{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 32023009NOPV","title":"NORTHERN NATURAL GAS CO — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2023-05-17","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.467(c), 192.605(a), 192.917(c).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32023009nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32023009nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32023009nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/32023009NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving NORTHERN NATURAL GAS CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.467(c),  192.605(a),  192.917(c). The case was opened on 2023-05-17 and is reported as closed as of 2023-07-07. Proposed civil penalty: $75,200. Assessed civil penalty: $75,200. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n32023009NOPV_Final Order_07072023_(22-233968).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023009NOPV/32023009NOPV_Final%20Order_07072023_(22-233968).pdf\n\n32023009NOPV_Final Order_07072023_(22-233968)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023009NOPV/32023009NOPV_Final%20Order_07072023_(22-233968)_text.pdf\n\n32023009NOPV_Operator Response to Notice_06152023_(22-233968).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023009NOPV/32023009NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_06152023_(22-233968).pdf\n\n32023009NOPV_PCP_05172023_(22-233968).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023009NOPV/32023009NOPV_PCP_05172023_(22-233968).pdf\n\n32023009NOPV_PCP_05172023_(22-233968)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023009NOPV/32023009NOPV_PCP_05172023_(22-233968)_text.pdf\n\n32023009NOPV_Final Order_07072023_(22-233968)_text.pdf\n\nJuly 7, 2023\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: mark.hewett@nngco.com\nMr. Mark Hewett\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\nNorthern Natural Gas Company\n1111 South 103rd Street\nOmaha, Nebraska 68124\nRe: CPF No. 3-2023-009-NOPV\nDear Mr. Hewett:\nEnclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of\nviolation, and finds that the civil penalty amount of $75,200 has been paid in full. This case is\nnow closed. Service of the Final Order by e-mail is effective upon the date of transmission and\nacknowledgement of receipt 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 A. Ochs, Director, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nMr. Thomas Correll, Vice President of Pipeline Safety and Risk, Northern Natural Gas\nCompany, thomas.correll@nngco.com\nMr. Brian J. Mundt, Vice President of Operations, Northern Natural Gas Company,\nbrian.mundt@nngco.com\nCONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED\n\n\n\n\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 )\nNorthern Natural Gas Company, ) CPF No. 3-2023-009-NOPV\na subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway )\nEnergy Company, )\n)\n)\n)\nRespondent. )\n____________________________________)\nFINAL ORDER\nOn May 17, 2023, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Central Region, Office of\nPipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Civil Penalty1\n(Notice) to Northern Natural Gas Company (Respondent). The Notice proposed finding that\nRespondent had violated the pipeline safety regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 192 and proposed a\ncivil penalty of $75,200. Respondent did not contest the allegation of violation and paid the\nproposed civil penalty on June 1, 2023.\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. § 192.605(a) (Item 4) ─ Respondent failed to follow its operations and\nmaintenance procedure 080.501 and observe surface conditions over its right-of-\nway when conducting aerial patrols of its pipeline system.\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 the\nproposed civil penalty amount of $75,200, which Respondent has already paid in full.\nWarning Items\nWith respect to Items 1, 2, 3 and 5, the Notice alleged probable violations of 49 C.F.R. §§\n192.467(c), 192.605(a), 192.605(a) and 192.917(c), respectively, but did not propose a civil\n1 The May 17, 2023, Notice was titled, “Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed\nCompliance Order,” however, no compliance actions were proposed in the letter.\n\n\n\npenalty or compliance order for these items. Therefore, these are considered to be warning\nitems. If OPS finds a violation of any of these items in a subsequent inspection, Respondent may\nbe subject to future enforcement action.\nThe terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R.\n§ 190.5.\nJuly 7, 2023\n___________________________________ _________________________\nAlan K. Mayberry Date Issued\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety","truncated":false,"body_characters":4877}