EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO — Notice of Probable Violation

420051005_Final Order_09012005.pdf, page 1Official PDF@ U.S. Deportmenl of Tronsoorlolion Pipeline ond Hozordou3 Moterlols Sotefy Administldlon 4O0 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 sEP - I 20C5 Mr. Patrick Carey Director of Compliance El Paso Natural Gas Company 1001 Louisiana Street Houston, Texas 77002 Re: CPFNo.4-2005-1005 Dear Mr. Carey: Enclosed is the Final Order issued by the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of violation and assesses a civil penalty. I acknowledge receipt of and accept your wire transfer for $22,000 as payment in fulI of the civil penalty ass-essed ln ttre pinal Order. This case is now closed. Your receipt of the Final Order constitutes service of that document under 49 C.F'R. $ 190.5. Sincerely, #* n"<__ James Reyrolds Pipeline Compliance Registry Office of Pipeline SafetY Enclosure R.M. Seeley Director, Southwest Region, OPS Paul A. Lopez Supervisor, D.O.T. Compliance Services, El Paso Natural Gas Company#

420051005_Final Order_09012005.pdf, page 2DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY WASHINGTON. DC 20590 In the Matter of El Paso Natural Gas Company, Respondent CPF No. 4-2005-1005 FINAL ORDER On February 74,2005, in accordance with 49 C.F.R. $ 190.207, the Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued to Respondent a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed Civil Penalty (Notice). The Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated 49 C.F.R. 5 192.739 and proposed assessing a civil penalty of $22,000 for the alleged violation. Respondent responded to the Notice by letter dated March 11, 2005 and did not contest the allegations nor the amount of the proposed civit penalty. Respondent also provided information concerning its payrnent of the proposed civil penalty. Respondent submitted a wire transfer in the amount of the proposed civil penalty ($22,000), waiving further right to respond and authorizing the entry of this Final Order. Pursuant to 49 C.F.R. g 190.213 and 49 U.S.C. $ 60122,I find that Respondent violated the following section of 49 c.F.R. Part 192.739, as more fully described in the Notice: 49 C.F.R. g 192.739(a)(3) - failing to ensure that each pressure relief valve is set to control or relieve at the correct pressure consistent with the pressure limits of $I92.20I(a). Eleven of Respondent's relief valves in the Stafford area were above the pressure limits required by $ 192.201(a) from 1998 to 2004. This finding ofviolation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action taken againit Respondent. Having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I assess Respondent a civil penalty of $22,000, already paid by Respondent. and conditi ons o fthis Final Order are effective on receipt. This case is now closed' f-,. stP - 1 2C05 Date Issued Administrator for peline Safety#