{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 52025014NOPV","title":"CHEVRON PIPE LINE CO — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2025-05-02","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.14(a), 192.465(d), 192.615(b)(3).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52025014nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52025014nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52025014nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/52025014NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving CHEVRON PIPE LINE CO. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 192.14(a),  192.465(d),  192.615(b)(3). The case was opened on 2025-05-02 and is reported as closed as of 2026-03-26. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n52025014NOPV_Consent Agreement and Order_03262026_(24-297328).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025014NOPV/52025014NOPV_Consent%20Agreement%20and%20Order_03262026_(24-297328).pdf\n\n52025014NOPV_Consent Agreement and Order_03262026_(24-297328)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025014NOPV/52025014NOPV_Consent%20Agreement%20and%20Order_03262026_(24-297328)_text.pdf\n\n52025014NOPV_Operator Request for Hearing and Request for Informal Conference and Request Case File and Statement of Issues (Part 2)_07022025_(24-297328).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025014NOPV/52025014NOPV_Operator%20Request%20for%20Hearing%20and%20Request%20for%20Informal%20Conference%20and%20Request%20Case%20File%20and%20Statement%20of%20Issues%20(Part%202)_07022025_(24-297328).pdf\n\n52025014NOPV_Operator Response to Notice and Request Hearing-Request Informal Conference-Request Case File-Statement of Issues (Part 1)_07022025_(24-297328).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025014NOPV/52025014NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice%20and%20Request%20Hearing-Request%20Informal%20Conference-Request%20Case%20File-Statement%20of%20Issues%20(Part%201)_07022025_(24-297328).pdf\n\n52025014NOPV_Operator Withdrawal of Hearing Request_03272026_(24-297328).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025014NOPV/52025014NOPV_Operator%20Withdrawal%20of%20Hearing%20Request_03272026_(24-297328).pdf\n\n52025014NOPV_PCO_05022025_(24-297328).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025014NOPV/52025014NOPV_PCO_05022025_(24-297328).pdf\n\n52025014NOPV_PCO_05022025_(24-297328)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025014NOPV/52025014NOPV_PCO_05022025_(24-297328)_text.pdf\n\n52025014NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_01072026_(24-297328).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025014NOPV/52025014NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Scheduled_01072026_(24-297328).pdf\n\n52025014NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_01072026_(24-297328)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025014NOPV/52025014NOPV_PHC%20Hearing%20Scheduled_01072026_(24-297328)_text.pdf\n\n52025014NOPV_Consent Agreement and Order_03262026_(24-297328)_text.pdf\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMarch 26, 2026\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: cstroz@chevron.com\nMr. Christopher Stroz\nSenior HSE Manager\nChevron Pipeline Company\n1400 Smith Street\nHouston, Texas 77002\nCPF No. 5-2025-014-NOPV\nDear Mr. Stroz:\nEnclosed please find a Consent Order incorporating the terms of the Consent Agreement between\nthe Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and Chevron Pipeline\nCompany, which was executed on March 24, 2026. This matter is now closed. Service of the\nConsent Order and Consent Agreement by electronic mail is deemed effective upon the date of\ntransmission and acknowledgement of receipt, or as otherwise provided under 49 CFR § 190.5.\nThank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nLinda Daugherty\nActing Associate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\nEnclosure: Consent Order and Consent Agreement\ncc: Dustin Hubbard, Director, Western Region, Office of Pipeline Safety, PHMSA\nJames Curry, Esq., Babst Calland\njcurry@babstcalland.com\nLee Banse, Esq., Babst Calland\nLBanse@babstcalland.com\nJohnnie Randolph, Esq., Chevron Pipeline Company\njohnnierandolph@chevron.com\nCONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT REQUESTED\n\n\n\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nOFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20590\n____________________________________\nIn the Matter of )\nChevron Pipeline Company, ) CPF No. 5-2025-014-NOPV\n)\n)\n)\nRespondent. )\n____________________________________)\nCONSENT ORDER\nBy letter dated May 2, 2025, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n(PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed\nCompliance Order (Notice) to Chevron Pipeline Company (Chevron or Respondent).\nIn response to the Notice, Respondent requested a hearing on the underlying violation and the\nproposed compliance order (Response). Chevron also asked for the opportunity to meet\ninformally with PHMSA to discuss the Items in the Notice. Respondent and PHMSA (the\nParties) subsequently met to discuss the issues raised in the Response. As a result of those\ndiscussions, as explained in more detail below, the Parties have agreed to a Consent Agreement\nby which PHMSA agrees to make the alleged violation a warning.\nAccordingly, the Consent Agreement is hereby approved and incorporated by reference into this\nConsent Order and this matter is now closed.\nThe terms and conditions of this Consent Order are effective upon service in accordance with\n49 CFR § 190.5.\n______________________ ______________________\nLinda Daugherty Date Issued\nActing Associate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\n\n\n\nCPF No. 5-2025-014-NOPV\nPage 1\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nOFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20590\n____________________________________\nIn the Matter of )\nChevron Pipeline Company, ) CPF No. 5-2025-014-NOPV\n)\n)\n)\nRespondent. )\n____________________________________)\nCONSENT AGREEMENT\nFrom July 8 to July 26, 2024, a representative of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), pursuant to Chapter 601 of Title 49\nUnited States Code (U.S.C.), conducted an on-site inspection of Chevron Pipeline Company’s\n(Chevron or Respondent) SJ Valley Gas System in Bakersfield, California.\nAs a result of the inspection, the Director, Western Region, OPS (Director), issued to\nRespondent, by letter dated May 2, 2025, a Notice of Probable Violation and Proposed\nCompliance Order (Notice). In accordance with 49 CFR § 190.207, the Notice proposed finding\nthat Chevron committed a violation of 49 CFR § 192.465(d) (Item 2), and proposed ordering\nRespondent to take certain measures to correct the alleged violation. The other probable\nviolations (Items 1 and 3) were brought as warnings, advising the operator to correct the\nprobable violations or face potential future enforcement action.\nChevron responded to the Notice by letter dated July 2, 2025 (Response). The Respondent\ncontested the underlying violation for Item 2 and the proposed compliance order.\nPHMSA and Respondent (the Parties) subsequently met to discuss the issues raised in the\nResponse. As a result of those discussions and as explained in more detail below the Parties\nhave agreed to a Consent Agreement by which PHMSA agrees to make Item 2 a warning.\nHaving agreed that settlement of this proceeding will avoid further administrative proceedings or\nlitigation and will serve the public interest by promoting safety and protection of the\nenvironment, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60101, et seq. and 49 CFR Part 190, and upon consent and\nagreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:\n\n\n\nCPF No. 5-2025-014-NOPV\nPage 2\nI. General Provisions\n1. Respondent acknowledges that as the operator of the pipeline facilities subject to\nthe Notice, Respondent and its referenced pipeline facilities are subject to the jurisdiction of the\nFederal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101, et seq., and the regulations and administrative\norders issued thereunder. For purposes of this Consent Agreement (Agreement), Respondent\nacknowledges that it received proper notice of PHMSA’s action in this proceeding and that the\nNotice states claims upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60101, et seq.,\nand the regulations and orders issued thereunder.\n2. After Respondent returns this signed Agreement to PHMSA, the Agency’s\nrepresentative will present it to the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety, recommending\nthat the Associate Administrator adopt the terms of this Agreement by issuing an administrative\norder (Consent Order) incorporating the terms of this Agreement. The terms of this Agreement\nconstitute an offer of settlement until accepted by the Associate Administrator. Once accepted,\nthe Associate Administrator will issue a Consent Order incorporating the terms of this Agreement.\n3. Respondent consents to the issuance of the Consent Order, and hereby waives any\nfurther procedural requirements with respect to its issuance. Respondent waives all rights to\ncontest the adequacy of notice, or the validity of the Consent Order or this Agreement, including\nall rights to administrative or judicial hearings or appeals, except for the Dispute Resolution\nprovisions set forth herein. Respondent agrees to withdraw its request for an administrative\nhearing regarding the Notice.\n4. This Agreement shall apply to and be binding upon PHMSA and Respondent, its\nofficers, directors, and employees, and its successors, assigns, or other entities or persons\notherwise bound by law. Respondent agrees to provide a copy of this Agreement and any\nincorporated work plans and schedules to all of Respondent’s officers, employees, and agents\nwhose duties might reasonably include compliance with this Agreement.\n5. This Agreement constitutes the final, complete and exclusive agreement and\nunderstanding between the Parties with respect to the settlement embodied in this Agreement.\nThe Parties acknowledge that there are no representations, agreements or understandings relating\nto settlement other than those expressly contained in this Agreement, except that the terms of this\nAgreement may be construed by reference to the Notice.\n6. Nothing in this Agreement affects or relieves Respondent of its responsibility to\ncomply with all applicable requirements of the Federal pipeline safety laws, 49 U.S.C. § 60101,\net seq., and the regulations and orders issued thereunder. Nothing in this Agreement alters\nPHMSA's right of access, entry, inspection, and information gathering or PHMSA's authority to\nbring enforcement actions against Respondent pursuant to the Federal pipeline safety laws, the\nregulations and orders issued thereunder, or any other provision of Federal or State law.\n7. For all transfers of ownership or operating responsibility of Respondent’s pipeline\nsystem referenced herein, Respondent will provide a copy of this Agreement to the prospective\n\n\n\nCPF No. 5-2025-014-NOPV\nPage 3\ntransferee at least 30 days prior to such transfer. Respondent will provide written notice of the\ntransfer to the Director no later than 60 days after the transfer occurs.\n8. This Agreement does not waive or modify any Federal, State, or local laws or\nregulations that are applicable to Respondent’s pipeline systems. This Agreement is not a\npermit, or a modification of any permit, under any Federal, State, or local laws or regulations.\nRespondent remains responsible for achieving and maintaining compliance with all applicable\nFederal, State, and local laws, regulations and permits.\n9. This Agreement does not create rights in, or grant any cause of action to, any third\nparty not party to this Agreement. The U.S. Department of Transportation is not liable for any\ninjuries or damages to persons or property arising from acts or omissions of Respondent or its\nofficers, employees, or agents carrying out the work required by this Agreement. Respondent\nagrees to hold harmless the U.S. Department of Transportation, its officers, employees, agents,\nand representatives from any and all causes of action arising from any acts or omissions of\nRespondent or its contractors in carrying out any work required by this Agreement.\n10. Except as set forth herein, this Agreement does not constitute a finding of\nviolation of any other federal law or regulation and may not be used in any civil proceeding of\nany kind as evidence or proof of any fact, fault or liability, or as evidence of a violation of any\nlaw, rule, regulation, or requirement, except in a proceeding to enforce the provisions of this\nAgreement or in future PHMSA enforcement actions.\nII. Warning Items:\n11. Item 1 - 49 CFR § 192.14(a): The Notice alleged Chevron failed to prepare and\nfollow a written procedure for conversion to service, as required by § 192.14(a), on its 8-inch\nMojave Spur steel pipeline located within Chevron’s Kern River production field. This Item was\nbrought as a warning Item and does not constitute a finding of violation. Respondent accepts the\nwarning as alleged in the Notice.\n12. Item 2 - 49 CFR § 195.404(a)(3): The Notice alleged Chevron failed to correct\nthe deficiencies indicated by the inspection and testing of the cathodic protection system, as\nrequired by § 192.465(d). Specifically, the Notice alleged that a review of Chevron’s annual\ncathodic protection surveys for the Cross Valley East pipeline segment for the calendar years of\n2019 through 2023 indicated several test locations on the line exhibited pipe to soil readings with\nexcessive potentials. The Parties met to discuss this allegation and Chevron provided additional\ninformation. After discussion between the Parties, based on the information provided, PHMSA\nagrees to make this Item a warning, and withdraws the proposed compliance terms. This Item\ndoes not constitute a finding of violation. Respondent accepts the warning.\n13. Item 3 - 49 CFR § 195.615(b)(3): The Notice alleged Chevron failed to review\nemployee activities to determine whether the procedures were effectively followed in each\nemergency. This Item was brought as a warning Item and does not constitute a finding of\nviolation. Respondent accepts the warning as alleged in the Notice.\n\n\n\nCPF No. 5-2025-014-NOPV\nPage 4\n14. For Warning Items 1, 2 and 3, if OPS finds a violation of these provisions in a\nsubsequent inspection, Respondent may be subject to future enforcement action.\nIII. Modification:\n15. The terms of this Agreement may be modified by mutual agreement of the Parties.\nSuch modifications must be in writing and signed by both parties.\nIV. Ratification:\n16. The Parties’ undersigned representatives certify that they are fully authorized to\nenter into the terms and conditions of this Agreement and to execute and legally bind such party\nto this document.\n17. The Parties hereby agree to all findings, conditions, and terms of this Agreement.\n[Signature Lines on Following Page]\n\n\n\nCPF No. 5-2025-014-NOPV\nPage 5\nFor Chevron Pipeline Company:\n___________________________________\n________________________\nDate\nFor PHMSA:\n________________________________________\nDirector, Western Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\n________________________\nDate\n\n52025014NOPV_PHC Hearing Scheduled_01072026_(24-297328)_text.pdf\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nU.S. Department Washington, DC 20590\nof Transportation\nPipeline and\nHazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\nJanuary 7, 2026\nVIA EMAIL TO: LBanse@babstcalland.com, Kathleen.Mailtland@dot.gov et al.\nMr. Lee Banse, Esq.\nCounsel for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company\nBabst Calland\n505 9th Street, NW, Ste. 602\nWashington, DC 20004\nMs. Kathleen Maitland, Esq.\nCounsel for the Agency\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)\n1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.\nWashington, DC 20590\nRe: PHMSA CPF No.: 5-2025-014-NOPV, Chevron Pipeline Company, Notice of\nHearing and Order Regarding Prehearing Statement\nDear Mr. Banse and Ms. Maitland,\nIn accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 190.211, a hearing will be held regarding the Notice of\nProbable Violation and Proposed Compliance Order issued by PHMSA in the above\nreferenced case. The hearing will take place on April 14, 2026, beginning at 9:30\na.m. Eastern Time. The hearing will be held at DOT Headquarters:\n1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.\nWashington, DC\n20590\nAdditional instructions for accessing the DOT Headquarters building will be provided\nlater.\nEach party is directed to submit to the presiding official and the other party by email a\npre-hearing statement, due no later than March 31, 2026, including the following\ninformation:\n1. A statement of facts\n\n\n\nPage 2\n2. A list of all agreed upon facts\n3. Defenses and arguments\n4. A witness list including a description and anticipated length of each witness’\nanticipated testimony. The description must be sufficient to show how the\nanticipated testimony may prove or disprove a fact significant to the case.\n5. A copy of all exhibits with an index identifying the documents. All exhibits must\nbe marked for identification in the lower right corner of each page. Documents\nalready in the case file need not be included.\nThe parties must confer regarding item 2 above. Failure to submit items 4 and 5 above\nmay result in disallowance of that evidence at the hearing. The parties may supplement\ntheir hearing exhibits or witness list with fair notice to the other party and the presiding\nofficial.\nA brief pre-hearing conference may be held 7-10 days prior to the hearing if the\npresiding official deems it appropriate.\nThe presiding official strongly recommends that a court reporter transcribe the hearing.\nIf Respondent elects to transcribe the hearing, Respondent should notify the presiding\nofficial (with copy to the other party) as soon as practicable.\nThe Agency is required to be represented by counsel for these proceedings.\nRegards,\nDolores Francis\nPresiding Official","truncated":false,"body_characters":17596}