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State-specific information:

Summary of Enforcement Case Status

Nationwide

This series of reports provides the status of various types of enforcement cases by the year in which they were initiated, regardless of the year in which the cases may have been closed. These tables show how many cases initiated in a given year have been closed to date, and how many remain open.

This table provides the total number of cases opened for each year, and a count of how many of these cases were closed at the time this report was generated. For example, there were 224 cases opened in the year 2004. Of those 224 cases, 214 have been closed as of the date this report was generated.

Overall Case Status: 2002-2009 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 160 157 98% 2%
2003 143 138 97% 3%
2004 224 214 96% 4%
2005 296 275 93% 7%
2006 233 203 87% 13%
2007 258 185 72% 28%
2008 181 127 70% 30%
2009 157 80 51% 49%
Totals 1,652 1,379 83% 17%

This table shows the year-by-year status of enforcement cases involving a Corrective Action Order. A Corrective Action Order usually addresses issues resulting from an accident, spill, or other significant, immediate, or imminent safety or environmental concern. For example, in 2002 PHMSA issued 7 Corrective Action Orders. To date, 5 (71%) of these CAOs have been closed, and 2 (29%) are still open. Sometimes Corrective Action Orders require long-term actions by operators and thus may be open for extended periods of time.

Cases Involving Corrective Action Orders: 2002-2009 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 7 5 71% 29%
2003 19 15 79% 21%
2004 9 7 78% 22%
2005 9 5 56% 44%
2006 7 2 29% 71%
2007 7 1 14% 86%
2008 6 2 33% 67%
2009 3 0 0% 100%
Totals 67 37 55% 45%

This table shows the year-by-year status of enforcement cases where alleged violations resulted in PHMSA sending a Notice of Probable Violation to the operator. These Notices may include proposed civil penalties, a proposed compliance order requiring the operator to take one or more corrective actions, or both proposed civil penalties and a proposed compliance order. For example, in 2007, 71 Notices of Probable Violation were issued to address operator non-compliances. To date, 16 (23%) of these cases have been closed, while 55 (77%) remain open.

Cases Involving Compliance Orders: 2002-2009 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 58 57 98% 2%
2003 47 46 98% 2%
2004 86 78 91% 9%
2005 100 88 88% 12%
2006 53 31 58% 42%
2007 71 16 23% 77%
2008 44 2 5% 95%
2009 52 2 4% 96%
Totals 511 320 63% 37%

This table shows the year-by-year status of enforcement cases where a Notice of Amendment has been issued alleging that an operator's written plans or procedures fail to meet regulatory requirements and proposing that they be amended. For example, in 2007 PHMSA issued 102 Notices of Amendment to operators alleging inadequate policies or procedures. To date, 90 (88%) of these cases have been closed, and 12 (12%) remain open.

Cases Involving Notices of Amendment: 2002-2009 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 77 77 100% 0%
2003 58 57 98% 2%
2004 120 117 98% 3%
2005 145 138 95% 5%
2006 104 101 97% 3%
2007 102 90 88% 12%
2008 59 51 86% 14%
2009 45 21 47% 53%
Totals 710 652 92% 8%

Also see

Sources

  1. PHMSA Safety Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) for the Pipeline Safety Enforcement Tracking System as of November 3, 2009.

For comments and questions on the enforcement information presented on this site, please send us feedback.

Information provided on this website is intended to enhance public understanding of PHMSA's enforcement program. Aggregate and company-specific statistical information reflecting PHMSA's enforcement actions is provided beginning with 2002. Key documents associated with new administrative enforcement cases are provided beginning with 2007. Agency orders issued since 2002 are also provided. The search feature may not retrieve every document associated with each individual enforcement action. Enforcement data is updated monthly as additional cases are initiated and other cases are resolved. Historical totals will change over time to reflect changes in case status.

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