{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 42021023NOA","title":"WEST TEXAS GAS INC — Notice of Amendment","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2021-05-25","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.605(a), 192.707(a)(1).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42021023noa.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42021023noa.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-42021023noa","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/42021023NOA","body":"Notice of Amendment involving WEST TEXAS GAS INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.605(a),  192.707(a)(1). The case was opened on 2021-05-25 and is reported as closed as of 2021-06-30. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n42021023NOA_Notice of Amendment_05252021_(20-179421).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42021023NOA/42021023NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_05252021_(20-179421).pdf\n\n42021023NOA_Notice of Amendment_05252021_(20-179421)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42021023NOA/42021023NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_05252021_(20-179421)_text.pdf\n\n42021023NOA_Notice of Amendment_05252021_(20-179421)_text.pdf\n\nNOTICE OF AMENDMENT\nELECTRONIC MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nMay 25, 2021\nRichard D. Hatchett\nPresident\nWest Texas Gas, Inc.\n211 North Colorado\nMidland, Texas 79701\nCPF 4-2021-023-NOA\nDear Mr. Hatchett:\nFrom April 20, 2020 through October 4, 2020, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) virtually\ninspected West Texas Gas, Inc.’s (WTG) operations and maintenance manual.\nBased on the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacy found within WGT’s Gas\nOperations and Maintenance Manual as described below:\n1. § 192.605 - Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies.\n(a) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of written\nprocedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities and for emergency\nresponse. For transmission lines, the manual must also include procedures for handling\nabnormal operations. This manual must be reviewed and updated by the operator at\nintervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year. This manual must\nbe prepared before operations of a pipeline system commence. Appropriate parts of the\nmanual must be kept at locations where operations and maintenance activities are\nconducted.\n§ 192.707 - Line markers for mains and transmission lines.\n(a) Buried pipelines. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a line marker must\nbe placed and maintained as close as practical over each buried main and transmission line:\n(1) At each crossing of a public road and railroad;\n\n\n\n2\nWTG failed to include a requirement to install and maintain pipeline markers at crossings of public\nroads and railroads as required in § 192.707(a) in its written operations and maintenance\nprocedures. WTG’s Gas Operations and Maintenance Manual, P-192.707 (Revised December\n2013) procedure does not mention public roads or railroad crossings in the written procedure.\nOn October 26, 2020, WTG provided an amended P-192.707 procedure to include public roads and\nrailroad crossings in its Gas Operations and Maintenance Manual. After review, the amended\nprocedure was found to be adequate.\nResponse to this Notice\nThis Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. Enclosed as part of\nthis Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings.\nPlease refer to this document and note the response options. Be advised that all material you submit in\nresponse to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any\nportion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with\nthe complete original document, you must provide a second copy of the document with the portions you\nbelieve qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the redacted\ninformation qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).\nFollowing the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised procedures,\nor a request for a hearing under § 190.211. As mentioned above, West Texas Gas, Inc. previously\nsubmitted revised procedures to PHMSA that reflect the amendments required by this Notice. These\nsubmitted procedures were reviewed and found to be adequate by PHMSA, therefore, no further action or\nresponse is required. If no additional response is received within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this\nenforcement will be automatically closed.\nIt is requested (not mandated) that West Texas Gas, Inc. maintain documentation of the safety\nimprovement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision of plans,\nprocedures) and submit the total to Mary L. McDaniel, Director, Southwest, Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration. In correspondence concerning this matter, please refer to CPF 4-2021-\n023-NOA, and for each document you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever\npossible.\nSincerely,\nMary L. McDaniel, P.E.\nDirector, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","truncated":false,"body_characters":4984}