# TARGA RESOURCES OPERATING LLC — Notice of Probable Violation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 420135001
- **title:** TARGA RESOURCES OPERATING LLC — Notice of Probable Violation
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2013-01-02
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 195.403(b), 195.403(c), 195.575(c).
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420135001.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420135001
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420135001
**body:**

Notice of Probable Violation involving TARGA RESOURCES OPERATING LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.403(b),  195.403(c),  195.575(c). The case was opened on 2013-01-02 and is reported as closed as of 2013-08-14. Proposed civil penalty: $34,000. Assessed civil penalty: $34,000. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

420135001_Closure Letter_08142013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420135001/420135001_Closure%20Letter_08142013.pdf

420135001_Closure Letter_08142013_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420135001/420135001_Closure%20Letter_08142013_text.pdf

420135001_Final Order_05292013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420135001/420135001_Final%20Order_05292013.pdf

420135001_Final Order_05292013_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420135001/420135001_Final%20Order_05292013_text.pdf

420135001_NOPV PCP PCO_01022013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420135001/420135001_NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_01022013.pdf

420135001_NOPV PCP PCO_01022013_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420135001/420135001_NOPV%20PCP%20PCO_01022013_text.pdf

420135001_Operator Response to Notice_01292013.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420135001/420135001_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_01292013.pdf

420135001_Closure Letter_08142013_text.pdf

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
August 14, 2013
Mr. Hunter Battle
Vice President, TX/LA Gulf Coast
Targa Resources Operating LP
1000 Louisiana, Suite 4300
Houston, TX 77002
CPF 4-2013-5001
Dear Mr. Battle:
On January 2, 2013, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued to Targa
Resources Operating, LP (Targa), a Notice of Probable Violation, Proposed Civil Penalty and
Proposed Compliance Order. Based on our review of the documentation you provided, it has
been determined that you have complied with the terms of this Notice.
Accordingly, this case is now closed and no further action is contemplated with respect to the
matters involved in this case. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
R. M. Seeley
Director, Southwest Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

420135001_Final Order_05292013_text.pdf

MAY 29, 2013
Mr. Joe Bob Perkins, CEO
Targa Resources Operating, LP
Targa Resources Corporation
1000 Louisiana, Suite 4300
Houston, Texas 77002
Re: CPF No. 4-2013-5001
Dear Mr. Perkins:
Enclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes findings of
violation, assesses a civil penalty of $34,000, and specifies actions that need to be taken by Targa
Resources Operating, LP, to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. This is to acknowledge
receipt of a partial payment, by wire transfer dated February 2, 2013, in the amount of $14,100.
The remaining penalty payment terms are set forth in the Final Order. When the civil penalty
has been paid in full and the terms of the compliance order completed, as determined by the
Director, Southwest Region, this enforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order
by certified mail is deemed effective upon the date of mailing, or as otherwise provided under 49
C.F.R. § 190.5.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey D. Wiese
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety
Enclosure
cc: Mr. Rodrick M. Seeley, Director, Southwest Region, OPS
Mr. Alan Mayberry, Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations, OPS
Ms. Elizabeth Hawkins, Esquire, Senior Regulatory Counsel, Targa Resources
Corporation
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN 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 )
)
Targa Resources Operating, LP, ) CPF No. 4-2013-5001
)
Respondent. )
____________________________________)
FINAL ORDER
Between June and September 2012, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60117, a representative of the
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety
(OPS), conducted an on-site pipeline safety inspection of the facilities and records of Targa
Resources Operating, LP (Targa or Respondent), in Sulphur, Louisiana. Targa is a subsidiary of
Targa Resources Corporation, which owns and operates over 10,000 miles of natural gas
gathering and NGL pipelines, 22 gas processing plants, and 13 storage terminals in Louisiana,
Kentucky, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, New Jersey, Tennessee, Washington, Maryland and the
Gulf of Mexico.1
As a result of the inspection, the Director, Southwest Region, OPS (Director), issued to
Respondent, by letter dated January 2, 2013, 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 Targa had violated 49 C.F.R. §§ 195.403 and 195.575 and proposed
assessing a civil penalty of $34,000 for the alleged violations. The Notice also proposed
ordering Respondent to take certain measures to correct one of the alleged violations.
Targa responded to the Notice by letter dated January 29, 2013 (Response). The company
contested the allegations contained in Item 1 and offered additional information in response to
the Notice. Targa did not contest the allegations contained in Item 2, and paid the proposed
penalty for this item, in the amount of $14,100.
Respondent did not request a hearing and therefore has waived its right to one.
FINDINGS OF VIOLATION
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. Part 195 as follows:
1 Pipeline Safety Violation Report (Violation Report), (May 10, 2011) (on file with PHMSA), at 1.



2
Item 1: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.403, which states, in
relevant part:
§ 195.403 Emergency response training.
(a) …
(b) At the intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once
each calendar year, each operator shall:
(1) Review with personnel their performance in meeting the
objectives of the emergency response training program set forth in
paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) Make appropriate changes to the emergency response training
program as necessary to ensure that it is effective.
(c) Each operator shall require and verify that its supervisors
maintain a thorough knowledge of that portion of the emergency
response procedures established under 195.402 for which they are
responsible to ensure compliance.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated two provisions of 49 C.F.R. § 195.403. First, it
alleged that Targa violated § 195.403(b) by failing to review with personnel their performance in
meeting the objectives of the company’s emergency response program per the requirements of
§ 195.403. Specifically, the Notice alleged that the last review of the program was conducted in
February and June of 2010, but that it had not been done again during the 15 months prior to the
PHMSA inspection.
Second, the Notice alleged that Respondent violated § 195.403(c) by failing, in 2011, to require
and verify that its supervisors maintained a thorough knowledge of the company’s emergency
response procedures for which they were responsible.
In its Response, Targa asserted that it did not use a “review of the emergency response program”
to fulfill the requirements of § 195.403(b). Instead, the company used its “Annual Personnel
Performance Reviews” to satisfy the regulation. Additionally, Targa contended that such
“Annual Personnel Performance Reviews” also satisfied the requirements of § 195.403(c) by
establishing a means of requiring and verifying that its supervisors maintained a thorough
knowledge of the company’s emergency response procedures. In support of its position, Targa
provided four examples of its employee performance reviews.
Upon reviewing the record and considering Targa’s argument, I find that Respondent violated
both 49 C.F.R. § 195.403(b) and (c) by failing to review the performance of its employees as
specifically related to the company’s emergency response training program and by failing to
ensure that its supervisors maintained a thorough knowledge of that portion of Targa’s
emergency response program for which they were responsible. The documents provided by
Targa only give general information about each employee and the skills he or she has in
performing his or her job. Specifically, under #3, “Job Knowledge,” the only provision in the
performance review forms that could be considered evidence of its compliance with § 195.403(b)
and (c) contains no information about the employee’s emergency response training or the
employee’s knowledge of emergency procedures. It merely discusses the employee’s



3
“understanding of essential functions, and duties within the scope of the position.” This generic
description does not amount to documentation or evidence confirming that the employee’s
performance met the objectives of the company’s emergency response training program under
§ 195.403(b) or (c).
Accordingly, I find that the documents supplied by Targa fail to establish the company’s
compliance with § 195.403. When coupled with the undisputed allegation that a Targa employee
had acknowledged to the PHMSA inspector that the company’s Emergency Response training
had been inadvertently removed from the company’s block training program due to an
administrative oversight in 2011, I am convinced that Respondent violated
49 C.F.R. § 195.403(b) and (c).
Item 2: The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.575(c), which states:
§ 195.575 Which facilities must I electrically isolate and what inspections,
tests, and safeguards are required?
(a) . . .
(c) You must inspect and electrically test each electrical isolation to
assure the isolation is adequate.
The Notice alleged that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.575(c) by failing to inspect and
electronically test three electrical insolation devices since the date they were first installed.
Specifically, the Notice alleged that Targa, in violation of its own procedure, Targa Liquid
Pipeline Corrosion Procedures for Electrical Isolation, failed to inspect three insulating devices
installed on what is referred to as the “Orange Extension Pipeline” since they were installed.
Respondent did not contest this allegation of violation. Accordingly, based upon a review of all
of the evidence, I find that Respondent violated 49 C.F.R. § 195.575(c) by failing to properly
inspect three electrical insolation devices installed on the Orange Extension Pipeline.
These findings of violation will be considered prior offenses in any subsequent enforcement
action taken against Respondent.
ASSESSMENT OF PENALTY
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122, Respondent is subject to an administrative civil penalty not to exceed
$200,000 per violation for each day of the violation, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for any
related series of violations.2 In determining the amount of a civil penalty under
49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 C.F.R. § 190.225, I must consider the following criteria: the nature,
circumstances, and gravity of the violation, including adverse impact on the environment; the
degree of Respondent’s culpability; the history of Respondent’s prior offenses; and any effect
2 The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011, Pub. L. No. 112-90, § 2(a)(1), 125 Stat.
1904, effective January 3, 2012, increased the civil penalty liability for violating a pipeline safety standard to
$200,000 per violation for each day of the violation, up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for any related series of
violations.



4
that the penalty may have on its ability to continue doing business; and the good faith of
Respondent in attempting to comply with the pipeline safety regulations. In addition, I may
consider the economic benefit gained from the violation without any reduction because of
subsequent damages, and such other matters as justice may require. The Notice proposed a total
civil penalty of $34,000 for the violations cited above.
Item 1: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $19,900 for Respondent’s violation of
49 C.F.R. § 195.403(b) and (c), for failing to review with company personnel their performance
in meeting the objectives of the company’s emergency response training program. Additionally,
it alleged that the company failed to ensure that its supervisors maintained a thorough knowledge
of Targa’s emergency response procedures. As previously noted, I found that Targa’s employee
performance reviews did not serve to satisfy the requirements in § 195.403(b) and (c) that the
company evaluate each employee’s performance in meeting the specific safety objectives
outlined in paragraph (a) of that regulation. By failing to include emergency response as a
specific element in its performance review process, Respondent was unable to verify and
document that its employees were adequately trained to deal with pipeline emergencies.
Accordingly, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I assess
Respondent a civil penalty of $19,900 for violation of 49 C.F.R. § 195.403.
Item 2: The Notice proposed a civil penalty of $14,100 for Respondent’s violation of
49 C.F.R. § 195.575(c), for failing to properly and timely inspect three insulating devices
installed on the Orange Extension Pipeline. Targa paid the proposed penalty, which serves to
close this Item with prejudice and authorizes PHMSA to make a finding of violation.
Accordingly, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria, I assess
Respondent a civil penalty of $14,100 for violation of 49 C.F.R. § 195.575(c).
In summary, having reviewed the record and considered the assessment criteria for each of the
Items cited above, I assess Respondent a total civil penalty of $34,000.
Payment of the civil penalty must be made within 20 days of service. Federal regulations
(49 C.F.R. § 89.21(b)(3)) require such payment to be made by wire transfer through the Federal
Reserve Communications System (Fedwire), to the account of the U.S. Treasury. Detailed
instructions are contained in the enclosure. Questions concerning wire transfers should be
directed to: Financial Operations Division (AMZ-341), Federal Aviation Administration, Mike
Monroney Aeronautical Center, P.O. Box 269039, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125. The
Financial Operations Division telephone number is (405) 954-8893.
Failure to pay the $34,000 civil penalty in full will result in accrual of interest at the current
annual rate in accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 3717, 31 C.F.R. § 901.9 and 49 C.F.R. § 89.23.
Pursuant to those same authorities, a late penalty charge of six percent (6%) per annum will be
charged if payment is not made within 110 days of service. Furthermore, failure to pay the civil
penalty may result in referral of the matter to the Attorney General for appropriate action in a
district court of the United States.



5
COMPLIANCE ORDER
The Notice proposed a compliance order with respect to Items 1 and 2 in the Notice for
violations of 49 C.F.R. §§ 195.403 and 195.575, respectively. Under 49 U.S.C. § 60118(a), each
person who engages in the transportation of hazardous liquids or who owns or operates a
pipeline facility is required to comply with the applicable safety standards established under
chapter 601. Pursuant to the authority of 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.217,
Respondent is ordered to take the following actions to ensure compliance with the pipeline safety
regulations applicable to its operations:
1. With respect to the violation of § 195.403 (Item 1), Respondent must review its
emergency response program with company personnel, including controllers at the
HackBerry Storage Facility, and, if necessary, make appropriate changes to the
company’s emergency response training program to ensure its effectiveness. In
addition, Targa must verify that its supervisors maintain a thorough knowledge of that
portion of the emergency response procedures for which they are responsible to
ensure compliance.
2. Respondent must complete and submit all documentation listed in Paragraph 1 of
this Proposed Compliance Order within forty-five (45) days after receipt of the Final
Order.
3. It is requested (not mandated) that Respondent maintain documentation of the
safety improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Compliance Order and submit
the total to Rodrick Seeley, Director, Southwest Region, Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration. It is requested that these costs be reported in two
categories: 1) total cost associated with preparation/revision of plans, procedures,
studies and analyses; and 2) total cost associated with replacements, additions and
other changes to pipeline infrastructure.
The Director may grant an extension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a
written request timely submitted by the Respondent and demonstrating good cause for an
extension.
Failure to comply with this Order may result in the administrative assessment of civil penalties
not to exceed $100,000 for each violation for each day the violation continues or in referral to the
Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States.



6
Under 49 C.F.R. § 190.215, Respondent has a right to submit a Petition for Reconsideration of
this Final Order. The petition must be sent to: Associate Administrator, Office of Pipeline
Safety, PHMSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC
20590, with a copy sent to the Office of Chief Counsel, PHMSA, at the same address. PHMSA
will accept petitions received no later than 20 days after receipt of service of this Final Order by
the Respondent, provided they contain a brief statement of the issue(s) and meet all other
requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 190.215. The filing of a petition automatically stays the payment of
any civil penalty assessed. Unless the Associate Administrator, upon request, grants a stay, all
other terms and conditions of this Final Order are effective upon service in accordance with
49 C.F.R. § 190.5.
___________________________________ __________________________
Jeffrey D. Wiese Date Issued
Associate Administrator
for Pipeline Safety

420135001_NOPV PCP PCO_01022013_text.pdf

NOTICE OF PROBABLE VIOLATION
PROPOSED CIVIL PENALTY
and
PROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
January 2, 2013
Mr. Hunter Battle
Vice President, TX/LA Gulf Coast
Targa Resources Operating LP
1000 Louisiana, Suite 4300
Houston, TX 77002
CPF 4-2013-5001
Dear Mr. Battle:
During the months of June, July, and September of 2012, a representative of the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), pursuant
to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected your Orange Extension Pipeline and
Hackberry Storage Facility in Sulphur, LA.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed probable violations of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and the
probable violations are:
1. §195.403 Emergency Response Training
(b) At the intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year, each
operator shall:
(1) Review with personnel their performance in meeting the objectives of the emergency
response training program set forth in paragraph (a) of this section; and



(2) Make appropriate changes to the emergency response training program as necessary to
ensure that it is effective.
(c) Each operator shall require and verify that its supervisors maintain a thorough
knowledge of that portion of the emergency response procedures established under
§195.402 for which they are responsible to ensure compliance.
At the time of the inspection, Targa Resources Operating LP (Targa) failed to provide records
indicating the company reviewed the emergency response program with Targa personnel as per
the requirements of 195.403 (b) (1). The last review was performed during February and June of
2010. In addition, Targa failed to provide records indicating the company reviewed the
emergency response program with Controllers at Hackberry Storage Facility.
Targa, also failed to require and verify that its supervisors maintain a thorough knowledge of
emergency response procedures as per section 403 (c) in the calendar year of 2011. The last
documentation for supervisory training was dated as 6/2/2010 for Emergency Response and
9/9/2009 for Incident Command.
Targa Hazardous Liquids Normal Operations and Maintenance Procedures, Emergency
Response Training, revised on 4/8/2011 states:
“At intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year, the Area
Manager or his designee will:
1) Review with personnel their performance in meeting the objectives of the emergency
program set forth above; and
2) Make appropriate changes to the training program as necessary to ensure that it is
effective.
3) Require and verify that supervisors maintain a thorough knowledge of that portion of
the procedures for they are responsible.”
And,
Targa Hazardous Liquids Operations, Maintenance & Emergencies Manual – Emergency
Protection Plan, Section IV-O – Training and Review states “The Area Manager or his
designee shall keep on file at the attendance and items covered at each training session”.
According to the Targa representative during the inspection, the Emergency Response training
was removed from the block training program due to administrative oversight in 2011.
2. §195.575 Which facilities must I electrically isolate and what inspections, tests, and
safeguards are required?
2



(c) You must inspect and electrically test each electrical isolation to assure the isolation is
adequate
Targa Liquid Pipeline Corrosion Control Procedures for Electrical Isolation, revised on
6/24/2009 state “The effectiveness of insulation flanges or other devices will be checked upon
installation and at intervals not to exceed 15 months but at least once each calendar year.” It
further states, “These readings shall be included in the annual cathodic protection survey report.”
While reviewing the calendar years 2009, 2010, and 2011 records associated with cathodic
protection, the PHMSA inspector found that Targa failed to inspect three insulating devices
installed on Orange Extension pipeline since they were installed. Targa conducted an inspection
on these three insulation flanges during the month of August, 2012, after PHMSA inspector
brought this issue to the company attention.
Proposed Civil Penalty
Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $200,000
per violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a related series of
violations. For violations occurring prior to January 3, 2012, the maximum penalty may not
exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 for a
related series of violations. The Compliance Officer has reviewed the circumstances and
supporting documentation involved in the above probable violation(s) and has recommended that
you be preliminarily assessed a civil penalty of $34,000 as follows:
Item number PENALTY
1 $19,900
2 $14,100
Proposed Compliance Order
With respect to item 1 pursuant to 49 United States Code § 60118, the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration proposes to issue a Compliance Order to Targa Resources
Operating LP. Please refer to the Proposed Compliance Order, which is enclosed and made a
part of this Notice.
Response to this Notice
Enclosed as part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators
in Compliance Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. All
material you submit in response to this enforcement action may be made publicly available. If
you believe that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment
under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the complete original document you must provide a second
copy of the document with the portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted
and an explanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential
treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b). If you do not respond within 30 days of receipt of this Notice,3



this constitutes a waiver of your right to contest the allegations in this Notice and authorizes the
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to find facts as alleged in this Notice without further
notice to you and to issue a Final Order.
In your correspondence on this matter, please refer to CPF 4-2013-5001 and for each document
you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible.
Sincerely,
R. M. Seeley
Director, Southwest Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Enclosures: Proposed Compliance Order
Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings
4



PROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER
Pursuant to 49 United States Code § 60118, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) proposes to issue to Targa Resources Operating LP a Compliance
Order incorporating the following remedial requirements to ensure the compliance of Targa with
the pipeline safety regulations:
1. 2. 3. In regard to Item Number 1 of the Notice pertaining to failure to review
emergency program, Targa must review emergency program with company
personnel including controllers at Hackberry Storage Facility and if necessary,
make appropriate changes to their emergency response training to ensure it is
effective. In addition, Targa must verify that its supervisors maintain a thorough
knowledge of that portion of the emergency response procedures. This must be
documented.
Within forty-five (45) days after receipt of the Final Order related to this case,
Targa must complete and submit all documentation listed in 1 of this Proposed
Compliance Order.
It is requested (not mandated) that Targa maintain documentation of the safety
improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Compliance Order and submit
the total to R. M. Seeley, Director, Southwest Region, Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration. It is requested that these costs be reported in
two categories: 1) total cost associated with preparation/revision of plans,
procedures, studies and analyses, and 2) total cost associated with replacements,
additions and other changes to pipeline infrastructure.
5
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