# WEST TEXAS GAS INC — Notice of Amendment

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

Official case documents:

42021023NOA_Notice of Amendment_05252021_(20-179421).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/42021023NOA/42021023NOA_Notice%20of%20Amendment_05252021_(20-179421).pdf

42021023NOA_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

42021023NOA_Notice of Amendment_05252021_(20-179421)_text.pdf

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT
ELECTRONIC MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
May 25, 2021
Richard D. Hatchett
President
West Texas Gas, Inc.
211 North Colorado
Midland, Texas 79701
CPF 4-2021-023-NOA
Dear Mr. Hatchett:
From April 20, 2020 through October 4, 2020, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) virtually
inspected West Texas Gas, Inc.’s (WTG) operations and maintenance manual.
Based on the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacy found within WGT’s Gas
Operations and Maintenance Manual as described below:
1. § 192.605 - Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies.
(a) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of written
procedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities and for emergency
response. For transmission lines, the manual must also include procedures for handling
abnormal operations. This manual must be reviewed and updated by the operator at
intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year. This manual must
be prepared before operations of a pipeline system commence. Appropriate parts of the
manual must be kept at locations where operations and maintenance activities are
conducted.
§ 192.707 - Line markers for mains and transmission lines.
(a) Buried pipelines. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a line marker must
be placed and maintained as close as practical over each buried main and transmission line:
(1) At each crossing of a public road and railroad;



2
WTG failed to include a requirement to install and maintain pipeline markers at crossings of public
roads and railroads as required in § 192.707(a) in its written operations and maintenance
procedures. WTG’s Gas Operations and Maintenance Manual, P-192.707 (Revised December
2013) procedure does not mention public roads or railroad crossings in the written procedure.
On October 26, 2020, WTG provided an amended P-192.707 procedure to include public roads and
railroad crossings in its Gas Operations and Maintenance Manual. After review, the amended
procedure was found to be adequate.
Response to this Notice
This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. 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. 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).
Following the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised procedures,
or a request for a hearing under § 190.211. As mentioned above, West Texas Gas, Inc. previously
submitted revised procedures to PHMSA that reflect the amendments required by this Notice. These
submitted procedures were reviewed and found to be adequate by PHMSA, therefore, no further action or
response is required. If no additional response is received within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this
enforcement will be automatically closed.
It is requested (not mandated) that West Texas Gas, Inc. maintain documentation of the safety
improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision of plans,
procedures) and submit the total to Mary L. McDaniel, Director, Southwest, Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence concerning this matter, please refer to CPF 4-2021-
023-NOA, and for each document you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever
possible.
Sincerely,
Mary L. McDaniel, P.E.
Director, Southwest Region, Office of Pipeline Safety
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
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