# QEP MARKETING COMPANY — Warning Letter

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 520171013W
- **title:** QEP MARKETING COMPANY — Warning Letter
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2017-12-05
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED warning letter citing 191.29(b), 192.465(a), 192.807(b).
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520171013w.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520171013w.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520171013w
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520171013W
**body:**

Warning Letter involving QEP MARKETING COMPANY. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 191.29(b),  192.465(a),  192.807(b). The case was opened on 2017-12-05 and is reported as closed as of 2017-12-05. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

520171013W_Operator Response to Notice_01172018.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520171013W/520171013W_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_01172018.pdf

520171013W_Warning Letter_12052017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520171013W/520171013W_Warning%20Letter_12052017.pdf

520171013W_Warning Letter_12052017_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520171013W/520171013W_Warning%20Letter_12052017_text.pdf

520171013W_Warning Letter_12052017_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
December 5, 2017
Mr. Charles Stanley
CEO, QEP Resources
QEP Marketing Co.
1050 17th St., Suite 800
Denver, CO 80265
CPF 5-2017-1013W
Dear Mr. Stanley:
On August 21 through 25, 2017, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code,
inspected your Clear Creek Gas Storage facility, northeast of Evanston, Wyoming.
As a result of the inspection, it is alleged that you have committed probable violations of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The items
inspected and the probable violations are:
1. §191.29 National Pipeline Mapping System.
(b) The information required in paragraph (a) of this section must be submitted
each year, on or before March 15, representing assets as of December 31 of the
previous year. If no changes have occurred since the previous year's submission,
the operator must comply with the guidance provided in the NPMS Operator
Standards manual available at www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov or contact the PHMSA
Geographic Information Systems Manager at (202) 366-4595.
During the records review of the Clear Creek Gas Storage facility, it was noted that no
notifications were sent to the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) to comply with the
annual requirements, or to document any changes from 2010 through 2016.



2. §192.465 External corrosion control: Monitoring.
(a) Each pipeline that is under cathodic protection must be tested at least once
each calendar year, but with intervals not exceeding 15 months, to determine
whether the cathodic protection meets the requirements of §192.463. However, if
tests at those intervals are impractical for separately protected short sections of
mains or transmission lines, not in excess of 100 feet (30 meters), or separately
protected service lines, these pipelines may be surveyed on a sampling basis. At
least 10 percent of these protected structures, distributed over the entire system
must be surveyed each calendar year, with a different 10 percent checked each
subsequent year, so that the entire system is tested in each 10-year period.
During the records review of your annual Cathodic Protection (CP) surveys, it was noted that
QEP exceeded the once each calendar year, but not to exceed 15 months interval between
your 2015 and 2016 annual surveys.
3. §192.807 Recordkeeping.
Each operator shall maintain records that demonstrate compliance with this
subpart.
(b) Records supporting an individual's current qualification shall be maintained
while the individual is performing the covered task. Records of prior
qualification and records of individuals no longer performing covered tasks shall
be retained for a period of five years.
During the records review of your qualification of pipeline personnel, it was noted that one of
your Operators did not have a record of qualification on file for performing an OQ task. The
OQ task performed was for taking and recording rectifier readings from January through
August of 2016, in accordance with §192.465(b).
Under 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are subject to a civil penalty not to
exceed $209,002 per violation per day the violation persists up to a maximum of $2,090,022
for a 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 QEP Marketing Company 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 5-2017-1013W. 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
2



why you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C.
552(b).
Sincerely,
Kim West
Acting Director, Western Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry
PHP-500 J. Coleman (#156207)
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