# NOBLE MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 420067003
- **title:** NOBLE MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2006-08-08
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 195.505(b), 195.509(a).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420067003.json
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420067003
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420067003
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving NOBLE MIDSTREAM SERVICES, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.505(b),  195.509(a). The case was opened on 2006-08-08 and is reported as closed as of 2008-04-18. Proposed civil penalty: $48,000. Assessed civil penalty: $48,000. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

420067003_Final Order_04182008.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420067003/420067003_Final%20Order_04182008.pdf

420067003_final order_04182008_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420067003/420067003_final%20order_04182008_text.pdf

420067003_final order_04182008_text.pdf

o
U S Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave 5 E
Washington DC 20590
APR 1 8 2008
VIA CERTIFIED MAIL — RETURN RECEIPT RE UESTED
Mr. David L. Stover
Senior Vice President
Noble Energy, Inc.
100 Glenborough, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77067-3618
Re: CPF No. 4-2006-7003
Dear Mr Stover:
Enclosed is the Final Order issued 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 $48, 000
as payment in full of the civil penalty assessed in the Final Order. The Final Order also
acknowledges your completion of the proposed compliance order items to comply with the
pipeline safety regulations. Therefore, this case is now closed. Your receipt of the Final Order
constitutes service of that document under 49 C F. R. $ 190. 5
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter
Smcerely,
Jeffrey D Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipelme Safety
Enclosure



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20590
In the Matter of
Noble Energy, Inc.
Respondent
CPF No. 4-2006-7003
,
FINAL ORDER
On April 20-21, 2005, pursuant to 49 U. S. C. ( 60117, representatives of the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) and the Railroad
Commission of Texas conducted an on-site pipeline safety inspection of Respondent's operator
qualification program in Houston, Texas. Respondent operates an offshore crude oil pipeline in
the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana. As a result of the inspection, the Director, Southwest Region,
OPS, issued to Respondent, by letter dated August 8, 2006, a Notice of Probable Violation,
Proposed Civil Penalty, and Proposed Compliance Order (Notice). In accordance with 49 C. F. R,
) 190. 207, the Notice proposed finding that Respondent committed violations of 49 C, F, R. Part
195 and proposed assessing a civil penalty of $48, 000 for the alleged violations, The Notice also
proposed ordering Respondent to take certain measures to correct the alleged violations.
On September 11, 2006, Respondent submitted a wire transfer in the amount of the proposed
civil penalty ($48, 000), thereby waiving any further right to respond and authorizing the entry of
this Final Order. By correspondence dated February 15 and June 4, 2007, Respondent submitted
documentation concerning the corrective actions it had taken,
FINDINGS OF VIOLATION
Pursuant to 49 U. S. C. ) 60122 and 49 C. F. R. $$ 190. 209(a)(1) and 190, 213, I find that
Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. Part 195, as follows:
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. ( 505(b), which states:
g 195. 505 — Qualification program.
Each operator shall have and follow a written qualification program. The
program shall include provisions to. . .
(b) Ensure through evaluation that individuals performing covered tasks
are qualified. . . .



I find that Respondent violated $ 195. 505(b) in three respects: First, Respondent's qualification
program failed to set forth the evaluation methods and criteria for determining if an individual
were qualified. Second, the program failed to identify each abnormal operating condition
associated with the covered tasks performed on Respondent's pipeline system. Finally,
Respondent permitted individuals who were not properly qualified to perform covered tasks on
its system. Accordingly, I find that Respondent violated ) 195. 505(b) by failing to have and
follow a written qualification program that included provisions to ensure through evaluation that
individuals performing covered tasks were qualified.
Item 2: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C. F. R. ) 195. 509(a), which states.
g 195. 509 — General.
(a) Operators must have a written qualification program by April 27, 2001
Respondent could not demonstrate that it had a written qualification program by April 27, 2001.
Evidence gathered during the inspection indicated that around the time of the deadline,
Respondent had a document that resembled a proposal rather than a final qualification program.
The document was not dated, consisted of only eight pages, and was titled "Written Plan
Introduction, " all which implied that more detail would be provided at a later date In addition,
the document was written in the future tense. For example, the document stated that "Noble
Energy will use several methods to evaluate our employees who perform a covered task" but the
document did not set forth the actual methods to be used. Accordingly, I find Respondent
violated $ 195. 509(a) by failing to have a written qualification program by April 27, 2001.
These findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement
action against Respondent. Havmg reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I
assess Respondent a civil penalty of $48, 000, which has already been paid by Respondent.
The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to Items 1 and 2 in the Notice for
violations of $$ 195. 505(b) and 195. 509(a), respectively. Under 49 U. S. C. ) 60118(a), each
person who engages in the transportation of hazardous liquid by pipeline or who owns or
operates a hazardous liquid pipeline facility is required to comply with the applicable safety
standards established under chapter 601. The Director, Southwest Region, OPS, has reviewed
the corrective actions taken by Respondent, and based upon such review, has indicated that
Respondent has achieved compliance with respect to these violations, Accordingly, since
compliance has been achieved, it is not necessary to order corrective actions. The terms and
conditions of this Final Order shall be effective upon receipt.
APR18 MB
Jeffrey D. Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Date Issued
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