RCP Inc.

Search Open Menu

In This Issue

  1. Conducting Activities in the Vicinity of Offshore Pipelines
  2. PHMSA Administrator Confirmed
  3. Washington State – Land Use Near Existing Pipelines Report
  4. Will your SPCC Plan pass an EPA inspection based on the new SPCC Inspectors’ Guidance document?
  5. Technical Advisory Committee Meetings – Workshops
  6. B31Q Status
  7. Public Awareness Program Submittal
  8. Summary of PHMSA Enforcement Actions
  9. The Role of Pipelines and Pipeline Research
  10. Hazardous Liquid Annual Report 7000-1.1
  11. Need to Update Your Current Operator Qualification Program?
  12. Petroleum Gathering Lines – Rulemaking Schedule
  13. API/AOPL submit recommendations for High Volume, Low Stress liquid pipelines

Summary of PHMSA Enforcement Actions

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has prepared a summary of their enforcement actions from January 1, 2000 through March 31, 2006. This document reveals PHMSA’s increased emphasis on enforcement actions and penalties, in accordance with their multi-year roadmap for strengthening enforcement, called the Enforcement Program Performance Plan. PHMSA has developed a new enforcement tracking system: SMART (Safety Monitoring And Reporting Tool). Since 2002, PHMSA has added 2 enforcement officers and 5 attorneys dedicated to pipeline safety enforcement. While PHMSA has strengthened enforcement across the board, they have a specific strategy to deal severely with significant non-compliances and repeat offenses of any kind. The numbers speak for themselves. The latest 3 years of proposed penalties are:

  • 2003 – 32 cases for a total of $1,010,000
  • 2004 – 63 cases for a total of $2,220,000
  • 2005 – 76 cases for a total of $4,191,000

The full document can be found below: http://www.house.gov/commerce_democrats/Press_109/PHMSA.041806.response.pdf