{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 52025026NOPV","title":"WESTGAS INTERSTATE, INC — Notice of Probable Violation","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2025-07-29","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED notice of probable violation citing 192.739(a).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52025026nopv.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52025026nopv.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-52025026nopv","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/52025026NOPV","body":"Notice of Probable Violation involving WESTGAS INTERSTATE, INC. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 192.739(a). The case was opened on 2025-07-29 and is reported as closed as of 2026-05-01. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n52025026NOPV_Closure Letter_05012026_(24-297246).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025026NOPV/52025026NOPV_Closure%20Letter_05012026_(24-297246).pdf\n\n52025026NOPV_Closure Letter_05012026_(24-297246)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025026NOPV/52025026NOPV_Closure%20Letter_05012026_(24-297246)_text.pdf\n\n52025026NOPV_Final Order_10142025_(24-297246).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025026NOPV/52025026NOPV_Final%20Order_10142025_(24-297246).pdf\n\n52025026NOPV_Final Order_10142025_(24-297246)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025026NOPV/52025026NOPV_Final%20Order_10142025_(24-297246)_text.pdf\n\n52025026NOPV_Operator Response to Notice_09192025_(24-297246).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025026NOPV/52025026NOPV_Operator%20Response%20to%20Notice_09192025_(24-297246).pdf\n\n52025026NOPV_PCO_07292025_(24-297246).pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025026NOPV/52025026NOPV_PCO_07292025_(24-297246).pdf\n\n52025026NOPV_PCO_07292025_(24-297246)_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/52025026NOPV/52025026NOPV_PCO_07292025_(24-297246)_text.pdf\n\n52025026NOPV_Closure Letter_05012026_(24-297246)_text.pdf\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration\n12300 West Dakota Avenue, Suite 340\nLakewood, Colorado 80228\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: Lauren.Gilliland@xcelenergy.com\nMay 1, 2026\nLauren Gilliland\nSenior Vice President, Gas\nWestGas InterState, Inc.\n1800 Larimer St.\nDenver, CO 80202\nCPF 5-2025-026-NOPV\nClosure Letter\nDear Ms. Gilliland:\nOn October 14, 2025, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)\nissued to WestGas InterState, Inc. a Final Order. This Order included a Compliance Order.\nBased on our review of the documentation you provided, it has been determined that you have\ncomplied with the terms of this Order.\nAccordingly, this case is now closed, and no further action is contemplated with respect to the\nmatters involved in this case. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nDustin Hubbard\nDirector, Western Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 L. Salvador (24-297246)\nNathan Gonzales, Principal Engineer, nathan.a.gonzales@xcelenergy.com\n\n52025026NOPV_Final Order_10142025_(24-297246)_text.pdf\n\nOctober 14, 2025\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: Lauren.Gilliland@xcelenergy.com\nLauren Gilliland\nVice President, Gas\nWestGas InterState, Inc.\n1800 Larimer St.\nDenver, CO 80202\nRe: CPF No. 5-2025-026-NOPV\nDear Ms. Gilliland:\nEnclosed please find the Final Order issued in the above-referenced case. It makes a finding of\nviolation and specifies actions that need to be taken to comply with the pipeline safety\nregulations. When the terms of the compliance order are completed, as determined by the\nDirector, Western Region, this enforcement action will be closed. Service of the Final Order by\ne-mail is effective upon the date of transmission and acknowledgement of receipt as provided\nunder 49 CFR § 190.5.\nThank you for your cooperation in this matter.\nSincerely,\nLinda Daugherty\nActing Associate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\nEnclosures (Final Order and NOPV)\ncc: Dustin Hubbard, Director, Western Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nNathan Gonzales, Principal Engineer, Gas Standards, Xcel Energy,\nNathan.A.Gonzales@xcelenergy.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____________________________________\n)\nIn the Matter of )\n)\nWestGas InterState, Inc., )\na subsidiary of Xcel Energy ) CPF No. 5-2025-026-NOPV\n)\nRespondent. )\n____________________________________)\nFINAL ORDER\nOn July 29, 2025, pursuant to 49 CFR § 190.207, the Director, Western Region, Office of\nPipeline Safety (OPS), issued a Notice of Probable Violation (Notice) to WestGas InterState, Inc.\n(Respondent). The Notice proposed finding that Respondent had violated the pipeline safety\nregulations in 49 CFR Part 192. The Notice also proposed certain measures to correct the\nviolations. Respondent did not contest the allegations of violation or corrective measures.\nBased upon a review of all of the evidence, pursuant to § 190.213, I find Respondent violated the\npipeline safety regulations listed below, as more fully described in the enclosed Notice, which is\nincorporated by reference:\n49 CFR § 192.739(a) (Item 1) ─ Respondent failed to inspect and test its pressure\nlimiting devices to determine if they were in good mechanical condition, adequate\nfrom the standpoint of capacity and reliability of operation for the service in\nwhich it is employed, and properly installed and protected.\nThis finding of violation will be considered a prior offense in any subsequent enforcement action\ntaken against Respondent.\nCompliance Actions\nPursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118(b) and 49 CFR § 190.217, Respondent is ordered to take the\nactions proposed in the enclosed Notice to correct the violation. The Director may grant an\nextension of time to comply with any of the required items upon a written request timely\nsubmitted by the Respondent and demonstrating good cause for an extension. Upon completion\nof the ordered actions, Respondent may request that the Director close the case. Failure to\ncomply with this Order may result in the assessment of civil penalties under 49 CFR § 190.223\n\n\n\nor in referral to the Attorney General for appropriate relief in a district court of the United States.\nThe terms and conditions of this order are effective upon service in accordance with 49 CFR\n§ 190.5.\n___________________________________ _________________________\nLinda Daugherty Date Issued\nActing Associate Administrator\nfor Pipeline Safety\n\n\n\nNOTICE OF PROBABLE VIOLATION\nand\nPROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER\nVIA ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: Lauren.Gilliland@xcelenergy.com\nJuly 29, 2025\nMs. Lauren Gilliland\nVP Gas Operations\nWestgas Interstate, Inc.\n1800 Larimer St.\nDenver, CO 80202\nCPF 5-2025-026-NOPV\nDear Ms. Gilliland:\nFrom October 28, 2024 to October 31, 2024, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS), pursuant to Chapter\n601 of 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) inspected Westgas Interstate, Inc.’s (Westgas) natural gas\nsystem in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming.\nAs a result of the inspection, it is alleged that Westgas has committed probable violations of the\nPipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The items inspected\nand the probable violations are:\n1. § 192.739 Pressure limiting and regulating stations: Inspection and testing.\n(a) Each pressure limiting station, relief device (except rupture discs), and pressure\nregulating station and its equipment must be subjected at intervals not exceeding 15\nmonths, but at least once each calendar year, to inspections and tests to determine\nthat it is--\n(1) In good mechanical condition;\n\n\n\n(2) Adequate from the standpoint of capacity and reliability of operation for the\nservice in which it is employed;\n(3) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, set to control or relieve at\nthe correct pressure consistent with the pressure limits of § 192.201(a); and\n(4) Properly installed and protected from dirt, liquids, or other conditions that\nmight prevent proper operation.\nWestgas failed to inspect and test its pressure limiting devices at least once a calendar year, at\nintervals not to exceed 15 months, to determine if they are in good mechanical condition,\nadequate from the standpoint of capacity and reliability of operation for the service in which they\nare employed, set to control or relieve at the correct pressure consistent with the pressure limits\nof § 192.201(a), and properly installed and protected from dirt, liquids, or other conditions that\nmight prevent proper operation as required. Specifically, during inspection, Westgas could not\nestablish through documentation that it had inspected the pressure limiting slam-shut valves at\nthe Chalk Bluff station for the calendar years of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.\nSection 192.739(a) requires operators to inspect each pressure limiting station, relief device, and\npressure regulating station and its equipment each calendar year at intervals not exceeding 15\nmonths. However, during the inspection Westgas could not provide to the PHMSA inspectors\nany records such as inspection reports, test results, or other documentation to demonstrate that\nthe required inspections and tests had been conducted during the calendar years of 2020, 2021,\n2022, 2023, and 2024.\nIn addition, during the inspection, the PHMSA inspectors asked the Westgas personnel to\nconduct a test of the slam-shut valves at the Chalk Bluff station. It was noted that the Westgas\nsystem’s MAOP is 1000 psig with the slam-shut valves set to close at 950 psig. During the field\ntest, the valves were found to not be in reliable working condition as one valve failed to close\nand the other closed at 1040 psig.\nTherefore, Westgas failed to inspect and test its pressure limiting devices to determine if they\nwere in good mechanical condition, of adequate capacity, and in reliable operating condition, as\nrequired by § 192.739(a).\nProposed Civil Penalty\nUnder 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed\n$272,926 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,729,245 for a\nrelated series of violations. For violation occurring on or after December 28, 2023 and before\nDecember 30, 2024, the maximum penalty may not exceed $266,015 per violation per day the\nviolation persists, up to a maximum of $2,660,135 for a related series of violations. For violation\noccurring on or after January 6, 2023 and before December 28, 2023, the maximum penalty may\nnot exceed $257,664 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,576,627\nfor a related series of violations. For violation occurring on or after March 21, 2022 and before\nJanuary 6, 2023, the maximum penalty may not exceed $239,142 per violation per day the\nviolation persists, up to a maximum of $2,391,412 for a related series of violations. For violation\noccurring on or after May 3, 2021 and before March 21, 2022, the maximum penalty may not\n\n\n\nexceed $225,134 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,251,334 for\na related series of violations. For violation occurring on or after January 11, 2021 and before\nMay 3, 2021, the maximum penalty may not exceed $222,504 per violation per day the violation\npersists, up to a maximum of $2,225,034 for a related series of violations. For violation\noccurring on or after July 31, 2019 and before January 11, 2021, the maximum penalty may not\nexceed $218,647 per violation per day the violation persists, up to a maximum of $2,186,465 for\na related series of violations.\nWe have reviewed the circumstances and supporting documents involved in this case and have\ndecided not to propose a civil penalty assessment at this time.\nProposed Compliance Order\nWith respect to Item 1 pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60118, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration proposes to issue a Compliance Order to Westgas. Please refer to the\nProposed Compliance Order, which is enclosed and made a part of this Notice.\nResponse to this Notice\nEnclosed as part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators\nin Enforcement Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. All\nmaterial you submit in response to this enforcement action may be made publicly available. If\nyou believe that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment\nunder 5 U.S.C. §552(b), along with the complete original document you must provide a second\ncopy of the document with the portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted\nand an explanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential\ntreatment under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b).\nFollowing your receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to respond as described in the enclosed\nResponse Options. If you do not respond within 30 days of receipt of this Notice, this constitutes\na waiver of your right to contest the allegations in this Notice and authorizes the Associate\nAdministrator for Pipeline Safety to find facts as alleged in this Notice without further notice to\nyou and to issue a Final Order. If you are responding to this Notice, we propose that you submit\nyour correspondence to my office within 30 days from receipt of this Notice. The Region\nDirector may extend the period for responding upon a written request timely submitted\ndemonstrating good cause for an extension.\nIn your correspondence on this matter, please refer to CPF 5-2025-026-NOPV and, for each\ndocument you submit, please provide a copy in electronic format whenever possible.\n\n\n\nSincerely,\nDustin Hubbard\nDirector, Western Region, Office of Pipeline Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 L. Salvador (#24-297246)\nMr. Nathan Gonzales, Senior Engineer - Nathan.A.Gonzales@xcelenergy.com\nEnclosures: Proposed Compliance Order\nResponse Options for Pipeline Operators in Enforcement Proceedings\n\n\n\nPROPOSED COMPLIANCE ORDER\nPursuant to 49 United States Code § 60118, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA) proposes to issue to Westgas Interstate, Inc. (Westgas) a Compliance\nOrder incorporating the following remedial requirements to ensure the compliance of Westgas\nwith the pipeline safety regulations:\nA. B. In regard to Item 1 of the Notice pertaining to the annual inspection of each\npressure limiting station, relief device, and pressure regulating station and its\nequipment, Westgas must inspect and test, and repair if necessary, the two slam-\nshut valves intended to protect against accidental over pressuring at the Chalk\nBluff station to determine that they are in good mechanical condition, adequate\nfrom the standpoint of capacity and reliability of operation for the service in\nwhich they are employed, set to control at the correct pressure consistent with the\npressure limits of § 192.201(a), and properly installed and protected from dirt,\nliquids, or other conditions that might prevent proper operation, and send\ndocumentation of the completed inspection and testing, including any required\nrepairs, to the Director, Western Region within 60 days of receipt of the Final\nOrder.\nIt is requested (not mandated) that Westgas maintain documentation of the safety\nimprovement costs associated with fulfilling this Compliance Order and submit\nthe total to Dustin Hubbard, Director, Western Region, Pipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety Administration. It is requested that these costs be reported in\ntwo categories: 1) total cost associated with preparation/revision of plans,\nprocedures, studies and analyses, and 2) total cost associated with replacements,\nadditions and other changes to pipeline infrastructure.","truncated":false,"body_characters":15541}