to
take certain measures to correct the alleged violations. The warning item required no further
action but warned the operator to correct the probable violation or face potential enforcement
action.
Murphy responded to the Notice by letter dated August 25, 2011 (Response). The company did
1 The Superior Unit was purchased by Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP (Calumet), on September 30, 2011.
See Murphy Oil Corporation, Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q), at 8 and Exhibit 2.1 (filed November 4, 2011).
2 Pipeline Safety Violation Report (Violation Report), dated July 25, 2011 (on file with PHMSA) at 1.
3 “High Consequence Areas” are defined as commercially navigable waterways, high population areas, other
populated areas, and unusually sensitive areas. See 49 C.F.R. § 195.450.



2
not contest the allegations of violation but provided an explanation of its corrective actions and
requested that several of the proposed civil penalties be reduced. Respondent did not request a
hearing and therefore has waived its right to one.
FINDINGS OF VIOLATION
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. Part 195 as follows:
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.234(e)(4), which states:
§ 195.234 Welds: Nondestructive testing.
(a) . . .
(e) All girth welds installed each day in the following locations must
be nondestructively tested over their entire circumference, except that
when nondestructive testing is impracticable for a girth weld, it need not
be tested if the number of girth welds for which testing is impracticable
does not exceed 10 percent of the girth welds installed that day:
(1) . . .
(4) Within the limits of any incorporated subdivision of a State
government; . . . .
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.234(e)(4) by failing to
nondestructively test over their entire circumference all girth welds located within the limits of
an incorporated subdivision of a State government. Specifically, the Notice alleged that while
Murphy had made 62 girth welds within city limits of Superior, Wisconsin, in October 2008,
Murphy had nondestructively tested only seven.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all
of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.234(e)(4) by failing to
nondestructively test over their entire circumference all girth welds located within the limits of
an incorporated subdivision of a State government.
Item 2: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.404(a)(2), which states:
§ 195.404 Maps and records.
(a) Each operator shall maintain current maps and records of its
pipeline systems that include at least the following information:
(1) . . .
(2) All crossings of public roads, railroads, rivers, buried utilities, and
foreign pipelines.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.404(a)(2) by failing to maintain
current maps or records of its pipeline system indicating crossings of buried utilities.
Specifically, the Notice alleged that Murphy’s maps and records contained no information about
buried utility crossings, despite the fact that the pipelines were located entirely within the city



3
limits of Superior, Wisconsin, and therefore likely to have a significant number of buried utility
crossings.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation, and indicated in its Response that it had
begun to update the company’s maps with the required information. Accordingly, based upon a
review of all of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.404(a)(2) by
failing to maintain current maps or records of its pipeline system indicating crossings of buried
utilities.
Item 3: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.412(a) which states:
§ 195.412 Inspection of rights-of-way and crossings under navigable
waters.
(a) Each operator shall, at intervals not exceeding 3 weeks, but at least
26 times each calendar year, inspect the surface conditions on or adjacent
to each pipeline right-of-way. Methods of inspection include walking,
driving, flying or other appropriate means of traversing the right-of-way.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.412(a) by failing to inspect its
pipeline right-of-way at intervals not exceeding three weeks, but at least 26 times each calendar
year. Specifically, the Notice alleged that Respondent did not conduct pipeline right-of-way
patrols between April 24 and May 20, 2008, exceeding the maximum interval by six days, or
between November 16 and December 15, 2008, exceeding the maximum interval by eight days.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation and stated that it had changed its
inspection interval and its operations and maintenance manual to reflect the regulatory
requirement.4 Accordingly, based upon a review of all of the evidence, I find that Respondent
violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.412(a) by failing to inspect its pipeline right-of-way at intervals not
exceeding three weeks, but at least 26 times each calendar year.
Item 4: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.428(a), which states:
§ 195.428 Overpressure safety devices and overfill protection systems.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each operator
shall, at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar
year, or in the case of pipelines used to carry highly volatile liquids, at
intervals not to exceed 7½ months, but at least twice each calendar year,
inspect and test each pressure limiting device, relief valve, pressure
regulator, or other item of pressure control equipment to determine that it
is functioning properly, is in good mechanical condition, and is adequate
from the standpoint of capacity and reliability of operation for the service
in which it is used.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.428(a) by failing to test each item
of pressure control equipment at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each
4 Response at 1.



4
calendar year. Specifically, the Notice alleged that Respondent could not produce
documentation that it had tested five thermal relief valves for the five years prior to the 2010
PHMSA inspection.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all
of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.428(a) by failing to test each
item of pressure control equipment at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each
calendar year.
Item 5: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.442(c)(1), which states:
§ 195.442 Damage prevention program.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, each operator
of a buried pipeline must carry out, in accordance with this section, a
written program to prevent damage to that pipeline from excavation
activities. For the purpose of this section, the term “excavation activities”
includes excavation, blasting, boring, tunneling, backfilling, the removal
of aboveground structures by either explosive or mechanical means, and
other earthmoving operations.
(b) . . .
(c) The damage prevention program required by paragraph (a) of this
section must, at a minimum:
(1) Include the identity, on a current basis, of persons who normally
engage in excavation activities in the area in which the pipeline is located.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.442(c)(1) by failing to include in
its written damage prevention program the identity of persons who normally engage in
excavation activities in the area in which the pipeline is located. Specifically, the Notice alleged
that Murphy’s list of excavators did not include ones from Duluth, Minnesota, and surrounding
areas who engaged in excavation activity near Superior, Wisconsin. The Notice gave one
specific example of an excavator who had actually been hired by Murphy in the past but who did
not appear on the company’s list of excavators.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all
of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.442(c)(1) by failing to include
in its written damage prevention program the identity of persons who normally engage in
excavation activities in the area in which the pipeline is located.
Item 6: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.505(b), which states:
§ 195.505 Qualification program.
Each operator shall have and follow a written qualification program.
The program shall include provisions to:
(a) . . .
(b) Ensure through evaluation that individuals performing covered
tasks are qualified; . . . .



5
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.505(b) by failing to ensure through
evaluation that individuals performing covered tasks were qualified. Specifically, the Notice
alleged that Murphy identified the performance of rectifier inspections as a covered task, but that
such task had been performed by an individual not qualified under Respondent’s written operator
qualification program. The Notice alleged that this individual had inspected each of Murphy’s
two rectifiers 27 times since November 2007.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all
of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.505(b) by failing to ensure
through evaluation that individuals performing covered tasks were qualified.
Item 8: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.581(a), which states:
§ 195.581 Which pipelines must I protect against atmospheric
corrosion and what coating material may I use?
(a) You must clean and coat each pipeline or portion of pipeline that is
exposed to the atmosphere, except pipelines under paragraph (c) of this
section.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.581(a) by failing to clean and coat
each pipeline or portion of pipeline that was exposed to the atmosphere. Specifically, the Notice
alleged that much of Murphy’s regulated piping at the Superior Refinery and the exposed piping
associated with the breakout tanks near Lake Superior were not protected from atmospheric
corrosion.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all
of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.581(a) by failing to clean and
coat each pipeline or portion of pipeline that was exposed to the atmosphere.
These findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement
action taken against Respondent.
ASSESSMENT OF PENALTY
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122, Respondent is subject to an administrative civil penalty not to exceed
$100,000 per violation for each day of the violation, up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for any
related series of violations. In determining the amount of a civil penalty under
49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 C.F.R. § 190.225, I must consider the following criteria: the nature,
circumstances, and gravity of the violation, including adverse impact on the environment; the
degree of Respondent’s culpability; the history of Respondent’s prior offenses; the Respondent’s
ability to pay the penalty and any effect that the penalty may have on its ability to continue doing
business; and the good faith of Respondent in attempting to comply with the pipeline safety
regulations. In addition, I may consider the economic benefit gained from the violation without
any reduction because of subsequent damages, and such other matters as justice may require.
The Notice proposed a total civil penalty of $157,900 for the violations cited above.



6
Item 1: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $49,600 for Respondent’s violation of
49 C.F.R. § 195.234(e)(4), for failing to nondestructively test over their entire circumference all
girth welds located within the limits of an incorporated subdivision of a State government. As
noted above, I found that Murphy failed to nondestructively test 55 girth welds meeting these
criteria. Murphy did not contest the allegation. Respondent argued, however, that the penalty
should be reduced by 50% because Respondent immediately came into compliance upon being
informed of the violation and because there was no adverse impact on the environment.5
Inspection and testing of girth welds is required in the sensitive areas listed in § 195.234(e), so
that an operator may be able to identify integrity problems before they cause accidents.
Presumably, this is the very reason Murphy conducted nondestructive testing on seven of the
girth welds. However, Murphy failed to inspect a large majority of its other girth welds. The
gravity of the violation and culpability for the violation of an unambiguous regulation is not
mitigated by later attempts to achieve compliance. I see no basis for reduction of the proposed
penalty. Accordingly, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I
assess Respondent a civil penalty of $49,600 for violation of 49 C.F.R. § 195.234(e)(4).
Item 3: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $13,300 for Respondent’s violation of
49 C.F.R. § 195.412(a), for failing to inspect its pipeline right-of-way at intervals not exceeding
three weeks, but at least 26 times a calendar year. As noted above, I found that Murphy had
exceeded the maximum inspection interval on two occasions in 2008. Murphy did not contest
the allegation but requested a reduction of the proposed penalty by 50%, in light of the fact it had
conducted bi-monthly inspections in 2008 and had immediately conducted additional inspections
after discovery of the violation.6 Respondent also argued that no adverse effect on the
environment resulted from the longer inspection interval.
The proposed penalty for this Item already took into account that no pipeline failure or spill had
resulted from the violation. Furthermore, the gravity of the violation was increased due to the
proximity of the pipeline right-of-way to environmentally sensitive HCAs. Regular inspections
of pipeline rights-of-way enable operators to identify integrity threats before they result in
pipeline failures. Respondent is fully culpable for its documented delays in conducting
inspections. The nature, circumstances and gravity of the violation warrant the proposed penalty.
Accordingly, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I assess
Respondent a civil penalty of $13,300 for violation of 49 C.F.R. § 195.412(a).
Item 4: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $62,100 for Respondent’s violation of
49 C.F.R. § 195.428(a), for failing to test each item of pressure control equipment at intervals not
exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year. Murphy neither contested the
allegation nor presented any evidence or argument justifying a reduction in the proposed penalty.
Pressure limiting devices are critical for preventing pressure-related pipeline failures; regular
maintenance of such devices helps to ensure that facilities are adequately protected. Respondent
5 Id.
6 Id.



7
was fully culpable for the violation, apparently operating under the impression that thermal relief
valves were not subject to this inspection and testing requirement. This omission lasted for at
least five years and could have had significant consequences if an overpressure event had
occurred. Given the potential threat posed by the violation, I find that the nature, gravity,
circumstances, and duration of the violation support the proposed penalty amount. Accordingly,
having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I assess Respondent a civil
penalty of $62,100 for violation of 49 C.F.R. § 195.428(a).
Item 6: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $32,900 for Respondent’s violation of
49 C.F.R. § 195.505(b), for failing to ensure through evaluation that individuals performing
covered tasks were qualified. Respondent did not contest the allegation but requested a 50%
reduction in the proposed civil penalty, in light of the fact that the individual performing the
covered task was competent and capable, that there had been no “adverse impacts” from the
individual’s lack of qualification, and that the individual was subsequently qualified to perform
the task immediately after Murphy’s discovery of the violation.7
I find these arguments unpersuasive. The purpose of the qualification program is to ensure that
individuals performing critical safety-related tasks on pipelines are properly qualified to perform
those tasks. In this instance, Respondent identified the task in question as one that was required
by Part 195 and that would affect the operation or integrity of the pipeline; therefore, the failure
to ensure the task was performed by a properly qualified individual was a significant oversight,
no matter how competent the individual may have actually been. The failure to ensure that an
individual performing covered tasks was properly qualified was in direct violation of both the
regulation and Respondent’s own written procedures. Corrective actions taken after the violation
was discovered are commendable but do not warrant a reduction in the proposed penalty. I find
that the nature, gravity, circumstances, and duration of the violation support the proposed penalty
amount. Accordingly, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I
assess Respondent a civil penalty of $32,900 for violation of 49 C.F.R. § 195.505(b).
In summary, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria for each of the
Items cited above, I assess Respondent a total civil penalty of $157,900.
Payment of the civil penalty must be made within 20 days of service. Federal regulations
(49 C.F.R. § 89.21(b)(3)) require such 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 269039, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125. The
Financial Operations Division telephone number is (405) 954-8893.
Failure to pay the $157,900 civil penalty will result in accrual of interest at the current annual
rate in accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 3717, 31 C.F.R. § 901.9 and 49 C.F.R. § 89.23. Pursuant to
those same authorities, a late penalty charge of six percent (6%) per annum will be charged if
payment is not made within 110 days of service. Furthermore, failure to pay the civil penalty
7 Id. at 2.



8
may result in referral of the matter to the Attorney General for appropriate action in a district
court of the United States.
COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to Items 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 in the Notice for
violations of 49 C.F.R. §§ 195.404(a)(2), 195.428(a), 195.442(c)(1), 195.505(b), and 195.581(a),
respectively. 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
Murphy took certain actions to address some of the cited violations but has not yet produced any
documentation of these actions. Since Murphy no longer operates the Superior Unit and
Calumet is now responsible for the safe operations of its pipeline facilities, PHMSA expects
Calumet to take the following actions to ensure compliance with the pipeline safety regulations
applicable to its operations:
1. With respect to the violation of § 195.404(a)(2) (Item 2), Calumet is expected to
update its maps and records to reflect pipeline crossings of all buried utilities and
make them available to appropriate personnel.
2. With respect to the violation of § 195.428(a) (Item 4), Calumet is expected to
inspect and test each pressure-limiting device to determine that it is functioning
properly, is in good mechanical condition, and is adequate from the standpoint of
capacity and reliability of operation.
3. With respect to the violation of § 195.442(c)(1) (Item 5), Calumet is expected to
update its damage prevention program to include the identities of all parties that
normally conduct excavation activities in the area in which the pipeline is located.
4. With respect to the violation of § 195.505(b) (Item 6), Calumet is expected to
train and qualify the individuals responsible for performing the rectifier inspections
required by § 195.573(c).
5. With respect to the violation of § 195.581(a) (Item 8), Calumet is expected to
clean and coat each pipeline or portion of pipeline that is exposed to atmospheric
corrosion. Respondent must develop a plan and schedule for protection of exposed
piping.
6. PHMSA requests that Calumet submit documentation demonstrating compliance
with each of these items to David Barrett, Director, Central Region, Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 901 Locust Street, Kansas City, MO
64106, within 30 days after their completion.



9
WARNING ITEM
With respect to Item 7, the Notice alleged probable violations of Part 195.505(b) but did not
propose a civil penalty or compliance order for this item. Therefore, this is considered to be a
warning item. The warning was for:
49 C.F.R. § 195.505(b) (Item 7) ─ Respondent’s alleged failure to ensure through
evaluation that individuals performing covered tasks were qualified. Specifically,
Respondent failed to ensure that personnel installing Tapecoat – 20 coating were
properly qualified.
Murphy presented information in its Response showing that it had taken certain actions to
address this Item.8 However, if PHMSA finds a violation of this provision, Respondent may be
subject to future enforcement action.
Under 49 C.F.R. § 190.215, Respondent has a right to submit a Petition for Reconsideration of
this Final Order. The petition must be sent to: Associate Administrator, Office of Pipeline
Safety, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC
20590, with a copy sent to the Office of Chief Counsel, PHMSA, at the same address. PHMSA
will accept petitions received no later than 20 days after receipt of service of this Final Order by
the Respondent, provided they contain a brief statement of the issue(s) and meet all other
requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 190.215. The filing of a petition automatically stays the payment of
any civil penalty assessed. Unless the Associate Administrator, upon request, grants a stay, all
other terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon service in accordance with
49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
___________________________________ __________________________
Jeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
8 Id. at 2.

320116001_Decision on Petition For Reconsideration_03152013_text.pdf

MARCH 15, 2013
Mr. Steve Cossé
President and Chief Executive Officer
Murphy Oil Corporation
200 Peach Street
El Dorado, AR 71730
Mr. F. William Grube
Chief Executive Officer
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP
2780 Waterfront Parkway East Drive, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46214
Re: CPF No. 3-2011-6001
Gentlemen:
Enclosed please find the Decision issued by PHMSA on the Petition for Reconsideration filed by
Murphy Oil Corporation in the above-referenced case. For the reasons set forth in the Decision,
the petition is granted in part, denied in part, and the total civil penalty reduced to $151,250.
Payment of the civil penalty is due within 20 days of service. When the civil penalty has been
paid and the terms of the compliance order completed, as determined by the Director, Central
Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA, this enforcement action will be closed.
Service of this decision by certified mail is deemed effective upon 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. David Barrett, Director, Central Region, OPS
Mr. Alan Mayberry, Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations, OPS
Mr. Steve Hunkus, Vice President, World Wide Refining, Murphy Oil Corporation,
200 Peach Street, El Dorado, Arkansas 71731
Mr. David J. Podratz, Manager, Superior Refinery, Calumet Specialty Products Partners,
LP, 2407 Stinson Avenue, Superior, Wisconsin 54880
Kevin J. Lipson, Esquire, DLA Piper LLP
CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
__________________________________________
In the Matter of )
Murphy Oil Corporation, ) CPF No. 3-2011-6001
Petitioner, )
and )
)
)
)
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Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP. )
_________________________________________ )
DECISION ON PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION
On October 12, 2012, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118 and 49 C.F.R. § 190.213, the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued a
Final Order in this proceeding, finding that Murphy Oil Corporation (Murphy or Petitioner) had
committed various violations of 49 C.F.R Part 195. These findings of violation arose from an
on-site pipeline safety inspection of the facilities and records of Murphy’s Superior Unit in
Superior, Wisconsin.1 The Superior Unit consists of the Superior Refinery, three breakout tanks,
and approximately 6.5 miles of pipeline within residential and industrial areas near Superior,
Wisconsin.2 The pipeline is located in a High Consequence Area (HCA).3
The Director, Central Region, OPS (Director), issued a Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed
Civil Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order (Notice) to the Petitioner by letter dated
July 25, 2011. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice proposed finding that
Murphy had committed various violations of 49 C.F.R. Part 195 and proposed assessing a civil
penalty of $157,900 for the alleged violations. Murphy responded to the Notice by letter dated
August 25, 2011 (Response). The company did not contest the allegations of violation but
provided an explanation of its corrective actions and requested that several of the proposed civil
penalties be reduced.
The Final Order made findings of violation and assessed a total civil penalty of $157,900 for the
violations. The Final Order also specified actions that needed to be taken by Calumet, the
1 The Superior Unit was purchased by Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP (Calumet), on September 30, 2011.
See Murphy Oil Corporation, Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q), at 8 and Exhibit 2.1 (filed November 4, 2011)
(available at http://www.murphyoilcorp.com/ir/filings.aspx?source=1002&fg=23, last accessed on March 11, 2013).
2 Pipeline Safety Violation Report (Violation Report), dated July 25, 2011 (on file with PHMSA) at 1.
3 “High Consequence Areas” are defined as commercially navigable waterways, high population areas, other
populated areas, and unusually sensitive areas. See 49 C.F.R. § 195.450.



current owner of the pipeline system, to comply with the pipeline safety regulations (Compliance
Order).
Pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.215, a respondent may petition PHMSA for reconsideration of a
final order. PHMSA does not consider repetitious information, arguments, or petitions, but may
consider additional facts or arguments, provided that the respondent submits a valid reason why
such information was not presented prior to issuance of the final order. PHMSA may grant or
deny, in whole or in part, a petition for reconsideration without further proceedings, or may
request additional information, data, and comment as deemed appropriate. The filing of a
petition stays the payment of any civil penalty assessed, but does not stay any required corrective
action.
I. Decision
In its Petition, Murphy did not contest any of the findings of violation in the Final Order, but
requested reconsideration of the civil penalties assessed for Items 1, 3, and 6. As noted above,
49 C.F.R. § 190.215 provides that PHMSA will not “consider repetitious information, arguments
or petitions” in a petition for reconsideration. Upon careful review of Murphy’s petition for a
reduction of the three penalties, I cannot discern any new information or arguments that were not
previously submitted in the company’s Response. Therefore, I find the Petition to be without
merit on procedural grounds.
Notwithstanding the repetitious nature of the Petition, I have reviewed and reconsidered
Murphy’s arguments for penalty reductions. As discussed more fully below, I affirm the
penalties assessed for Items 1 and 6, but reduce the penalty for Item 3.
II. Discussion
In assessing each of the civil penalties in the Final Order, I considered the nature, circumstances,
and gravity of the violation, including adverse impacts on the environment; the degree of
Petitioner’s culpability; the history of Petitioner’s prior offenses; Petitioner’s ability to pay the
penalty and any effect that the penalty might have on its ability to continue doing business; and
the good faith of Petitioner in attempting to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. Each of
the three penalties is discussed in detail below.
Item 1
In its Petition, Murphy requested that the civil penalty associated with this violation of
49 C.F.R. § 195.234(e)(4) be reduced by 50% to $24,500. Murphy did not submit any new
arguments for a reduction in penalty, but reiterated the arguments and explanations made in its
Response. Murphy pointed to its “lack of prior offenses” and stated that its “strong compliance
program ensures that Murphy will not repeat this violation in the future.”4 However, as noted in
the Violation Report supporting the Notice, Murphy’s compliance history was already taken into
account in the proposed penalty,5 and the company’s intention to not commit the same offense in
the future is no reason to reduce a penalty for past conduct. As the Final Order explained, “[t]he
4 Petition at 2.
5 Violation Report at 38.



gravity of the violation and culpability for the violation of an unambiguous regulation is not
mitigated by later attempts to achieve compliance. I see no basis for reduction of the proposed
penalty.”
Murphy also argued that the failure of the Final Order to either reduce the civil penalty or to
articulate why the lack of adverse impacts associated with this violation should not prompt a
reduction in the civil penalty rendered the penalty arbitrary and capricious.6 I disagree. The
civil penalty proposed by the Notice had already taken into account the fact that no pipeline
failure or environmental consequences resulted from this regulatory violation.7 Therefore, it was
neither arbitrary nor capricious for the Final Order to decline to further reduce the penalty. In
addition, Petitioner neither explained nor provided any legal authority for its due process claim.
I find that Murphy has not presented any new information or other basis in its Petition to support
a penalty reduction. The assessed civil penalty of $49,600 stands and Murphy’s petition on this
Item is denied.
Item 3
In its Petition, Murphy requested that the civil penalty associated with this violation of
49 C.F.R. § 195.412(a) also be reduced by 50% to $6,650. In the Final Order, I found that
Murphy failed to inspect its pipeline right-of-way at intervals not exceeding three weeks, but at
least 26 times each calendar year, on two occasions in 2008. Specifically, I found that
Respondent did not conduct pipeline right-of-way patrols between April 24 and May 20, 2008,
exceeding the maximum interval by six days, or between November 16 and December 15, 2008,
exceeding the maximum interval by eight days.8
As in its discussion of the penalty assessed for Item 1, Murphy pointed to its “lack of prior
offenses” and stated that its “strong compliance program will prevent any future violations of
this requirement.”9 However, Murphy’s compliance history was already taken into account in
the penalty proposed by the Notice,
10 and the company’s intention to not commit the same
offense in the future is no reason to reduce a penalty for past conduct.
In its Petition, Murphy argued that the penalty was unreasonably high in light of the
circumstances surrounding the violations. Murphy noted that the violations were limited in
scope and duration, and that it had in fact performed regular bi-monthly inspections of its right-
of-way.11 While it is true that Petitioner failed to meet the prescriptive requirement of the
regulation on two occasions, it did nevertheless conduct the other 24 required inspections during
the rest of the year. Due to the limited scope and duration of the violation, and having reviewed
6 Petition at 3.
7 Violation Report at 5.
8 Final Order at 3.
9 Petition at 3.
10 Violation Report at 38.
11 Petition at 3.



the record and reconsidered the assessment criteria, I find that a 50 percent reduction in penalty
for Item 3 is warranted. Accordingly, I assess Petitioner a reduced civil penalty of $6,650 and
grant Murphy’s petition on this Item.
Item 6
In its Petition, Murphy requested that the civil penalty associated with this violation of
49 C.F.R. § 195.505(b) also be reduced by 50% to $16,450. Murphy argued that the penalty
assessed for this violation was “unreasonably high” because the violation “was limited to one
individual who was, in fact, competent to perform rectifier inspections.”12 However, the
violation was for the failure to ensure through evaluation that individuals performing covered
tasks were qualified. While this violation was limited to one person, it occurred 27 times over a
period of 2½ years. As the Final Order explained:
“The purpose of the qualification program is to ensure that individuals
performing critical safety-related tasks on pipelines are properly qualified
to perform those tasks. In this instance, Respondent identified the task in
question as one that was required by Part 195 and that would affect the
operation or integrity of 
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