{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 32021036NOPV","title":"U.S. VENTURE, INC. — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2021-08-25","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 195.505(b).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32021036nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32021036nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32021036nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/32021036NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving U.S. VENTURE, INC.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 195.505(b). The case was opened on 2021-08-25 and is reported as closed as of 2021-11-18. Proposed civil penalty: $81,900. Assessed civil penalty: $81,900. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n32021036NOPV_Final Order_10142021_(20-172201).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32021036NOPV/32021036NOPV_Final%20Order_10142021_(20-172201).pdf\n\n32021036NOPV_Final Order_10142021_(20-172201)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32021036NOPV/32021036NOPV_Final%20Order_10142021_(20-172201)_text.pdf\n\n32021036NOPV_PCP_08252021_(20-172201).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32021036NOPV/32021036NOPV_PCP_08252021_(20-172201).pdf\n\n32021036NOPV_PCP_08252021_(20-172201)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32021036NOPV/32021036NOPV_PCP_08252021_(20-172201)_text.pdf\n\n32021036NOPV_Final Order_10142021_(20-172201)_text.pdf\n\nOctober 14, 2021\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: jschmidt@usoil.com\nJohn Schmidt\nPresident & Chief Executive Officer\nU.S. Venture, Inc.\n425 Better Way\nAppleton, Wisconsin 54915\nRe: CPF No. 3-2021-036-NOPV\nDear Mr. Schmidt:\nEnclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of\nviolation and assesses a civil penalty of $81,900. When the civil penalty has been paid, this\nenforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order by e-mail is effective upon the\ndate of transmission as provided under 49 C.F.R. § 190.5.\nThank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nAlan K. Mayberry\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\nEnclosures (Final Order and NOPV)\ncc: Mr. Gregory Ochs, Director, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nMs. Melodie Briggs, Compliance Manager, U.S. Venture, Inc., mbriggs@usoil.com\nMr. Eric Kessenich, President, U.S. Oil, U.S. Venture, Inc., ekessenich@usoil.com\nMr. Dan Morrill, Vice President, Terminal Operations, U.S. Venture, Inc.,\ndmorrill@usoil.com\nCONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED\n\n\n\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nOFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20590\n____________________________________\nIn the Matter of )\nU.S. Venture, Inc., ) CPF No. 3-2021-036-NOPV\n)\n)\n)\nRespondent. )\n____________________________________)\nFINAL ORDER\nOn August 25, 2021, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Central Region, Office of\nPipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation (Notice) to U.S. Venture, Inc.\n(Respondent). The Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated the pipeline safety\nregulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 195 and proposed a civil penalty of $81,900. Respondent did not\ncontest the allegation of violation or the proposed civil penalty.\nBased upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the\npipeline safety regulation listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is\nincorporated by reference:\n49 C.F.R. § 195.505(b) (Item 1) ─ Respondent failed to identify covered tasks\nand to qualify seven terminal technicians responsible for performing monthly\nrectifier readings and/or rectifier calibrations until late October 2020.\nThis finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action\ntaken against Respondent. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, Respondent is assessed a\ncivil penalty amount of $81,900.\nPayment of the civil penalty must be made within 20 days of service. Federal regulations (49\nC.F.R. § 89.21(b)(3)) require such payment to be made by wire transfer through the Federal\nReserve Communications System (Fedwire), to the account of the U.S. Treasury. Detailed\ninstructions are contained in the enclosure. Questions concerning wire transfers should be\ndirected to: Financial Operations Division (AMK-325), Federal Aviation Administration, Mike\nMonroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 S MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 79169.\nThe Financial Operations Division telephone number is (405) 954-8845.\nFailure to pay the $81,900 civil penalty will result in accrual of interest at the current annual rate\nin accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 3717, 31 C.F.R. § 901.9 and 49 C.F.R. § 89.23. Pursuant to\n\n\n\nCPF No. 3-2021-36-NOPV\nPage 2\nthose same authorities, a late penalty charge of six percent (6%) per annum will be charged if\npayment is not made within 110 days of service. Furthermore, failure to pay the civil penalty\nmay result in referral of the matter to the Attorney General for appropriate action in a district\ncourt of the United States.\nThe terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R.\n§ 190.5.\nOctober 14, 2021\n___________________________________ _________________________\nAlan K. Mayberry Date Issued\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety","truncated":false,"body_characters":5005}