# EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 420051005
- **title:** EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2005-02-14
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.739(a)(3).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420051005.json
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420051005
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420051005
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.739(a)(3). The case was opened on 2005-02-14 and is reported as closed as of 2005-09-01. Proposed civil penalty: $22,000. Assessed civil penalty: $22,000. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

420051005_Final Order_09012005.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420051005/420051005_Final%20Order_09012005.pdf

420051005_Final Order_09012005.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



DEPARTMENT 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
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