# ONEOK NGL PIPELINE, LLC — Warning Letter

- **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:** Not available
- **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.

Official case documents:

420175030W_Warning Letter_08242017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420175030W/420175030W_Warning%20Letter_08242017.pdf

420175030W_Warning Letter_08242017_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420175030W/420175030W_Warning%20Letter_08242017_text.pdf

420175030W_Warning Letter_08242017_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
August 24, 2017
ONEOK NGL PIPELINE, LLC
Mr. Roger Thorpe - VP NGL Operations
100 WEST FIFTH STREET
Tulsa, OK 74102
CPF 4-2017-5030W
Dear Mr. Thorpe:
May 23-27, 2016, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected your ONEOK NGL
PIPLEINE, LLC (ONEOK) Control Room in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the Pipeline
Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and the probable
violation is:
1. §195.505 Qualification program
Each operator shall have and follow a written qualification program. The program
shall include provisions to:
(a) Identify covered tasks;
(b) Ensure through evaluation that individuals performing covered tasks are
qualified;



ONEOK failed to ensure through evaluation that the controller was qualified to perform covered
tasks.
ONEOK CRM Controller Training Program last revised on August 25, 2015, Operator
Qualifications states “each controller is responsible for successfully demonstrating the ability to
perform the following covered tasks:
Sub-Task 64.1 Startup of a Pipeline
Sub-Task 64.2 Shutdown of a Pipeline,
Sub-Task 64.3 Monitor Pressures, Flow, Communications and Line integrity & Maintain Them
Within Allowable Limits, and
Sub-Task 64.4 Remotely Open or Close Valves or Other Equipment.
Abnormal Operating Conditions are identified during these Sub-Tasks”.
The PHMSA inspector also reviewed ONEOK’s NGL Operator Qualification Plan, revised July
31, 2014, Appendix A: Covered Task List, and it indicates that these tasks require re-evaluation
every three (3) years.
While reviewing records associated with the ONEOK shift schedule, the PHMSA inspector noted
that an employee, Degroff, Tike was working at one of the Sterling Consoles during the month of
November 2015. The PHMSA inspector reviewed the qualification record for this individual, and
it indicated that his qualification expired on July 20, 2015. ONOK did not requalify him again until
December 18, 2015.
If these covered tasks are performed by a non-qualified individual, ONEOK’s OQ Plan requires
a span of control of one to three. According to the shift schedule documentation for the November
2015 provided by ONEOK, a qualified employee was not observing or directing this individual at
the console.
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 4, 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. We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents involved in
this case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment
proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the item identified in this letter. Failure to do
so will result in ONEOK NGL PIPLEINE, LLC (ONEOK) being subject to additional enforcement
action.
2



No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to
CPF 4-2017-5030W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement
action is subject to being 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).
Sincerely,
Frank Causey
Acting Director, Southwest Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
3
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