# CITY OF VICTORVILLE — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520120018W
- **title:** CITY OF VICTORVILLE — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2012-08-23
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 192.225(a), 192.615(b)(2), 192.615(c).
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- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520120018w
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520120018W
**body:**

Warning Letter involving CITY OF VICTORVILLE. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.225(a),  192.615(b)(2),  192.615(c). The case was opened on 2012-08-23 and is reported as closed as of 2012-08-23. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520120018W_warning letter_08232012.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520120018W/520120018W_warning%20letter_08232012.pdf

520120018W_warning letter_08232012_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520120018W/520120018W_warning%20letter_08232012_text.pdf

520120018W_warning letter_08232012_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
August 23, 2012
Mr. Joe Flores
Public Works Manager
City of Victorville
Municipal Utility Services
14343 Civic Drive
Victorville, CA 92392
CPF 5-2012-0018W
Dear Mr. Flores:
From December 12 to December 15, 2011, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code
inspected your gas pipeline distribution system in Victorville, California.
As a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed probable violations of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and
the probable violation(s) are:
1. 192.615 Emergency Plans
(b) Each operator shall:
(2) Train the appropriate operating personnel to assure that they are
knowledgeable of the emergency procedures and verify that the training is
effective.



During the inspection, the City of Victorville was unable to provide training records showing
that the appropriate operating personnel were trained and knowledgeable in their emergency
procedures for the years 2010 and 2011. However, they were able to produce training records
showing proper training of the operating personnel for 2009. They also failed to follow their
own Emergency Response Plan, Section A, issued March 2, 2007, which states that training
shall be conducted annually with provisions for integrating emergency plan revision as
necessary.
2. 192.615 Emergency Plans
(c) Each operator shall establish and maintain liaison with appropriate fire,
police, and other public officials to:
During the inspection, the City of Victorville was unable to provide records showing
established liaison with local authorities. They also failed to follow their own Emergency
Response Plan, Section A, issued March 2, 2007, which states that annually they must
establish and maintain liaison with appropriate local civil authorities.
3. 192.225 Welding Procedures
(a) Welding must be performed by a qualified welder in accordance with
welding procedures qualified under section 5 of API 1104 (incorporated by
reference, see § 192.7) or section IX of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code “Welding and Brazing Qualifications” (incorporated by reference, see §
192.7) to produce welds meeting the requirements of this subpart.
Our inspections could not confirm that the welding conducted your contractor utilized the
correct welding procedures. During the inspection, the City of Victorville provided 39
welding procedures that did not meet the qualifications of API Standard 1104. These welding
procedures were from their contractor, Sunrise Engineering, Inc. They stated that all welding
conducted on their system was accomplished by this contractor. The procedures grouped the
wall thickness of the pipe into one variable of .188 through .750 inches instead of grouping
them per the API Standard 1104. API Standard 1104 specifies if there is a change from one
wall thickness group to another, the welder using the new procedures must be requalified.
The groups are defined as follows:
1. 2. 3. Nominal pipe wall thickness less than 1/16 inches
Nominal pipe wall thickness from 1/16 inch through ¼ inch
Nominal pipe wall thickness greater than ¼ inch.
The City of Victorville, and their contractor, Sunrise Contractors, did not have evidence that
all welding accomplished by them utilized a properly qualified procedure.
Under 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed
$100,000 for each violation for each day the violation persists up to a maximum of
2



$1,000,000 for any related series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and
supporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional
enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct
the items identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in the City of Victorville being
subject to additional enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer
to CPF 5-2012-0018W. 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).
Sincerely,
Chris Hoidal
Director, Western Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry
PHP-500 P. Nguyen (#132894)
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