{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520150001W","title":"NORGASCO INC — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2015-02-24","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.475(b), 192.616(d), 192.616(h).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520150001w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520150001w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520150001w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520150001W","body":"Warning Letter involving NORGASCO INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.475(b),  192.616(d),  192.616(h). The case was opened on 2015-02-24 and is reported as closed as of 2015-02-24. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520150001W_Operator Response to Notice_03162015.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520150001W/520150001W_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_03162015.pdf\n\n520150001W_warning letter_02242015.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520150001W/520150001W_warning%20letter_02242015.pdf\n\n520150001W_warning letter_02242015_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520150001W/520150001W_warning%20letter_02242015_text.pdf\n\n520150001W_warning letter_02242015_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nFebruary 24, 2015\nMr. Richard J. Cathriner\nPresident\nNorgasco, Inc.\n4341 B Street, Suite 306\nAnchorage, Alaska 99503\nCPF 5-2015-0001W\nDear Mr. Cathriner:\nOn November 13, 2014, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected your\nPublic Awareness Plan and procedures for Operations and Maintenance in Anchorage,\nAlaska.\nAs a result of the inspection, it appears that you have committed a probable violation of the\nPipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The items inspected and\nthe probable violations are:\n1. 192.616(h) Public awareness.\n(h) Operators in existence on June 20, 2005, must have completed their written\nprograms no later than June 20, 2006. The operator of a master meter or\npetroleum gas system covered under paragraph (j) of this section must complete\ndevelopment of its written procedure by June 13, 2008. Upon request, operators\nmust submit their completed programs to PHMSA or, in the case of an intrastate\npipeline facility operator, the appropriate State agency.\nA written Public Awareness Plan was not completed until July 2011, which is five years after\nthe regulatory deadline for completion of a written program.\n\n\n\n2. 192.616(d) 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(1) Use of a one-call notification system prior to excavation and other damage\nprevention activities;\n(2) Possible hazards associated with unintended releases from a gas pipeline\nfacility;\n(3) Physical indications that such a release may have occurred;\n(4) Steps that should be taken for public safety in the event of a gas pipeline\nrelease; and\n(5) Procedures for reporting such an event.\nThe Public Awareness message on Norgasco's web site was missing key educational\ninformation that was contained in Norgasco’s printed Public Awareness Message.\nSpecifically, the web site lacked the information on the proper steps the public should take in\nthe event of a gas pipeline release.\n3. 192.475(b) Internal corrosion control: General.\n(b) Whenever any pipe is removed from a pipeline for any reason, the internal\nsurface must be inspected for evidence of corrosion. If internal corrosion is\nfound—\n(1) The adjacent pipe must be investigated to determine the extent of internal\ncorrosion;\n(2) Replacement must be made to the extent required by the applicable\nparagraphs of §§ 192.485, 192.487, or 192.489; and\n(3) Steps must be taken to minimize the internal corrosion.\nNorgasco was unable to provide any records of examination for the pipe that was removed\ndue to internal corrosion. Norgasco had replaced certain sections of steel pipe that failed due\nto frost heave. Norgasco has no record of inspecting these removed sections of pipe.\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed\n$200,000 per violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,000,000 for a\nrelated series of violations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum\npenalty may not exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to\nexceed $1,000,000 for a related series of violations. We have reviewed the circumstances and\nsupporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to conduct additional\nenforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We advise you to correct\nthe items identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Norgasco being subject to\nadditional enforcement action.\n\n\n\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer\nto CPF 5-2015-0001W and for each document you submit, please provide a copy in\nelectronic format to PHP-WRADMIN@dot.gov whenever possible. Be advised that all\nmaterial you submit in response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly\navailable. If you believe that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for\nconfidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the complete original document you\nmust 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).\nSincerely,\nChris Hoidal\nDirector, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 D. Hassell\nActivity 146206","truncated":false,"body_characters":5512}