Agency Raising Fines for Pipeline Safety Violations
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has proposed to implement the 2011 Pipeline Safety Act, which toughens pipeline safety regulations and the agency’s ability to enforce them.
The law authorizes the agency to double the maximum civil penalty to US$200,000 per pipeline safety violation per day. It also can collect up to US$2 million for a related series of violations, doubled from US$1 million.
The higher fines could be levied in cases beginning after Jan. 3, 2012, when President Barack Obama signed the legislation.
The agency said it closed a record number of pipeline enforcement cases in 2011. It is collecting more data about pipelines and increasing efforts to educate the public about staying safe around pipelines.
For more information: www.phmsa.dot.gov
