{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520200002W","title":"COALINGA, CITY OF — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2020-02-28","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 192.603(b), 192.605(a), 192.605(b)(1).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520200002w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520200002w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520200002w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520200002W","body":"Warning Letter involving COALINGA, CITY OF. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.603(b),  192.605(a),  192.605(b)(1). The case was opened on 2020-02-28 and is reported as closed as of 2020-02-28. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520200002W_Warning Letter_02282020.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520200002W/520200002W_Warning%20Letter_02282020.pdf\n\n520200002W_Warning Letter_02282020_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520200002W/520200002W_Warning%20Letter_02282020_text.pdf\n\n520200002W_Warning Letter_02282020_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nFebruary 28, 2020\nMs. Marissa Trejo\nCity Manager\nCity of Coalinga\n155 West Durian\nCoalinga, CA 93210\nCPF 5-2020-0002W\nDear Ms. Trejo:\nOn September 4 through 10, 2019, a representative of the California Public Utilities\nCommission (CPUC) on behalf of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n(PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, inspected the City of Coalinga’s\n(Coalinga) gas distribution system procedures and records.\nAs a result of the inspection, it is alleged that you have committed probable violations of the\nPipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The items\ninspected and the probable violations are:\n1. § 192.603 General provisions.\n(a)…\n(b) Each operator shall keep records necessary to administer the procedures\nestablished under §192.605.\n\n\n\nCoalinga did not keep records necessary to administer the procedures established under\n§192.605 in two instances:\n(1) Coalinga was unable to provide records documenting the training required by\n§192.615(b)(2); and\n(2) Coalinga was unable to provide records to show that patrolling was conducted at\nthe frequency required by §192.721(b).\n2. §192.605 Procedural manual for operations, maintenance, and emergencies.\n(a) General. Each operator shall prepare and follow for each pipeline, a manual of\nwritten procedures for conducting operations and maintenance activities and for\nemergency response…\n(b) Maintenance and normal operations. The manual required by paragraph (a) of\nthis section must include procedures for the following, if applicable, to provide\nsafety during maintenance and operations.\n(1) Operating, maintaining, and repairing the pipeline in accordance with each of\nthe requirements of this subpart and subpart M of this part.\nCoalinga failed to follow its manual of written procedures with regard to operating,\nmaintaining and repairing the pipeline in accordance with each of the requirements in subpart\nM of Part 192. Specifically, Coalinga failed to check and service each distribution system\nvalve which may be necessary for the safe operation of a distribution system at an interval not\nexceeding 15-months but at least once each calendar year pursuant to § 192.747(a). On\nSeptember 10, 2019, Coalinga’s records indicated that the valves were last serviced on May\n14, 2018.\nUnder 49 U.S.C. §60122 and 49 CFR §190.223, you are subject to a civil penalty not to\nexceed $218,647 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,186,465\nfor a related series of violations. For violation occurring on or after November 27, 2018 and\nbefore July 31, 2019, the maximum penalty may not exceed $213,268 per violation per day,\nwith a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,132,679. For violation occurring on or after\nNovember 2, 2015 and before November 27, 2018, the maximum penalty may not exceed\n$209,002 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,090,022. For\nviolations occurring prior to November 2, 2015, the maximum penalty may not exceed\n$200,000 per violation per day, with a maximum penalty not to exceed $2,000,000 for a\nrelated 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 items identified in this\nletter. Failure to do so will result in Coalinga being subject to additional enforcement action.\n2\n\n\n\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer\nto CPF 5-2020-0002W. Please copy the CPUC Program Manager on all correspondence. 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).\nSincerely,\nDustin Hubbard\nDirector, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 J. Dunphy (#165838)\nTerrence Eng, Program Manager, Gas Safety and Reliability Branch\nCalifornia Public Utilities Commission\n3","truncated":false,"body_characters":5198}