Pipeline safety violation penalties increase

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has increased the penalties that it levies for violations of federal pipeline safety law. The increases in the penalties reflect a mandate to adjust the penalties annually to account for changes in inflation, the agency says.

The maximum civil penalty for a single violation has increased from $205,638 to $209,002 for each day a violation continues, with the maximum penalty for a series of related violations increasing from $2,056,380 to $2,090,022. The maximum penalty for a violation concerning employee protections has increased from $1,194 to $1,214, and for a violation concerning liquefied natural gas operations from $75,123 to $76,352.

According to the Federal Register entry for the new penalties, federal law allows PHMSA to increase the penalties in line with inflation without public comment on the changes.

- ALAN BAILEY