{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520111005M","title":"NORGASCO INC — Notice of Amendment","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2011-08-25","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of amendment citing 192.616(b), 192.616(c), 192.616(d)(2), 192.616(d)(3), 192.616(d)(4).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520111005m.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520111005m.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520111005m","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520111005M","body":"Notice of Amendment involving NORGASCO INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.616(b),  192.616(c),  192.616(d)(2),  192.616(d)(3),  192.616(d)(4). The case was opened on 2011-08-25 and is reported as closed as of 2011-12-07. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520111005M_closure letter_12072011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520111005M/520111005M_closure%20letter_12072011.pdf\n\n520111005M_closure letter_12072011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520111005M/520111005M_closure%20letter_12072011_text.pdf\n\n520111005M_notice of amendment_08252011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520111005M/520111005M_notice%20of%20amendment_08252011.pdf\n\n520111005M_notice of amendment_08252011_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520111005M/520111005M_notice%20of%20amendment_08252011_text.pdf\n\n520111005M_Operator Response to Notice_10172011.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520111005M/520111005M_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_10172011.pdf\n\n520111005M_notice of amendment_08252011_text.pdf\n\nNOTICE OF AMENDMENT\nVIA UPS GROUND: 1Z WR2 588 03 9099 0368\nAugust 25, 2011\nMr. Richard Cathriner\nDirector of Operations\nNorgasco, Inc.\n4341 B Street\nSuite 306\nAnchorage, Alaska 99503\nCPF 5-2011-1005M\nDear Mr. Cathriner:\nOn August 11, 2011, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected\nNorgasco, Inc.’s (Norgasco) procedures for Public Awareness Program in Anchorage,\nAlaska.\nOn the basis of the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacies found within\nNrogasco’s plans or procedures, as described below:\n1. §192.616 Public Awareness\n(b) The operator's program must follow the general program recommendations\nof API RP 1162 and assess the unique attributes and characteristics of the\noperator's pipeline and facilities.\nNorgasco’s program did not list areas where gas is not odorized. Norgasco must include in\ntheir Public Awareness message, locations where the gas is not odorized and where it is\nodorized.\n2. §192.616 Public Awareness\n(d) The operator's program must specifically include provisions to educate the\npublic, appropriate government organizations, and persons engaged in\n\n\n\nexcavation related activities on:\n(2) Possible hazards associated with unintended releases from a gas pipeline\nfacility;\nNorgasco’s program does not include information on the hazards associated with unintended\nrelease of natural gas. Norgasco’s program must include information on the possible hazards\nof releases of natural gas.\n3. §192.616 Public Awareness\n(d) The operator's program must specifically include provisions to educate the\npublic, appropriate government organizations, and persons engaged in\nexcavation related activities on:\n(3) Physical indications that such a release may have occurred\nNorgasco’s program does not include information on the physical indications of a release of\nnatural gas. Norgasco’s program must include information on the physical indications of a\nnatural gas pipeline release.\n4. §192.616 Public Awareness\n(d) The operator's program must specifically include provisions to educate the\npublic, appropriate government organizations, and persons engaged in\nexcavation related activities on:\n(4) Steps that should be taken for public safety in the event of a gas pipeline\nrelease\nNorgasco’s program does not include information on what steps should be taken for public\nsafety in the event of a gas pipeline release. Norgasco’s program must include information\non what steps should be taken for public safety in the event of a gas pipeline release.\n5. §192.616 Public Awareness\n(c) The operator must follow the general program recommendations, including\nbaseline and supplemental requirements of API RP 1162, unless the operator\nprovides justification in its program or procedural manual as to why compliance\nwith all or certain provisions of the recommended practice is not practicable and\nnot necessary for safety.\nNorgasco failed to document their annual program evaluation and the changes made to the\nprogram as a result of the evaluation. Norgasco must document the evaluation of their\nprogram in accordance with API RP 1162.\n2\n\n\n\nResponse to this Notice\nThis Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.237. Enclosed\nas part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in\nCompliance Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. Be\nadvised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement action is subject to being\nmade publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your responsive material qualifies\nfor confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the complete original document\nyou must provide a second copy of the document with the portions you believe qualify for\nconfidential treatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the redacted\ninformation qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b). If you do not respond\nwithin 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of your right to contest the\nallegations in this Notice and authorizes the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to\nfind facts as alleged in this Notice without further notice to you and to issue a Final Order.\nIf, after opportunity for a hearing, your plans or procedures are found inadequate as alleged\nin this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans or procedures to correct the\ninadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.237). If you are not contesting this Notice, we propose that\nyou submit your amended procedures to my office within 90 days of receipt of this Notice.\nThis period may be extended by written request for good cause. Once the inadequacies\nidentified herein have been addressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement action\nwill be closed.\nIt is requested (not mandated) that Norgasco, Inc. maintain documentation of the safety\nimprovement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision\nof plans, procedures) and submit the total to Dennis Hinnah, Deputy Director, Western\nRegion, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence\nconcerning this matter, please send all documents to our office at 188 W. Northern Lights\nBlvd., Suite 520, Anchorage, AK 99503, referring to CPF 5-2011-1005M and, for each\ndocument you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible.\nSincerely,\nDennis Hinnah\nDeputy Director, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nEnclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 B. Flanders (#135534)\n3\n\n520111005M_closure letter_12072011_text.pdf\n\nVIA: UPS GROUND\nDecember 7, 2011\nMr. Richard Cathriner\nDirector of Operations\nNorgasco, Inc\n4341 B Street\nSuite 306\nAnchorage, AK 99503\nCPF 5-2011-1005M\nDear Mr. Cathriner:\nOn August 11, 2011, a representative from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA), pursuant to chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, conducted an\non-site pipeline safety inspection of Norgasco’s Public Awareness Program procedures in\nAnchorage, Alaska. As a result of the inspection, Norgasco was issued a Notice of\nAmendment on August 25, 2011, which proposed amendment of your procedures.\nNorgasco submitted its amended procedures on October 17, 2011. PHMSA has reviewed the\namended procedures, and it appears that the inadequacies outlined in this Notice of\nAmendment have been corrected.\nThis letter is to inform you no further action is necessary and this case is now closed. Thank\nyou for your cooperation.\nSincerely,\nDennis Hinnah\nDeputy Director, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 B. Flanders (#135534)","truncated":false,"body_characters":8052}