{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520171002W","title":"EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2017-02-24","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.739(a).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520171002w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520171002w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520171002w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520171002W","body":"Warning Letter involving EL PASO NATURAL GAS CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.739(a). The case was opened on 2017-02-24 and is reported as closed as of 2017-02-24. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520171002W_Operator Response to Notice_04102017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520171002W/520171002W_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_04102017.pdf\n\n520171002W_Warning Letter_02242017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520171002W/520171002W_Warning%20Letter_02242017.pdf\n\n520171002W_Warning Letter_02242017_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520171002W/520171002W_Warning%20Letter_02242017_text.pdf\n\n520171002W_Warning Letter_02242017_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nFebruary 24, 2017\nMr. Gary Buchler\nVice President\nEl Paso Natural Gas Company\n1001 Louisiana Street\nHouston, TX 77002-5089\nCPF 5-2017-1002W\nDear Mr. Buchler:\nOn March 29-31, 2016, June 14-16, 2016, August 29-September 2, 2016, September 26-30, 2016,\nOctober 3-7, 2016, and on November 29, 2016, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code,\ninspected El Paso Natural Gas Company’s (EPNG) gas transmission pipeline system located in\nEhrenberg, Phoenix and surrounding areas in Arizona.\nAs a result of the inspection, it is alleged that you have committed a probable violation of the Pipeline\nSafety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. The item inspected and the probable\nviolation is:\n1. §192.739 Pressure limiting and regulating stations: Inspection and testing.\n(a) Each pressure limiting station, relief device (except rupture discs), and\npressure regulating station and its equipment must be subjected at intervals\nnot exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year, to inspections\nand tests to determine that it is—\n(1) In good mechanical condition;\n(2) Adequate from the standpoint of capacity and reliability of operation for\nthe service in which it is employed;\n\n\n\n(3) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, set to control or\nrelieve at the correct pressure consistent with the pressure limits of\n§192.201(a); and\n(4) Properly installed and protected from dirt, liquids, or other conditions\nthat might prevent proper operation.\nEPNG did not conduct inspections and tests of each pressure limiting station, relief device (except\nrupture discs), and pressure regulating station and its equipment at intervals not exceeding 15 months,\nbut at least once each calendar year.\nEPNG failed to conduct an inspection and test of St. Johns Mission regulator station on main line\nnumbered 1124 within the 15-month interval. In 2014, EPNG performed an inspection of St. Johns\nMission station on 08/30/2014. Then, the following year in 2015, EPNG inspected St. Johns Mission\nstation on 12/04/2015. This inspection exceeds the 15-month interval.\nUnder 49 United States Code, § 60122, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $205,638 per\nviolation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,056,380 for a related series of\nviolations. For violation occurring between January 4, 2012 to August 1, 2016, the maximum penalty\nmay not exceed $200,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,000,000 for\na related series of violations. For violations occurring prior to January 4, 2012, the maximum penalty\nmay not exceed $100,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $1,000,000 for\na related 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. Failure\nto do so will result in EPNG being subject to additional enforcement action.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer to CPF\n5-2017-1002W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this enforcement action is\nsubject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any portion of your responsive material\nqualifies for 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 confidential\ntreatment redacted and an explanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for\nconfidential 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 C. Ishikawa (Unit 15164 Phoenix Complex/#152215)","truncated":false,"body_characters":4861}