{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520110008W","title":"CITY OF VERNON — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2011-02-25","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.625(f).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520110008w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520110008w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520110008w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520110008W","body":"Warning Letter involving CITY OF VERNON. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.625(f). The case was opened on 2011-02-25 and is reported as closed as of 2011-02-25. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520110008W_warning letter_02252011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520110008W/520110008W_warning%20letter_02252011.pdf\n\n520110008W_warning letter_02252011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520110008W/520110008W_warning%20letter_02252011_text.pdf\n\n520110008W_warning letter_02252011_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nFebruary 25, 2011\nMr. Carlos Fandino\nDirector\nCity of Vernon\nLight and Power Department\n4305 Santa Fe Avenue\nVernon, CA 90058\nCPF 5-2011-0008W\nDear Mr. Fandino:\nOn August 16 to 19, and on November 3, 2010, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code\ninspected manuals and records, and conducted a field audit of your pipeline facilities in Vernon,\nCalifornia.\nAs a result of the inspection, it appears that the City of Vernon has committed a probable\nviolation of the Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item\ninspected and the probable violation is:\n1. § 192.625 Odorization of gas.\n(f) To assure the proper concentration of odorant in accordance with this section,\neach operator must conduct periodic sampling of combustible gases using an\ninstrument capable of determining the percentage of gas in air at which the odor\nbecomes readily detectable. Operators of master meter systems may comply with\nthis requirement by-\n(1) Receiving written verification from their gas source that the gas has the proper\n\n\n\nconcentration of odorant; and\n(2) Conducting periodic \"sniff\" tests at the extremities of the system to confirm that\nthe gas contains odorant.\nThe City of Vernon is not assuring the proper concentration of odorant as required by\n§192.625(f). The City Operations, Inspection, and Maintenance Plans (May 27, 2010 revision)\ncontains procedures to assure proper concentration of odorant, but the procedures have not been\nimplemented. Historically, odorization has been provided by SoCal Gas Company and\nsupporting odorant concentration confirmation records were provided to the City of Vernon in\nthe past. However, no recent records from SoCal Gas Company were available at the time of the\ninspection. Additionally, The City of Vernon has not been conducting any periodic “sniff” tests\nat the extremities of the system to confirm that the gas contains odorant.\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100,000\nfor each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of $1,000,000 for any\nrelated series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents\ninvolved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional enforcement action or penalty\nassessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct the item identified in this letter.\nFailure to do so will result in City of Vernon Light and Power Department being subject to\nadditional enforcement action.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to\nCPF 5-2011-0008W. 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\nthe redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).\nSincerely,\nChris Hoidal\nDirector, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 P. Nguyen (#128473)","truncated":false,"body_characters":4102}