# Plains Products Terminals LLC — Notice of Amendment

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520090016M
- **title:** Plains Products Terminals LLC — Notice of Amendment
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2009-05-13
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.805(b), 192.805(c).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520090016m.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520090016m.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520090016m
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520090016M
**body:**

Notice of Amendment involving Plains Products Terminals LLC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.805(b),  192.805(c). The case was opened on 2009-05-13 and is reported as closed as of 2009-07-31. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520090016M_notice of amendment_05132009.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520090016M/520090016M_notice%20of%20amendment_05132009.pdf

520090016M_notice of amendment_05132009_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520090016M/520090016M_notice%20of%20amendment_05132009_text.pdf

520090016M_notice of amendment_05132009_text.pdf

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
May 13, 2009
Mr. Tom J. McLane
Director, Western Division
Plains Products Terminals LLC
5900 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90805
CPF 5-2009-0016M
Dear Mr. McLane:
On February 6-8, 2009, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected
Plains Products Terminals LLC’s procedures and supporting records for its Operator
Qualification (OQ) program in Martinez, California.
On the basis of the inspection, PHMSA identified the apparent inadequacies within your
OQ plans or procedures, as described below:
1. §192.805 Qualification program
Each operator shall have and follow a written qualification program. The
program shall include provisions to:
(b) Ensure through evaluation that individuals performing covered tasks are
qualified;



Plains Products Terminals’ procedures did not require that individuals from any other
entity performing covered tasks on its behalf be evaluated and qualified prior to task
performance. Plains Products Terminals’ representative explained they will use “in-house”
qualified personnel from other company units if needed. Regardless, Plains Products
Terminals’ OQ procedures do not have provisions for using outside contractors if the
operational or maintenance need arises.
2. §192.805 Qualification program
Each operator shall have and follow a written qualification program. The
program shall include provisions to:
(c) Allow individuals that are not qualified pursuant to this subpart to
perform a covered task if directed and observed by an individual that is
qualified;
Plains Products Terminals specifies in its OQ manuals that critical tasks such as “Hot
Tapping” need to be performed by qualified individuals only. However, the covered task
list shows the ratio of non-qualified staff that can work under qualified individuals
performing hot tapping to be “2”. Plains Products Terminals’ OQ procedures do not
address this discrepancy on whether non-qualified personnel can be directed and observed
by a qualified individual during hot tapping.
Response to this Notice
This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.237.
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). If you do not respond within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, 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.
2



If, after opportunity for a hearing, your plans or procedures are found inadequate as alleged
in this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans or procedures to correct the
inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.237). If you are not contesting this Notice, we propose that
you submit your amended procedures to my office within 60 days of receipt of this Notice.
This period may be extended by written request for good cause. Once the inadequacies
identified herein have been addressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement action
will be closed.
In correspondence concerning this matter, please refer to CPF 5-2009-0016M and, for
each document you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible.
Sincerely,
Chris Hoidal
Director, Western Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Enclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings
cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry
PHP-500 H. Monfared (#125036)
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