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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: 2002-2016 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 160 160 100% 0%
2003 143 143 100% 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 181 179 99% 1%
2010 199 197 99% 1%
2011 207 204 99% 1%
2012 276 266 96% 4%
2013 266 251 94% 6%
2014 154 138 90% 10%
2015 197 146 74% 26%
2016 116 48 41% 59%
Totals 3,089 2,922 95% 5%

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: 2002-2016 (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 5 50% 50%
2013 5 4 80% 20%
2014 6 3 50% 50%
2015 11 3 27% 73%
2016 6 0 0% 100%
Totals 128 104 81% 19%

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: 2002-2016 (1)
Year Opened Number of Cases Opened Corresponding Cases Closed Percent Cases Closed Percent Cases Pending
2002 58 58 100% 0%
2003 47 47 100% 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 56 97% 3%
2010 45 44 98% 2%
2011 70 69 99% 1%
2012 77 73 95% 5%
2013 82 68 83% 17%
2014 46 35 76% 24%
2015 52 19 37% 63%
2016 43 1 2% 98%
Totals 929 821 88% 12%

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: 2002-2016 (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 33 97% 3%
2015 54 48 89% 11%
2016 28 11 39% 61%
Totals 1,053 1,029 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 4 67% 33%
2012 4 3 75% 25%
2013 2 2 100% 0%
2014 2 1 50% 50%
2015 4 0 0% 100%
2016 3 0 0% 100%
Totals 24 13 54% 46%

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) for the Pipeline Safety Enforcement Tracking System as of October 3, 2016.

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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