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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 223 cases opened in the year 2004. Of those 223 cases, 223 have been closed as of the date this report was generated.

Overall Case Status: 2002-2023 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 160 160 100% 0%
2003 144 144 100% 0%
2004 223 223 100% 0%
2005 297 297 100% 0%
2006 233 233 100% 0%
2007 255 255 100% 0%
2008 182 182 100% 0%
2009 181 181 100% 0%
2010 199 198 99% 1%
2011 207 207 100% 0%
2012 276 276 100% 0%
2013 266 265 100% 0%
2014 154 154 100% 0%
2015 197 195 99% 1%
2016 164 161 98% 2%
2017 229 229 100% 0%
2018 199 193 97% 3%
2019 223 216 97% 3%
2020 195 183 94% 6%
2021 264 243 92% 8%
2022 227 166 73% 27%
2023 70 33 47% 53%
Totals 4,545 4,394 97% 3%

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, 7 (100%) of these CAOs have been closed, and 0 (0%) 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: 2002-2023 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 7 7 100% 0%
2003 19 19 100% 0%
2004 9 9 100% 0%
2005 9 9 100% 0%
2006 7 7 100% 0%
2007 7 7 100% 0%
2008 6 6 100% 0%
2009 5 5 100% 0%
2010 11 10 91% 9%
2011 10 10 100% 0%
2012 10 10 100% 0%
2013 5 4 80% 20%
2014 6 6 100% 0%
2015 11 11 100% 0%
2016 9 7 78% 22%
2017 2 2 100% 0%
2018 1 0 0% 100%
2019 3 2 67% 33%
2020 3 1 33% 67%
2021 6 1 17% 83%
2022 3 1 33% 67%
2023 0 0 0% 0%
Totals 149 134 90% 10%

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, 69 Notices of Probable Violation were issued to address operator non-compliances. To date, 69 (100%) of these cases have been closed, while 0 (0%) remain open.

Cases Involving Notices of Probable Violation: 2002-2023 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 58 58 100% 0%
2003 48 48 100% 0%
2004 86 86 100% 0%
2005 98 98 100% 0%
2006 53 53 100% 0%
2007 69 69 100% 0%
2008 45 45 100% 0%
2009 58 58 100% 0%
2010 45 45 100% 0%
2011 70 70 100% 0%
2012 77 77 100% 0%
2013 82 82 100% 0%
2014 46 46 100% 0%
2015 52 52 100% 0%
2016 63 62 98% 2%
2017 61 61 100% 0%
2018 74 71 96% 4%
2019 65 59 91% 9%
2020 57 48 84% 16%
2021 78 68 87% 13%
2022 78 32 41% 59%
2023 23 1 4% 96%
Totals 1,386 1,289 93% 7%

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, 102 (100%) of these cases have been closed, and 0 (0%) remain open.

Cases Involving Notices of Amendment: 2002-2023 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 60 60 100% 0%
2003 48 48 100% 0%
2004 93 93 100% 0%
2005 133 133 100% 0%
2006 104 104 100% 0%
2007 102 102 100% 0%
2008 59 59 100% 0%
2009 50 50 100% 0%
2010 41 41 100% 0%
2011 60 60 100% 0%
2012 102 102 100% 0%
2013 85 85 100% 0%
2014 34 34 100% 0%
2015 54 54 100% 0%
2016 35 35 100% 0%
2017 62 62 100% 0%
2018 52 51 98% 2%
2019 64 64 100% 0%
2020 68 68 100% 0%
2021 86 83 97% 3%
2022 71 61 86% 14%
2023 19 5 26% 74%
Totals 1,482 1,454 98% 2%

This table shows the year-by-year status of enforcement cases involving a Notice of Proposed Safety Order. A Notice of Proposed Safety Order addresses pipeline integrity risks that may not constitute a hazardous facility requiring immediate corrective action, but do need to be addressed over time. Issues identified in Notices of Proposed Safety Orders can require long-term actions by operators and thus may be open for extended periods of time.

Cases Involving Notices of Proposed Safety Order (1)
Year Opened (A) Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2010 3 3 100% 0%
2011 6 6 100% 0%
2012 4 4 100% 0%
2013 2 2 100% 0%
2014 2 2 100% 0%
2015 4 2 50% 50%
2016 3 3 100% 0%
2017 2 2 100% 0%
2018 5 4 80% 20%
2019 2 2 100% 0%
2020 1 0 0% 100%
2021 3 0 0% 100%
2022 3 0 0% 100%
2023 1 0 0% 100%
Totals 41 30 73% 27%

Also see

Notes

  1. The 2006 Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act gave PHMSA the authority to include a new enforcement tool - the Safety Order, and a final rule was published on January 16, 2009. Training in the use of this new tool was completed in June 2010.

Sources

  1. PHMSA Safety Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART)and the Work Management System as of May 2, 2023.

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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