{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 32024012NOPV","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":"2024-02-06","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.5(b)(3)(ii), 192.605(a), 192.710(b)(1).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32024012nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32024012nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-32024012nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/32024012NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving NORTHERN NATURAL GAS CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.5(b)(3)(ii),  192.605(a),  192.710(b)(1). The case was opened on 2024-02-06 and is reported as closed as of 2025-03-11. Proposed civil penalty: $68,800. Assessed civil penalty: $68,800. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n32024012NOPV_Closure Letter_03112025_(23-264235).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024012NOPV/32024012NOPV_Closure%20Letter_03112025_(23-264235).pdf\n\n32024012NOPV_Closure Letter_03112025_(23-264235)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024012NOPV/32024012NOPV_Closure%20Letter_03112025_(23-264235)_text.pdf\n\n32024012NOPV_Final Order_04052024_(23-264235).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024012NOPV/32024012NOPV_Final%20Order_04052024_(23-264235).pdf\n\n32024012NOPV_Final Order_04052024_(23-264235)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024012NOPV/32024012NOPV_Final%20Order_04052024_(23-264235)_text.pdf\n\n32024012NOPV_Operator Response to Notice_02292024_(23-264235).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024012NOPV/32024012NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_02292024_(23-264235).pdf\n\n32024012NOPV_PCP PCO_02062024_(23-264235).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024012NOPV/32024012NOPV_PCP%20PCO_02062024_(23-264235).pdf\n\n32024012NOPV_PCP PCO_02062024_(23-264235)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/32024012NOPV/32024012NOPV_PCP%20PCO_02062024_(23-264235)_text.pdf\n\n32024012NOPV_Closure Letter_03112025_(23-264235)_text.pdf\n\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: mark.hewett@nngco.com; thomas.correll@nngco.com;\nBrian.Mundt@nngco.com\nMarch 11, 2025\nMr. Mark Hewett\nPresident & CEO\nNorthern Natural Gas Company\n1111 S. 103rd Street\nOmaha, Nebraska 68124\nRE: CPF 3-2024-012-NOPV\nDear Mr. Hewett:\nOn April 5, 2024, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued\nto Northern Natural Gas Company (NNG) a Final Order pursuant to 49 CFR § 190.213. This\nOrder included a Compliance Order and Civil Penalty assessment. Based on our review of the\ndocumentation provided and confirmation of payment of the civil penalty, it has been determined\nthat NNG has complied with the terms of this Order.\nAccordingly, this case is now closed, and no further action is contemplated with respect to the\nmatters involved in this case. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nGregory A. Ochs\nDirector, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: Brian Mundt, VP Operations, NNG, brian.mundt@nngco.com\nThomas Correll, Director, Pipeline Safety, NNG, thomas.correll@nngco.com\n\n32024012NOPV_Final Order_04052024_(23-264235)_text.pdf\n\nApril 5, 2024\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: mark.hewett@nngco.com\nMr. Mark Hewett\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\nBHE Pipeline Group\n1111 South 103rd Street\nOmaha, Nebraska 68124\nRe: CPF No. 3-2024-012-NOPV\nDear Mr. Hewett:\nEnclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of\nviolation, finds that the civil penalty amount of $68,800 has been paid in full, and specifies\nactions that need to be taken to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. When the terms of\nthe compliance order are completed, as determined by the Director, Central Region, this\nenforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order by e-mail is effective upon the\ndate of transmission and acknowledgement 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 Ochs, Director, Central Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nMs. Laura Demman, President, Northern Natural Gas Co., laura.demman@nngco.com\nMr. Brian Mundt, Vice President of Operations, Northern Natural Gas Co.,\nbrian.mundt@nngo.com\nMr. Thomas Correll, Vice President, Pipeline Safety and Risk, Northern Natural Gas Co.,\nthomas.correll@nngco.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 )\nNorthern Natural Gas Company, ) CPF No. 3-2024-012-NOPV\na subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway )\nEnergy Company, )\n)\n)\n)\nRespondent. )\n__________________________________________)\nFINAL ORDER\nOn February 6, 2024, 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 Northern Natural Gas\nCompany (Respondent). The Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated the pipeline\nsafety regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 192. The Notice also proposed certain measures to correct\nthe violations. Respondent did not contest the allegations of violation or corrective measures,\nprovided additional information, and paid the proposed civil penalty on March 5, 2024.\nBased upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the\npipeline safety regulations listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is\nincorporated by reference:\n49 C.F.R. § 192.5(b)(3)(ii) (Item 1) ─ Respondent failed to identify three sites\n(located in Sartell, MN; Houghton, MI; and Mankato, MN) as class 3 locations.\n49 C.F.R. § 192.605(a) (Item 2) ─ Respondent failed to follow its manual of\nwritten procedures as required. Specifically, Respondent failed to follow its\nprocedure 140.101, section 3.11.3 regarding four initial baseline assessment plans\nin moderate consequence areas.\nThese findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement\naction taken against Respondent. In accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, Respondent is\nassessed the proposed civil penalty amount of $68,800, which Respondent has already paid in\nfull.\n\n\n\nCompliance Actions\nPursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217, Respondent is ordered to take the\nactions proposed in the enclosed Notice to correct the violations. The Director may grant an\nextension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a written request timely\nsubmitted by the Respondent and demonstrating good cause for an extension. Upon completion\nof the ordered actions, Respondent may request that the Director close the case. Failure to\ncomply with this Order may result in the assessment of civil penalties under 49 C.F.R. § 190.223\nor in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States.\nWarning Item\nWith respect to Item 3, the Notice alleged a probable violation of 49 C.F.R. § 192.710(b)(1) but\ndid not propose a civil penalty or compliance order for this item. Therefore, this is considered to\nbe a warning item. If OPS finds a violation of this provision in a subsequent inspection,\nRespondent may be 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.\nApril 5, 2024\n___________________________________ _________________________\nAlan K. Mayberry Date Issued\nAssociate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety","truncated":false,"body_characters":7392}