# SOUTHERN STAR CENTRAL GAS PIPELINE, INC — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 32022045NOPV
- **title:** SOUTHERN STAR CENTRAL GAS PIPELINE, INC — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2022-04-28
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.631(b)(5), 192.631(c)(1), 192.631(e)(2), 192.631(h)(6), 192.631(j)(1).
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32022045nopv
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/32022045NOPV
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving SOUTHERN STAR CENTRAL GAS PIPELINE, INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.631(b)(5),  192.631(c)(1),  192.631(e)(2),  192.631(h)(6),  192.631(j)(1). The case was opened on 2022-04-28 and is reported as closed as of 2022-11-04. Proposed civil penalty: $55,800. Assessed civil penalty: $27,900. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

32022045NOPV_Closure Letter_11042022_(21-201001).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022045NOPV/32022045NOPV_Closure%20Letter_11042022_(21-201001).pdf

32022045NOPV_Closure Letter_11042022_(21-201001)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022045NOPV/32022045NOPV_Closure%20Letter_11042022_(21-201001)_text.pdf

32022045NOPV_Final Order_10172022_(21-201001).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022045NOPV/32022045NOPV_Final%20Order_10172022_(21-201001).pdf

32022045NOPV_Final Order_10172022_(21-201001)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022045NOPV/32022045NOPV_Final%20Order_10172022_(21-201001)_text.pdf

32022045NOPV_Operator Response to Notice_05272022_(21-201001).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022045NOPV/32022045NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_05272022_(21-201001).pdf

32022045NOPV_PCP PCO_04282022_(21-201001).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022045NOPV/32022045NOPV_PCP%20PCO_04282022_(21-201001).pdf

32022045NOPV_PCP PCO_04282022_(21-201001)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32022045NOPV/32022045NOPV_PCP%20PCO_04282022_(21-201001)_text.pdf

32022045NOPV_Closure Letter_11042022_(21-201001)_text.pdf

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: shawn.patterson@southernstar.com and
craig.thomas@southernstar.com
November 4, 2022
Mr. Shawn L. Patterson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.
4700 State Route 56
Box 20010
Owensboro, Kentucky 42301
Re: CPF 3-2022-045-NOPV
Dear Mr. Patterson:
On October 17, 2022, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
issued to Southern Star 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,
Gregory A. Ochs
Director, Central Region, OPS
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
cc: Craig Thomas, Compliance Manager, craig.thomas@southernstar.com

32022045NOPV_Final Order_10172022_(21-201001)_text.pdf

October 17, 2022
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: shawn.patterson@southernstar.com
Mr. Shawn L. Patterson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.
4700 State Route 56
P.O. Box 20010
Owensboro, Kentucky 42304
Re: CPF No. 3-2022-045-NOPV
Dear Mr. Patterson:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of
violation, assesses a civil penalty of $27,900, and specifies actions that need to be taken by
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc., to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. This is
to acknowledge receipt of payment of the full penalty amount, by wire transfer, dated May 27,
2022. When the terms of the compliance order are completed, as determined by the Director,
Central Region, this enforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order by e-mail is
effective upon the date of transmission and acknowledgement of receipt as provided under 49
C.F.R. § 190.5.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Alan K. Mayberry
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Enclosure
cc: Mr. Gregory E. Ochs, Director, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA
Mr. Craig Thomas, Manager, Integrity Management and PHMSA Compliance, Southern
Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc., craig.thomas@southernstar.com



Mr. Mark Luckett, Lead Attorney, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.,
mark.luckett@southernstar.com
CONFIRMATION OF 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 )
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc., ) CPF No. 3-2022-045-NOPV
)
)
)
Respondent. )
_____________________________________)
FINAL ORDER
From October 18 through November 8, 2021, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a representative of
the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety
(OPS), conducted a pipeline safety inspection of the control room records and procedures of
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. (Southern Star or Respondent) in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Southern Star operates approximately 5,800 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines in the
central United States.1
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Central Region, OPS (Director), issued to Respondent,
by letter dated April 28, 2022, a Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty, and
Proposed Compliance Order (Notice). In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Notice
proposed finding that Southern Star had committed four violations of 49 C.F.R. Part 192,
proposed assessing a civil penalty of $55,800 for the alleged violations, and proposed ordering
Respondent to take certain measures to correct the alleged violations. The Notice also included
an additional warning item pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.205, which warned the operator to
correct the probable violation or face possible future enforcement action
Southern Star responded to the Notice by letter dated May 27, 2022 (Response). The company
contested one of the allegations and offered additional information in response to the Notice.
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 192, as follows:
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.631(b)(5), which states:
1 See Southern Star website, available at https://www.southernstar.com/ (last accessed Oct. 5, 2022).



§ 192.631 Control room management.
(a) . . .
(b) Roles and responsibilities. Each operator must define the roles and
responsibilities of a controller during, normal, abnormal, and emergency
operator conditions. To provide for a controller’s prompt and appropriate
response to operating conditions, an operator must define each of the
following:
(1) . . .
(5) The roles, responsibilities and qualifications of others with the
authority to direct or supersede the specific technical actions of a controller.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.631(b)(5) by failing to define the
roles, responsibilities, and qualifications of others with the authority to direct or supersede the
specific technical actions of a controller. Specifically, the Notice alleged that Southern Star’s
written control room management procedures and controller training provided conflicting
information on who could direct or supersede the specific technical actions of controllers.
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. § 192.631(b)(5) for failing to define
the roles, responsibilities, and qualifications of others with the authority to direct or supersede
the specific technical actions of a controller.
Item 2: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.631(c)(1), which states:
§ 192.631 Control room management.
(a) . . .
(c) Provide adequate information. Each operator must provide its
controllers with the information, tools, processes and procedures necessary
for the controllers to carry out the roles and responsibilities the operator has
defined by performing each of the following:
(1) Implement section 1, 4, 8, 9, 11.1, and 11.3 of API RP 1165
(incorporated by reference, see § 192.7) whenever a SCADA system is
added, expanded or replaced, unless the operator demonstrates that certain
provisions of sections 1, 4, 8, 9, 11.1 and 11.3 of API RP 1165 are not
practical for the SCADA system used;
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.631(c)(1) by failing to implement
sections 1, 4, 8, 9, 11.1, and 11.3 of API RP 1165 on its SCADA system, or demonstrating that
certain provisions of these sections are not practical for the SCADA system used. Specifically,
the Notice alleged that although Southern Star developed and built its SCADA system to API RP
1165, it failed to perform an audit to verify that the SCADA operating system met the section
requirements set forth in § 192.631(c)(1).
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. § 192.631(c)(1) for failing to
implement the requisite sections of API RP 1165 on its SCADA system.



Item 3: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.631(e)(2), which states:
§ 192.631 Control room management.
(a) . . .
(e) Alarm management. Each operator using a SCADA system must
have a written alarm management plan to provide for effective controller
response to alarms. An operator’s plan must include provisions to:
(1) . . .
(2) Identify at least once each calendar month points affecting safety
that have been taken off scan in the SCADA host, have had alarms inhibited,
generated false alarms, or that have had forced or manual values for periods
of time exceeding that required for associated maintenance or operating
activities;
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.631(e)(2) by failing to identify at
least once each calendar month points affecting safety that have been taken off scan in the
SCADA host, have had alarms inhibited, generated false alarms, or that have had forced or
manual values for periods of time exceeding that required for associated maintenance or
operating activities. Specifically, the Notice alleged that Southern Star failed to review false
alarms for the years 2019 and 2020.
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. § 192.631(e)(2) for failing to identify
at least once each calendar month points affecting safety that have generated false alarms for
associated maintenance or operating activities.
These findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement
action taken against Respondent.
WITHDRAWAL OF ALLEGATION
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. Part 192, as follows:
Item 4: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.631(h)(6), which states:
§ 192.631 Control room management.
(a) . . .
(h) Training. Each operator must establish a controller training program
and review the training program content to identify potential improvements
at least once each calendar year, but at intervals not to exceed 15 months.
An operator’s program must provide for training each controller to carry out
the roles and responsibilities defined by the operator. In addition, the
training program must include the following elements:
(1) . . .
(6) Control room team training and exercises that include both



controllers and other individuals, defined by the operator, who would
reasonably be expected to operationally collaborate with controllers
(control room personnel) during normal, abnormal or emergency situations.
Operations must comply with the team training requirements under this
paragraph by no later than January 23, 2018.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 192.631(h)(6) by failing to conduct
control room team training and exercises that included both controllers and other individuals,
defined by the operator, who would reasonably be expected to operationally collaborate with
controllers during normal, abnormal or emergency situations. Specifically, the Notice alleged
that Southern Star failed to conduct control room team training that included at least one
controller or control room representative during six training sessions in 2018 and 2019.
In its Response, Southern Star contested this item and submitted additional information.
Specifically, the company provided additional documentation demonstrating that control room
personnel were present during team training in 2018 and 2019.2
In a recommendation for final action submitted pursuant to § 190.209(b)(7), the Director
recommended withdrawing the alleged violation of § 192.631(h)(6) based on this additional
information. Accordingly, after considering all of the evidence, I find no basis for finding a
violation of § 192.631(h)(6). Based upon the foregoing, I hereby order that Item 4 be withdrawn.
ASSESSMENT OF PENALTY
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122, Respondent is subject to an administrative civil penalty not to exceed
$200,000 per violation for each day of the violation, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for any
related series of violations.3
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; any effect that the penalty may have on its ability to continue
doing business; the good faith of Respondent in attempting to comply with the pipeline safety
regulations; and self-disclosure or actions to correct a violation prior to discovery by PHMSA.
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 $55,800 for the violations cited above.
Item 3: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $27,900 for Respondent’s violation of 49 C.F.R.
§ 192.631(e)(2), for failing to review false alarms for the years 2019 and 2020. Southern Star
neither contested the allegation nor presented any evidence or argument justifying a reduction in
2 See Response, at Attachments 1-5. Southern Star further explained in its Response that it did not hold a team
training on one of the dates cited in the Notice. Id., at 2.
3 These amounts are adjusted annually for inflation. See 49 C.F.R. § 190.223 for adjusted amounts.



or elimination of the proposed penalty. Although this violation minimally impacted pipeline
safety, the operator failed to comply with an applicable requirement and did not provide a
reasonable justification for the noncompliance. Accordingly, having reviewed the record and
considered the assessment criteria, I assess Respondent a civil penalty of $27,900 for violation of
49 C.F.R. § 192.631(e)(2).
Item 4: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $27,900 for Respondent’s alleged violation of 49
C.F.R. § 192.631(h)(6). Since this alleged violation has been withdrawn, the proposed penalty is
not assessed.
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 $27,900, which amount was paid
in full by wire transfer on May 27, 2022.
COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to Items 1 and 2 in the Notice for
violations of 49 C.F.R. §§ 192.631(b)(5) and 192.631(c)(1), respectively. Under 49 U.S.C.
§ 60118(a), each person who engages in the transportation of gas or who owns or operates a
pipeline facility is required to comply with the applicable safety standards established under
chapter 601. Pursuant to the authority of 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217,
Respondent is ordered to take the following actions to ensure compliance with the pipeline safety
regulations applicable to its operations:
1. With respect to the violation of § 192.631(b)(5) (Item 1), Respondent must
provide records of completed training for controllers and those identified as “others”
on the policy of disallowing others who have authority to direct or supersede the
specific technical actions of a controller within 90 days of receipt of the Final Order.
2. With respect to the violation of § 192.631(c)(1) (Item 2), Respondent must verify
through audit or other means that its SCADA system complies with sections 1, 4, 8,
9, 11.1, and 11.3 of API RP 1165 within 90 days of receipt of the Final Order.
The Director may grant an extension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a
written request timely submitted by the Respondent and demonstrating good cause for an
extension.
PHMSA requests that Respondent maintain documentation of the safety improvement costs
associated with fulfilling this Compliance Order and submit the total to the Director. It is
requested that these costs be reported in two categories: (1) total cost associated with
preparation/revision of plans, procedures, studies and analyses; and (2) total cost associated with
replacements, additions and other changes to pipeline infrastructure.
Failure to comply with this Order may result in the administrative assessment of civil penalties
not to exceed $200,000, as adjusted for inflation (see 49 C.F.R. § 190.223), for each violation for



each day the violation continues or in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in a
district court of the United States.
WARNING ITEM
With respect to Item 5, the Notice alleged probable violation of Part 192, but identified it as a
warning item pursuant to § 190.205. The warning was for:
49 C.F.R. § 192.631(j)(1)( (Item 5) ─ Respondent’s alleged failure to maintain
for review during inspection records that demonstrate compliance with the
requirements of § 192.631.
If OPS finds a violation of this provision in a subsequent inspection, Respondent may be subject
to future enforcement action.
Under 49 C.F.R. § 190.243, Respondent may submit a Petition for Reconsideration of this Final
Order to the 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. The written petition must be received no later than
20 days after receipt of the Final Order by Respondent. Any petition submitted must contain a
statement of the issue(s) and meet all other requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 190.243. The filing of a
petition automatically stays the payment of any civil penalty assessed. The other terms of the
order, including corrective action, remain in effect unless the Associate Administrator, upon
request, grants a stay.
The terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon service in accordance with 49
C.F.R. § 190.5.
October 17, 2022
___________________________________ __________________________
Alan K. Mayberry Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
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