# NORTHERN NATURAL GAS CO — Notice of Probable Violation

- **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:** Not available
- **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.

Official case documents:

32023009NOPV_Final Order_07072023_(22-233968).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023009NOPV/32023009NOPV_Final%20Order_07072023_(22-233968).pdf

32023009NOPV_Final Order_07072023_(22-233968)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023009NOPV/32023009NOPV_Final%20Order_07072023_(22-233968)_text.pdf

32023009NOPV_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

32023009NOPV_PCP_05172023_(22-233968).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023009NOPV/32023009NOPV_PCP_05172023_(22-233968).pdf

32023009NOPV_PCP_05172023_(22-233968)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32023009NOPV/32023009NOPV_PCP_05172023_(22-233968)_text.pdf

32023009NOPV_Final Order_07072023_(22-233968)_text.pdf

July 7, 2023
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: mark.hewett@nngco.com
Mr. Mark Hewett
President and Chief Executive Officer
Northern Natural Gas Company
1111 South 103rd Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68124
Re: CPF No. 3-2023-009-NOPV
Dear Mr. Hewett:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of
violation, and finds that the civil penalty amount of $75,200 has been paid in full. This case is
now 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
Enclosures (Final Order and NOPV)
cc: Mr. Gregory A. Ochs, Director, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA
Mr. Thomas Correll, Vice President of Pipeline Safety and Risk, Northern Natural Gas
Company, thomas.correll@nngco.com
Mr. Brian J. Mundt, Vice President of Operations, Northern Natural Gas Company,
brian.mundt@nngco.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 )
Northern Natural Gas Company, ) CPF No. 3-2023-009-NOPV
a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway )
Energy Company, )
)
)
)
Respondent. )
____________________________________)
FINAL ORDER
On May 17, 2023, pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 190.207, the Director, Central Region, Office of
Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Civil Penalty1
(Notice) to Northern Natural Gas Company (Respondent). The Notice proposed finding that
Respondent had violated the pipeline safety regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 192 and proposed a
civil penalty of $75,200. Respondent did not contest the allegation of violation and paid the
proposed civil penalty on June 1, 2023.
Based upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the
pipeline safety regulation listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is
incorporated by reference:
49 C.F.R. § 192.605(a) (Item 4) ─ Respondent failed to follow its operations and
maintenance procedure 080.501 and observe surface conditions over its right-of-
way when conducting aerial patrols of its pipeline system.
This finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action
taken against Respondent. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, Respondent is assessed the
proposed civil penalty amount of $75,200, which Respondent has already paid in full.
Warning Items
With respect to Items 1, 2, 3 and 5, the Notice alleged probable violations of 49 C.F.R. §§
192.467(c), 192.605(a), 192.605(a) and 192.917(c), respectively, but did not propose a civil
1 The May 17, 2023, Notice was titled, “Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed
Compliance Order,” however, no compliance actions were proposed in the letter.



penalty or compliance order for these items. Therefore, these are considered to be warning
items. If OPS finds a violation of any of these items in a subsequent inspection, Respondent may
be subject to future enforcement action.
The terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 C.F.R.
§ 190.5.
July 7, 2023
___________________________________ _________________________
Alan K. Mayberry Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
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