FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 20, 2000
Contact: Patricia Klinger
Tel: 202-366-4831
RSPA 35-00
U.S. Department of Transportation Seeks $674,000 Penalty Against PEPCO For Safety Violations in Pipeline Failure
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) today announced it is seeking a $674,000 civil penalty against Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) and Support Terminal Services (ST Services), the owners and operators of a PEPCO pipeline, for safety violations related to an oil spill in Maryland.
Approximately 3,000 barrels of oil spilled from a pipeline operated by ST Services into the Patuxent River and surrounding wetlands of Swanson Creek in southern Prince Georges County, Md., on April 7, 2000.
"President Clinton and Vice President Gore are committed to protecting the environment," U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater said. "This civil penalty is one of a series of actions we have and are taking to help protect the people and environment along this pipeline in our continuous effort to ensure the highest level of safety, which is our highest priority."
The penalty action includes fines against PEPCO and ST Services for safety violations identified during the Office of Pipeline Safety’s (OPS) investigation following the failure.
"Pipelines are vital to our economy, and they are one of the safest ways to transport hazardous materials," said RSPA Administrator Kelley S. Coyner, head of the agency that oversees the Office of Pipeline Safety. "In cases like this, where a pipeline operator fails to take appropriate actions to ensure safety, we will penalize the company to ensure full compliance with federal safety rules."
Following are the safety violations cited and the proposed civil penalties against PEPCO:
- PEPCO failed to report all significant information relevant to the extent of damages of the failure. More specifically, PEPCO under-reported the amount of spill, which resulted in delayed federal response action. Proposed fine: $25,000.
- PEPCO failed to update their procedural manual for operations, maintenance and emergencies. Proposed fine: $75,000.
- PEPCO failed to have abnormal operating procedures for their reverse flow operations. Proposed fine: $500,000.
- PEPCO failed to maintain daily pumping station operating records. Proposed fine: $74,000.
After the PEPCO pipeline failure, DOT shut down the entire 51.5-mile pipeline system. The pipeline transports fuel between the Piney Point marine terminal to the Morgantown and the Chalk Point electric generating plants through the Ryceville transfer station.
OPS issued a Corrective Action Order to PEPCO on April 12, 2000 outlining measures the company must complete before OPS will consider allowing the pipeline to reopen.
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