This report provides a high level summary of PHMSA's overall enforcement activity. It indicates how many enforcement cases are both initiated ("opened") and resolved ("closed") in a given year. PHMSA generally opens enforcement cases in response to an accident or when an inspection identifies one or more probable violations of the pipeline safety statutes or regulations. These same Cases are "closed" only after PHMSA has determined that the required corrective actions have been completed by the operator, and after any corresponding civil penalties have been paid. In some cases, the corrective actions are so extensive or the agency's monitoring period is so protracted that the case may remain open for months or even years. This means that many of the Cases which are shown as "closed" in a given year may have been initiated in prior years.
| Year | Cases Initiated | Cases Resolved |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 162 | 107 |
| 2003 | 143 | 122 |
| 2004 | 224 | 140 |
| 2005 | 296 | 263 |
| 2006 | 233 | 272 |
| 2007 | 258 | 258 |
| 2008 | 181 | 203 |
| 2009 | 77 | 75 |
Note: Tables may be sorted by clicking on the column heading. Also, numbers that appear as links can be clicked for more stratified information.
Cases shown as resolved in a given year may have been originally initiated in prior years, reflecting a multi-year time period of PHMSA follow-up.
Also see
- Enforcement Home Page
- Inspection and Enforcement Process Flow Chart
- Additional Information on Regulatory Enforcement Mechanisms and Operator Compliance
- Enforcement Information on a Specific Pipeline Operator
- National Pipeline Mapping System
Sources
- PHMSA Safety Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) for the Pipeline Safety Enforcement Tracking System as of May 31, 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. Agency orders and other key documents associated with administrative enforcement cases are provided beginning with 2007. 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.