PHMSA raises civil penalties for hazmat violations

April 26, 2013
The US Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has increased maximum civil penalties for safety violations of federal hazardous materials transportation law and the regulations issued under that law that lead to death, serious injuries, or extensive property damage

The US Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has increased maximum civil penalties for safety violations of federal hazardous materials transportation law and the regulations issued under that law that lead to death, serious injuries, or extensive property damage.

The increased penalties are being published in revisions to PHMSA's regulations and reflect statutory changes in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). MAP-21 provides that the following updated civil penalties apply to violations occurring on or after October 1, 2012:

*The maximum civil penalty is increased from $55,000 to $75,000 for knowingly violating federal hazardous material transportation law;

*The maximum civil penalty for knowingly violating laws and regulations that result in death, serious illness, severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property is increased from $110,000 to $175,000;

*The $250 minimum civil penalty has been eliminated; and

*The civil penalty for violations related to training has reverted to $450.