PHMSA Increases Penalties for Safety Violations

Last week, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) revised its regulations and increased the maximum civil penalty amount for violations of Federal pipeline safety law. The maximum civil penalty for a single violation is now $209,002 for each day the violation continues, or $2,090,022 for a related series of violations of Federal pipeline safety laws. 

Additionally, PHMSA may impose civil monetary penalties not to exceed $1,214 for a violation concerning employee protections or $76,352 for a violation concerning Liquefied Natural Gas operations. The effective date of this final rule is April 27, 2017.  Under Federal law, government agencies are required to adjust their civil monetary penalties each year to account for changes in inflation. 

Click Here to view the FINAL RULE