{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 420175030W","title":"ONEOK NGL PIPELINE, LLC — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2017-08-24","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 195.505(a), 195.505(b).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420175030w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420175030w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420175030w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420175030W","body":"Warning Letter involving ONEOK NGL PIPELINE, LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.505(a),  195.505(b). The case was opened on 2017-08-24 and is reported as closed as of 2017-08-24. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n420175030W_Warning Letter_08242017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420175030W/420175030W_Warning%20Letter_08242017.pdf\n\n420175030W_Warning Letter_08242017_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420175030W/420175030W_Warning%20Letter_08242017_text.pdf\n\n420175030W_Warning Letter_08242017_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nAugust 24, 2017\nONEOK NGL PIPELINE, LLC\nMr. Roger Thorpe - VP NGL Operations\n100 WEST FIFTH STREET\nTulsa, OK 74102\nCPF 4-2017-5030W\nDear Mr. Thorpe:\nMay 23-27, 2016, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n(PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected your ONEOK NGL\nPIPLEINE, LLC (ONEOK) Control Room in Tulsa, Oklahoma.\nAs a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the Pipeline\nSafety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and the probable\nviolation is:\n1. §195.505 Qualification program\nEach operator shall have and follow a written qualification program. The program\nshall include provisions to:\n(a) Identify covered tasks;\n(b) Ensure through evaluation that individuals performing covered tasks are\nqualified;\n\n\n\nONEOK failed to ensure through evaluation that the controller was qualified to perform covered\ntasks.\nONEOK CRM Controller Training Program last revised on August 25, 2015, Operator\nQualifications states “each controller is responsible for successfully demonstrating the ability to\nperform the following covered tasks:\nSub-Task 64.1 Startup of a Pipeline\nSub-Task 64.2 Shutdown of a Pipeline,\nSub-Task 64.3 Monitor Pressures, Flow, Communications and Line integrity & Maintain Them\nWithin Allowable Limits, and\nSub-Task 64.4 Remotely Open or Close Valves or Other Equipment.\nAbnormal Operating Conditions are identified during these Sub-Tasks”.\nThe PHMSA inspector also reviewed ONEOK’s NGL Operator Qualification Plan, revised July\n31, 2014, Appendix A: Covered Task List, and it indicates that these tasks require re-evaluation\nevery three (3) years.\nWhile reviewing records associated with the ONEOK shift schedule, the PHMSA inspector noted\nthat an employee, Degroff, Tike was working at one of the Sterling Consoles during the month of\nNovember 2015. The PHMSA inspector reviewed the qualification record for this individual, and\nit indicated that his qualification expired on July 20, 2015. ONOK did not requalify him again until\nDecember 18, 2015.\nIf these covered tasks are performed by a non-qualified individual, ONEOK’s OQ Plan requires\na span of control of one to three. According to the shift schedule documentation for the November\n2015 provided by ONEOK, a qualified employee was not observing or directing this individual at\nthe console.\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $200,000\nper violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a related series of\nviolations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum penalty may not exceed\n$100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 for a related\nseries of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents involved in\nthis case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment\nproceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the item identified in this letter. Failure to do\nso will result in ONEOK NGL PIPLEINE, LLC (ONEOK) being subject to additional enforcement\naction.\n2\n\n\n\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to\nCPF 4-2017-5030W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement\naction is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your\nresponsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the\ncomplete original document you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions\nyou believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the\nredacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).\nSincerely,\nFrank Causey\nActing Director, Southwest Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n3","truncated":false,"body_characters":4677}