The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has reached an agreement with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, Houston TX, over systemwide pipeline and bulk terminal safety upgrades in six western states, according to government information.
The agreement between federal regulators and Kinder Morgan followed several pipeline accidents and is expected to result in up to $90 million worth of safety improvements.
The agreement covers the 3,900-mile Kinder Morgan’s Pacific Operations unit in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and West Texas.
The Pacific Operations unit includes the CALNEV and Santa Fe Pacific Pipelines and associated bulk terminals, but does not include the Carbon Dioxide or Cypress systems.
The improvements include those made in response to an August 24, 2005, PHMSA order that required Kinder Morgan to evaluate the safety and reliability of its pipelines.
PHMSA incorporated into the agreement an innovative penalty structure that will subject Kinder Morgan to fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per day if it fails to comply with the agreement.