49 C.F.R. Appendix A to Subpart D of Part 107—Guidelines for Civil Penalties


Title 49 - Transportation


Title 49: Transportation
PART 107—HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PROGRAM PROCEDURES
Subpart D—Enforcement


Appendix A to Subpart D of Part 107—Guidelines for Civil Penalties

I. This appendix sets forth the guidelines used by the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (as of October 1, 2005) in making initial baseline determinations for recommending civil penalties. The first part of these guidelines is a list of baseline amounts or ranges for probable violations frequently cited in enforcement reports referred for action. Following the list of violations are general guidelines used by OHMS in making initial penalty determinations in enforcement cases.

II. List of Frequently Cited Violations

                 II_List of Frequently Cited Violations------------------------------------------------------------------------    Violation description        Section or cite     Baseline assessment------------------------------------------------------------------------                          General Requirements------------------------------------------------------------------------A. Registration               107.608, 107.612....  $1,000 + $500 each Requirements: Failure to                            additional year. register as an offeror or carrier of hazardous material and pay registration fee.B. Training Requirements:    1. Failure to provide     172.702     initial training to     hazmat employees     (general awareness,     function-specific,     safety, and security     awareness training):        a. More than 10       ....................  $700 and up each         hazmat employees.                           area.        b. 10 hazmat          ....................  $450 and up each         employees or fewer.                         area.    2. Failure to provide     172.702.............  $450 and up each     recurrent training to                           area.     hazmat employees     (general awareness,     function-specific,     safety, and security     awareness training).    3. Failure to provide     172.702.............  Included in penalty     security training when                          for no security     a security plan is                              plan.     required but has not     been developed.    4. Failure to provide     172.702.............  $2,500.     security training when     a security plan has     been developed but     hazmat employees have     not been trained     concerning the security     plan and its     implementation.    5. Failure to create and  172.704     maintain training     records:        a. more than 10       ....................  $800 and up.         hazmat employees.        b. 10 hazmat          ....................  $500 and up.         employees or fewer.C. Security Plans:    1. Failure to develop a   172.800     security plan; failure     to adhere to security     plan:        a. § 172.504     ....................  $7,500.         table 1 materials.        b. Packing Group I..  ....................  $6,000.        c. Packing Group II.  ....................  $4,500.        d. Packing Group III  ....................  $3,000.    2. Incomplete security    ....................  One-quarter (25%) of     plan or incomplete                              above for each     adherence (one or more                          element.     of four required     elements missing).    3. Failure to update a    172.802(b)..........  One-third (33%) of     security plan to                                baseline for no     reflect changing                                plan.     circumstances.    4. Failure to put         172.800(b)..........  One-third (33%) of     security plan in                                baseline for no     writing; failure to                             plan.     make all copies     identical.D. Notification to a Foreign  171.12(a)...........  $1,500 to $7,500 Shipper: Failure to provide                         (corresponding to information of HMR                                  violations by requirements applicable to                          foreign offeror or a shipment of hazardous                             forwarding agent). materials within the United States, to a foreign offeror or forwarding agent at the place of entry into the U.S.E. Expired Exemption:         171.2(a), (b), (c),   $1,000 + $500 each Offering or transporting a    Various.              additional year. hazardous material, or otherwise performing a function covered by an exemption, after expiration of the exemption------------------------------------------------------------------------              Offeror Requirements_All hazardous materials------------------------------------------------------------------------A. Undeclared Shipment:    Offering for              172.200, 172.300,     $15,000 and up.     transportation a          172.400, 172.500.     hazardous material     without shipping     papers, package     markings, labels, or     placards.B. Shipping Papers:    1. Failure to provide a   172.201.............  $3,000 to $6,000.     shipping paper for a     shipment of hazardous     materials.    2. Failure to follow one  172.201(a)(1).......  $1,200.     or more of the three     approved formats for     listing hazardous     materials on a shipping     paper.    3. Failure to retain     shipping papers:.        a. by an offeror,         for two years after         the date the         shipment is         provided to the         carrier (or 3 years         if the material is         a hazardous waste).        b. by a carrier, for  172.201(e),           $1,000.         one year after the    174.24(b),         date the shipment     175.30(a),         is provided to the    176.24(b),         carrier (or 3 years   177.817(f).         if the material is         a hazardous waste).    4. Failure to include a   172.202.............  $800 to $1,600.     proper shipping name in     the shipping     description or using an     incorrect proper     shipping name.    5. Failure to include a   172.202.............  $1,000 to $2,000.     hazard class/division     number in the shipping     description.    6. Failure to include an  172.202.............  $1,000 to $2,000.     identification number     in the shipping     description.    7. Using an incorrect     172.202.............     hazard class/     identification number:.        a. that does not      ....................  $800.         affect         compatibility         requirements.        b. that affects       ....................  $3,000 to $6,000.         compatibility         requirements.    8. Using an incorrect     172.202.............     identification number:.        a. that does not      ....................  $800.         change the response         information.        b. that changes the   ....................  $3,000 to $6,000.         response         information.    9. Failure to include     172.202.............  $1,200.     the Packing Group, or     using an incorrect     Packing Group.    10. Using a shipping      172.202.............  $800.     description that     includes additional     unauthorized     information (extra or     incorrect words).    11. Using a shipping      172.202.............  $500.     description not in     required sequence.    12. Using a shipping      172.202.............     description with two or     more required elements     missing or incorrect:.        a. such that the      ....................  $3,000.         material is         misdescribed.        b. such that the      ....................  $6,000.         material is         misclassified.    13. Failure to include    172.202(c)..........  $500.     the total quantity of     hazardous material     covered by a shipping     description.    14. Failure to list an    172.203(a)..........  $800.     exemption or special     permit number in     association with the     shipping description.    15. Failure to indicate   172.203(b)..........  $500.     ``Limited Quantity'' or     ``Ltd Qty'' following     the basic shipping     description of a     material offered for     transportation as a     limited quantity.    16. Failure to include    172.203(c)(2).......  $500.     ``RQ'' in the shipping     description to identify     a material that is a     hazardous substance.    17. Failure to include a  172.203(k)..........  $1,000.     required technical name     in parenthesis for a     listed generic or     ``n.o.s.'' material.    18. Failure to include    172.204.............  $1,000.     the required shipper's     certification on a     shipping paper.    19. Failure to sign the   172.204.............  $800.     required shipper's     certification on a     shipping paper.C. Emergency Response Information Requirements:    1. Providing or listing   172.602.............     incorrect emergency     response information     with or on a shipping     paper.        a. No significant     ....................  $800.         difference in         response.        b. Significant        ....................  $3,000 to $6,000.         difference in         response.    2. Failure to include an  172.604.............  $2,600.     emergency response     telephone number on a     shipping paper.    3. Failure to have the    172.604.............  $1,300.     emergency response     telephone number     monitored while a     hazardous material is     in transportation or     listing multiple     telephone numbers     (without specifying the     times for each) that     are not monitored 24     hours a day.    4. Listing an             172.604.............  $2,600 to $4,200.     unauthorized emergency     response telephone     number on a shipping     paper.    5. Listing an incorrect   172.604.............  $1,300.     or non-working     emergency response     telephone number on a     shipping paper.    6. Failure to provide     172.604.............  $1,300.     required technical     information when the     listed emergency     response telephone     number is contacted.D. Package Marking Requirements:    1. Failure to mark the    172.301(a)..........  $800 to $1,600.     proper shipping name on     a package or marking an     incorrect shipping name     on a package.    2. Failure to mark the    172.301(a)..........  $1,000 to $2,000.     identification number     on a package.    3. Marking a package      172.301(a)..........     with an incorrect     identification number.        a. that does not      ....................  $800.         change the response         information.        b. that changes the   ....................  $3,000 to $6,000.         response         information.    4. Failure to mark the    172.301(a)..........  $3,000 to $6,000.     proper shipping name     and identification     number on a package.    5. Marking a package      172.301(a)..........     with an incorrect     shipping name and     identification number.        a. that does not      ....................  $1,500 to $3,000.         change the response         information.        b. that changes the   ....................  $3,000 to $6,000.         response         information.    6. Failure to include     172.301(c)..........  $1,000.     the required technical     name(s) in parenthesis     for a listed generic or     ``n.o.s.'' entry.    7. Marking a package as   172.303(a)..........  $800.     containing hazardous     material when it     contains no hazardous     material.    8. Failure to locate      172.304(a)(4).......  $800.     required markings away     from other markings     that could reduce their     effectiveness.    9. Failure to mark a      172.312.............  $2,500 to $3,500.     package containing     liquid hazardous     materials with required     orientation marking.    10. Failure to mark       172.324(b)..........  $500.     ``RQ'' on a non-bulk     package containing a     hazardous substance.E. Package Labeling Requirements:    1. Failure to label a     172.400.............  $5,000.     package.    2. Placing a label that   172.400.............  $5,000.     represents a hazard     other than the hazard     presented by the     hazardous material in     the package.    3. Placing a label on a   172.401(a)..........  $800.     package that does not     contain a hazardous     material.    4. Failure to place a     172.402.............  $500 to $2,500.     required subsidiary     label on a package.    5. Placing a label on a   172.406(a)..........  $800.     different surface of     the package than, or     away from, the proper     shipping name.    6. Placing an improper    172.407(c)..........  $800.     size label on a package.    7. Placing a label on a   172.407(d)..........  $600 to $2,500.     package that does not     meet color     specification     requirements (depending     on the variance).    8. Failure to provide an  172.411.............  $2,500.     appropriate class or     division number on a     label.F. Placarding Requirements:    Failure to properly       172.504.............     placard a freight     container or vehicle     containing hazardous     materials:.        a. when Table 1 is    ....................  $1,000 to $9,000.         applicable.        b. when Table 2 is    ....................  $800 to $7,200.         applicable.G. Packaging Requirements:    1. Offering a hazardous   Various.............     material for     transportation in an     unauthorized non-UN     standard or     nonspecification     packaging (includes     failure to comply with     the terms of an     exemption or special     permit authorizing use     of a nonstandard or     nonspecification     packaging).        a. Packing Group I    ....................  $9,000.         (and § 172.504         Table I materials).        b. Packing Group II.  ....................  $7,000.        c. Packing Group III  ....................  $5,000.    2. Offering a hazardous   178.601 &     material for              Various.     transportation in a     self-certified     packaging that has not     been subjected to     design qualification     testing:.        a. Packing Group I    ....................  $10,800.         (and § 172.504         Table I materials).        b. Packing Group II.  ....................  $8,400.        c. Packing Group III  ....................  $6,000.    3. Offering a hazardous   178.503(a)..........  $3,600.     material for     transportation in a     packaging that has been     successfully tested to     an applicable UN     standard but is not     marked with the     required UN marking.    4. Failure to close a UN  173.22(a)(4)........  $2,500.     standard packaging in     accordance with the     closure instructions.    5. Offering a hazardous   173.24(b)...........     material for     transportation in a     packaging that leaks     during conditions     normally incident to     transportation:        a. Packing Group I    ....................  $12,000.         (and § 172.504         Table I materials).        b. Packing Group II.  ....................  $9,000.        c. Packing Group III  ....................  $6,000.    6. Overfilling or         173.24(b)...........     underfilling a package     so that the     effectiveness is     substantially reduced:        a. Packing Group I    ....................  $9,000.         (and § 172.504         Table I materials).        b. Packing Group II.  ....................  $6,000.        c. Packing Group III  ....................  $3,000.    7. Offering a hazardous   171.14..............     material for     transportation after     October 1, 1996, in an     unauthorized non-UN     standard packaging     marked as manufactured     to a DOT specification:        a. packaging meets    ....................  $3,000.         DOT specification.        b. packaging does     ....................  $5,000 to $9,000.         not meet DOT         specification.    8. Failure to mark an     173.25(a)(4)........  $3,000.     overpack with a     statement that the     inside packages comply     with prescribed     specifications or     standards when     specification or     standard packaging is     required.    9. Filling an IBC or a    173.32(a), 180.352,     portable tank (DOT, UN,   180.605.     or IM) that is out of     test and offering     hazardous materials for     transportation in that     IBC or portable tank.        a. All testing        ....................  $3,500 to $7,000.         overdue.        b. Only periodic (5   ....................  $3,500.         year) test overdue.        c. Only intermediate  ....................  $3,500.         periodic (2.5 year)         tests overdue.    10. Failure to provide    173.32(f)(6)........  $6,000 to $12,000.     the required outage in     a portable tank that     results in a release of     hazardous materials.------------------------------------------------------------------------            Offeror Requirements_Specific hazardous materials------------------------------------------------------------------------A. Cigarette Lighters:    Offering for              173.21(i)...........  $7,500.     transportation an     unapproved cigarette     lighter, lighter     refill, or similar     device, equipped with     an ignition element and     containing fuel.B. Class 1_Explosives:    1. Failure to mark the    172.320.............  $1,200.     package with the EX     number for each     substance contained in     the package or,     alternatively, indicate     the EX number for each     substance in     association with the     description on the     shipping description.    2. Offering an            ....................  173.54,     unapproved explosive     for transportation:        a. Div. 1.3 and 1.4   173.56(b)...........  $5,000 to $10,000.         fireworks meeting         the chemistry         requirements         (quantity and type)         of APA Standard 87-         1.        b. All other          ....................  $10,000 and up.         explosives         (including         forbidden).    3. Offering a leaking or  173.54(c)...........  $10,000 and up.     damaged package of     explosives for     transportation.    4. Packaging explosives   173.61..............  $2,500 to $5,000.     in the same outer     packaging with other     materials.C. Class 7_Radioactive Materials:    1. Failure to include     172.203(d)..........  $1,000 to $3,000.     required additional     entries, or providing     incorrect information     for these additional     entries.    2. Failure to mark the    172.310(a)..........  $800.     gross mass on the     outside of a package of     Class 7 material that     exceeds 110 pounds.    3. Failure to mark each   172.310(b)..........  $800.     package in letters at     least 13 mm (\1/2\     inch) high with the     words ``Type A'' or     ``Type B'' as     appropriate.    4. Placing a label on     172.403.............  $5,000.     Class 7 material that     understates the proper     label category.    5. Placing a label on     172.403(g)..........  $2,000 to $4,000.     Class 7 material that     fails to contain (or     has erroneous) entries     for the name of the     radionuclide(s),     activity, and transport     index.    6. Failure to meet one    173.410.............  $5,000.     or more of the general     design requirements for     a package used to ship     a Class 7 material.    7. Failure to comply      173.411.............  $5,000.     with the industrial     packaging (IP)     requirements when     offering a Class 7     material for     transportation.    8. Failure to provide a   173.412(a)..........  $2,000.     tamper-indicating     device on a Type A     package used to ship a     Class 7 material.    9. Failure to meet the    173.412(b)-(i)......  $5,000.     additional design     requirements of a Type     A package used to ship     a Class 7 material.    10. Failure to meet the   173.412(j)-(l)......  $8,400.     performance     requirements for a Type     A package used to ship     a Class 7 material..    11. Offering a DOT        173.415(a), 173.461   ....................     specification 7A     packaging without     maintaining complete     documentation of tests     and an engineering     evaluation or     comparative data:        a. Tests and          ....................  $8,400.         evaluation not         performed.        b. Complete records   ....................  $2,000 to $5,000.         not maintained.    12. Offering any Type B,  173.416.............  $9,000.     Type B(U), Type B(M)     packaging that failed     to meet the approved     DOT, NRC or DOE design,     as applicable.    13. Offering a Type B     173.471(a).           ....................     packaging without     holding a valid NRC     approval certificate:        a. Never having       ....................  $3,000.         obtained one.        b. Holding an         ....................  $1,000.         expired certificate.    14. Failure to meet one   173.420.............  $10,800.     or more of the special     requirements for a     package used to ship     uranium hexafluoride.    15. Offering Class 7      173.421(a)..........  $4,000.     material for     transportation as a     limited quantity     without meeting the     requirements for     limited quantity.    16. Offering a multiple-  173.423(a)..........  $500 to $2,500.     hazard limited quantity     Class 7 material     without addressing the     additional hazard.    17. Offering Class 7 low  173.427(a)(1).......  $6,000.     specific activity (LSA)     materials or surface     contaminated objects     (SCO) with an external     dose rate that exceeds     an external radiation     level of 1 rem/hr at 3     meters from the     unshielded material.    18. Offering Class 7 LSA  173.427(a)(6).......  $1,000.     materials or SCO as     exclusive use without     providing specific     instructions to the     carrier for maintenance     of exclusive use     shipment controls.    19. Offering in excess    173.431.............  $12,000.     of Type A quantity of a     Class 7 material in a     Type A packaging.    20. Offering a package    173.441.............  $10,000 and up.     that exceeds the     permitted limits for     surface radiation or     transport index.    21. Offering a package    173.443.............  $5,000 and up.     without determining the     level of removable     external contamination,     or that exceeds the     limit for removable     external contamination.    22. Storing packages of   173.447(a)..........  $5,000 and up.     radioactive material in     a group with a total     transport index more     than 50.    23. Offering for          173.448(e)..........  $5,000 and up.     transportation or     transporting aboard a     passenger aircraft any     single package or     overpack of Class 7     material with a     transport index greater     than 3.0.    24. Exporting a Type B,   173.471(d)..........  $3,000.     Type B(U), Type B(M),     or fissile package     without obtaining a     U.S. Competent     Authority Certificate     or, after obtaining a     U.S. Competent     Authority Certificate,     failing to submit a     copy to the national     competent authority of     each country into or     through which the     package is transported.    25. Offering special      173.476(a), (b).....  $2,500.     form radioactive     materials without     maintaining a complete     safety analysis or     Certificate of     Competent Authority.D. Class 2_Compressed Gases                         .................... in Cylinders:    1. Filling and offering   173.301(a)(6).......  $4,200 to $10,400.     a cylinder with     compressed gas when the     cylinder is out of test.    2. Failure to check each  173.303(d)..........  $5,000.     day the pressure of a     cylinder charged with     acetylene that is     representative of that     day's compression,     after the cylinder has     cooled to a settled     temperature, or failure     to keep a record of     this test for 30 days.    3. Offering a limited     173.306(a)(3), (h)..  $1,500 to $6,000.     quantity of a     compressed gas in a     metal container for the     purpose of propelling a     nonpoisonous material     and failure to heat the     cylinder until the     pressure is equivalent     to the equilibrium     pressure at 130 °F,     without evidence of     leakage, distortion, or     other defect.------------------------------------------------------------------------          Manufacturing, Reconditioning, Retesting Requirements------------------------------------------------------------------------A. Third-Party Packaging Certifiers (General):    Issuing a certification   171.2(e), 178.2(b),   $500 per item.     that directs the          178.3(a),     packaging manufacturer    178.503(a).     to improperly mark a     packaging (e.g., steel     drum to be marked UN     4G).B. Packaging Manufacturers (General):    1. Failure of a           178.2(c)............  $2,500.     manufacturer or     distributor to notify     each person to whom the     packaging is     transferred of all the     requirements not met at     the time of transfer,     including closure     instructions.    2. Failure to insure a    178.601(b)..........     packaging certified as     meeting the UN standard     is capable of passing     the required     performance testing.        a. Packing Group I    ....................  $10,800.         (and § 172.504         Table 1 materials).        b. Packing Group II.  ....................  $8,400.        c. Packing Group III  ....................  $6,000.    3. Certifying a           178.601(d)..........     packaging as meeting a     UN standard when design     qualification testing     was not performed.        a. Packing Group I    ....................  $10,800.         (and § 172.504         table 1 materials).        b. Packing Group II.  ....................  $8,400.        c. Packing Group III  ....................  $6,000.    4. Failure to conduct     178.601(e)..........  $2,000 to $10,800.     periodic retesting on     UN standard packaging     (depending on length of     time and Packing Group).    5. Failure to properly     conduct testing for UN     standard packaging     (e.g., testing with     less weight than marked     on packaging; drop     testing from lesser     height than required;     failing to condition     fiberboard boxes before     design test):.        a. Design             178.601(d)..........  $2,000 to $10,800.         qualification         testing.        b. Periodic           178.601(e)..........  $500 to $10,800.         retesting.    6. Marking, or causing    178.2(b), 178.3(a),   $7,200.     the marking of, a         178.503(a)(8).     packaging with the     symbol of a     manufacturer or     packaging certifier     other than the company     that actually     manufactured or     certified the packaging.    7. Failure to maintain    178.601(l)..........     testing records.        a. Design             ....................  $1,000 to $5,000.         qualification         testing.        b. Periodic           ....................  $500 to $2,000.         retesting.    8. Improper marking of    178.503.............  $500 per item.     UN certification.    9. Manufacturing DOT      171.14..............     specification packaging     after October 1, 1994     that is not marked as     meeting a UN     performance standard.        a. If packaging does  ....................  $3,000.         meet DOT         specification.        b. If packaging does  ....................  $6,000 to $10,800.         not meet DOT         specification.C. Drum Manufacturers & Reconditioners:    1. Failure to properly    178.604(b), (d),     conduct production        173.28(b)(2)(i).     leakproofness test on a     new or reconditioned     drum.        a. Improper testing.  ....................  $2,000.        b. No testing         ....................  $3,000 to $5,000.         performed.    2. Marking an incorrect   173.28(b)(2)(ii)....     registration number on     a reconditioned drum.        a. Incorrect number.  ....................  $800.        b. Unauthorized use   ....................  $7,200.         of another         reconditioner's         number.    3. Representing,          173.28(c), (d)......  $6,000 to $10,800.     marking, or certifying     a drum as a     reconditioned UN     standard packaging when     the drum does not meet     a UN standard.    4. Representing,          173.28(d)...........  $500.     marking, or certifying     a drum as altered from     one UN standard to     another, when the drum     has not actually been     altered.D. IBC and Portable Tank Requalification:    1. Failure to properly    180.352(e),           $500 per item.     mark an IBC or portable   178.703(b),     tank with the most        180.605(k).     current retest and/or     inspection information.    2. Failure to keep        180.352(f),     complete and accurate     180.605(l).     records of IBC or     portable tank retest     and reinspection.        a. No records kept..  ....................  $4,000.        b. Incomplete or      ....................  $1,000 to $3,000.         inaccurate records.    3. Failure to make        180.352(f), 49        $1,000.     reinspection and retest   U.S.C. 5121(b)(2).     records available to a     DOT representative upon     request.E. Cylinder Manufacturers & Rebuilders:    1. Manufacturing,         Various.............  $7,500 to $15,000.     representing, marking,     certifying, or selling     a DOT high-pressure     cylinder that was not     inspected and verified     by an approved     independent inspection     agency.    2. Failure to have a      Various.............  $800.     registration number or     failure to mark the     registration number on     the cylinder.    3. Marking another        Various.............  $7,200.     company's number on a     cylinder.    4. Failure to mark the    178.65(i)...........  $3,000.     date of manufacture or     lot number on a DOT-39     cylinder.    5. Failure to have a      Various.............  $5,000.     chemical analysis     performed in the U.S.     for a material     manufactured outside     the U.S./failure to     obtain a chemical     analysis from the     foreign manufacturer.    6. Failure to meet wall   Various.............  $7,500 to $15,000.     thickness requirements.    7. Failure to heat treat  Various.............  $5,000 to $15,000.     cylinders prior to     testing.    8. Failure to conduct a   Various.............  $2,500 to $6,200.     complete visual     internal examination.    9. Failure to conduct a   Various.............  $2,500 to $6,200.     hydrostatic test, or     conducting a     hydrostatic test with     inaccurate test     equipment.    10. Failure to conduct a  Various.............  $7,500 to $15,000.     flattening test.    11. Failure to conduct a  178.65(f)(2)........  $5,000 to $15,000.     burst test on a DOT-39     cylinder.    12. Failure to have       Various.............  $7,500 to $15,000.     inspections and     verifications performed     by an inspector.    13. Failure to maintain   Various.............     required inspector's     reports.        a. No reports at all  ....................  $5,000.        b. Incomplete or      ....................  $1,000 to $4,000.         inaccurate reports.    14. Representing a DOT-4  180.211(a)..........  $6,000 to $10,800.     series cylinder as     repaired or rebuilt to     the requirements of the     HMR without being     authorized by the     Associate Administrator.F. Cylinder Requalification:    1. Failure to remark as   173.23(c)...........  $800.     DOT 3AL an aluminum     cylinder manufactured     under a former     exemption or special     permit.    2. Certifying or marking  180.205(a)..........  $800.     as retested a     nonspecification     cylinder.    3. Failure to have        180.205(b)..........  $4,000.     retester's     identification number     (RIN).    4. Failure to have        180.205(b)..........  $2,000.     current authority due     to failure to renew a     retester's     identification number     (RIN).    5. Failure to have a      180.205(b)..........  $7,200.     retester's     identification number     and marking another RIN     on a cylinder.    6. Marking a RIN before   180.205(b)..........  $800.     successfully completing     a hydrostatic retest.    7. Representing,          171.2(c), (e),        $2,000 to $6,000.     marking, or certifying    178.205(c),     a cylinder as meeting     Applicable     the requirements of an    Exemption or     exemption or special      Special Permit.     permit when the     cylinder was not     maintained or retested     in accordance with the     exemption or special     permit.    8. Failure to conduct a   180.205(f)..........  $2,100 to $5,200.     complete visual     external and internal     examination.    9. Failure to conduct     180.205(f) & (g)  $4,200 to $10,400.     visual inspection or     hydrostatic retest.    10. Performing            180.205(g)(3).......  $2,100 to $5,200.     hydrostatic retesting     without confirming the     accuracy of the test     equipment.    11. Failure to hold       180.205(g)(5).......  $3,100.     hydrostatic test     pressure for 30 seconds     or sufficiently longer     to allow for complete     expansion.    12. Failure to perform a  180.205(g)..........  $3,100.     second retest, after     equipment failure, at a     pressure increased by     the lesser of 10% or     100 psi (includes     exceeding 90% of test     pressure prior to     conducting a retest).    13. Failure to condemn a  180.205(i)..........  $6,000 to $10,800.     cylinder when required     (e.g., permanent     expansion of 10% [5%     for certain exemption     or special permit     cylinders], internal or     external corrosion,     denting, bulging,     evidence of rough     usage).    14. Failure to properly   180.205(i)(2).......  $800.     mark a condemned     cylinder or render it     incapable of holding     pressure.    15. Failure to notify     180.205(i)(2).......  $1,000.     the cylinder owner in     writing when a cylinder     has been condemned.    16. Failure to perform    180.209(a)(1).......  $2,100 to $5,200.     hydrostatic retesting     at the minimum     specified test pressure.    17. Marking a star on a   180.209(b)..........  $2,000 to $4,000.     cylinder that does not     qualify for that mark.    18. Marking a ``+'' sign  173.302a(b).........  $2,000 to $4,000.     on a cylinder without     determining the average     or minimum wall stress     by calculation or     reference to CGA     Pamphlet C-5.    19. Marking a cylinder    180.213(b)..........  $6,000 to $10,800.     in or on the sidewall     when not permitted by     the applicable     specification.    20. Failure to maintain   180.213(b)(1).......  $800.     legible markings on a     cylinder.    21. Marking a DOT 3HT     180.213(c)(2).......  $6,000 to $10,800.     cylinder with a steel     stamp other than a low-     stress steel stamp.    22. Improper marking of   180.213(d)..........  $800.     the RIN or retest date     on a cylinder.    23. Marking an FRP        Applicable Exemption  $6,000 to $10,800.     cylinder with steel       or Special Permit.     stamps in the FRP area     of the cylinder such     that the integrity of     the cylinder is     compromised.    24. Failure to maintain   180.215(a)..........  $600 to $1,200.     current copies of 49     CFR, DOT exemption or     special permits, and     CGA Pamphlets     applicable to     inspection, retesting,     and marking activities.    25. Failure to keep       180.215(b)..........     complete and accurate     records of cylinder     reinspection and retest.        a. No records kept..  ....................  $4,000.        b. Incomplete or      ....................  $1,000 to $3,000.         inaccurate records.    26. Failure to report in  171.2(c) & (e),   $600 to $1,200.     writing a change in       Approval Letter.     name, address,     ownership, test     equipment, management,     or retester personnel.------------------------------------------------------------------------                          Carrier Requirements------------------------------------------------------------------------A. Incident Notification:    1. Failure to give        171.15..............  $3,000.     immediate notification     of a reportable     hazardous materials     incident.    2. Failure to file a      171.16..............  $500 to $2,500.     written hazardous     material incident     report within 30 days     following an     unintentional release     of hazardous materials     in transportation (or     other reportable     incident).B. Shipping Papers:    Failure to retain         174.24(b),            $1,000.     shipping papers for 375   175.30(a)(2),     days after a hazardous    176.24(b),     material (or 3 years      177.817(f).     for a hazardous waste)     is accepted by the     initial carrier.C. Stowage/transportation Requirements:    1. Transporting packages  Various.............  $3,000.     of hazardous material     that have not been     secured against     movement.    2. Failure to properly    Various.............  $7,500 and up.     segregate hazardous     materials.    3. Transporting           177.835(i)..........  $5,200.     explosives in a motor     vehicle containing     metal or other articles     or materials likely to     damage the explosives     or any package in which     they are contained,     without segregating in     different parts of the     load or securing them     in place in or on the     motor vehicle and     separated by bulkheads     or other suitable means     to prevent damage.    4. Transporting railway   171.2(b) & (e)..  $7,000.     track torpedoes outside     of flagging kits, in     violation of DOT-E 7991.    5. Transporting Class 7   177.842(a)..........  $5,000 and up.     (radioactive) material     having a total     transport index greater     than 50.    6. Transporting Class 7   177.842(b)..........  $5,000 and up.     (radioactive) material     without maintaining the     required separation     distance.    7. Failure to comply      171.2(b) & (e)..     with requirements of an     exemption or special     permit authorizing the     transportation of Class     7 (radioactive)     material having a total     transportation index of     50.        a. Failure to have    ....................  $5,000.         the required         radiation survey         record.        b. Failure to have    ....................  $500 each.         other required         documents.        c. Other violations.  ....................  $5,000 and up.------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Consideration of Statutory Criteria

A. These guidelines are used by the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) in setting initial proposed penalties for hazmat violations. They indicate baseline amounts or ranges for probable violations frequently cited in enforcement reports and set forth general OHMS policy for considering statutory criteria.

B. The initial baseline determination partially considers the nature, extent, circumstances, and gravity of the alleged violation. That determination then is adjusted to consider all other evidence concerning the nature, extent, circumstances, and gravity of the alleged violation; degree of culpability; history of prior violations; ability to pay; effect of the penalty on ability to continue to do business; and such other matters as justice may require (a major component of which is corrective action taken by a respondent to prevent a recurrence of similar violations). In making a penalty recommendation, the baseline or range may be increased or decreased on the basis of evidence pertaining to these factors.

C. The following miscellaneous factors are used to implement one or more of the statutory assessment criteria.

IV. Miscellaneous Factors Affecting Penalty Amounts

A. Corrective Action

1. A proposed penalty is mitigated for documented corrective action of alleged violations taken by a respondent. Corrective action may occur: (1) After an inspection and before a Notice of Probable Violation (NOPV) is issued; (2) on receipt of an NOPV; or (3) after receipt of an NOPV (possibly after it is solicited by an PHMSA attorney). In general, corrective action may reduce a penalty up to 25%. Mitigation may be taken into account in the referral memo or may be recommended prior to issuance of an Order by PHMSA's Chief Counsel.

2. The two primary factors in determining the penalty reduction are extent and timing of the corrective action. In other words, mitigation will be determined on the basis of how much corrective action was taken and when it was taken. Systemic action to prevent future violations is given greater consideration than action simply to remedy violations identified during the inspection.

3. Mitigation is applied to individual violations. Thus, in a case with two violations, if corrective action for the first violation is more extensive than for the second, the penalty for the first will be mitigated more than that for the second.

B. Respondents That Re-Ship

A shipper that reships materials received from another company, in the same packaging and without opening or altering the package, independently is responsible for ensuring that the shipment complies with Federal hazmat law, and independently may be subject to enforcement action if the package does not comply. Nevertheless, the reshipper is considered to have a lesser level of responsibility for compliance in those respects in which it reasonably relies on the compliance of the package as received. In most cases of this type, OHMS will discount the applicable baseline standard by about 25%. The specific knowledge and expertise of all parties must be considered in discounting for reliance on a prior shipper. This discount is applied before any consideration of mitigation based on corrective action.

C. Penalty Increases for Multiple Counts

Under the Federal hazmat law, 49 U.S.C. 5123(a), each violation of the HMR and each day of a continuing violation (except for violations pertaining to packaging manufacture or qualification) is subject to a civil penalty of up to $50,000 or $100,000 for a violation occurring on or after August 10, 2005. Absent aggravating factors, OHMS, in its exercise of discretion, ordinarily will apply a single penalty for multiple counts or days of violation. In a number of cases, particularly those involving shippers, an inspector may cite two or more similar packaging violations for different hazardous materials. For example, the inspector may cite the same marking violation for two or more packages. OHMS usually will consider those additional violations as counts of the same violation and will not recommend multiples of the same baseline penalty. Rather, OHMS usually will recommend the baseline penalty for a single violation, increased by 25% for each additional violation.

D. Financial Considerations

1. Mitigation is appropriate when the baseline penalty would (1) exceed an amount that the respondent is able to pay, or (2) have an adverse effect on the respondent's ability to continue in business. These criteria relate to a respondent's entire business, and not just the product line or part of its operations involved in the violation(s). Beyond the overall financial size of the respondent's business, the relevant items of information on a respondent's balance sheet include the current ratio (current assets to current liabilities), the nature of current assets, and net worth (total assets minus total liabilities).

2. These figures are considered on a case-by-case basis. In general, however, a current ratio close to or below 1.0 means that the company may have difficulty in paying a large penalty, and may justify reduction of the penalty or an installment payment plan. A small amount of cash on hand representing limited liquidity, even with substantial other current assets (such as accounts receivable or inventory), may warrant a short-term payment plan. Respondent's income statement also will be reviewed to determine whether a payment plan is appropriate.

3. Many companies are able to continue in business for extended periods of time with a small or negative net worth, and many respondents have paid substantial civil penalties in installments even though net worth was negative. For this reason, negative net worth alone does not always warrant reduction of a proposed penalty or even, in the absence of factors discussed above, a payment plan.

4. In general, an installment payment plan may be justified where reduction of a proposed penalty is not, but the appropriateness of either (or both) will depend on the circumstances of the case. The length of a payment plan should be as short as possible, but the plan may consider seasonal fluctuations in a company's income if the company's business is seasonal (e.g., swimming pool chemical sales, fireworks sales) or if the company has documented specific reasons for current non-liquidity.

5. Evidence of financial condition is used only to decrease a penalty, and not to increase it.

E. Penalty Increases for Prior Violations

The baseline penalty presumes an absence of prior violations. If prior violations exist, generally they will serve to increase a proposed penalty. The general standards for increasing a baseline proposed penalty on the basis of prior violations are as follows:

1. For each prior civil or criminal enforcement case—25% increase over the pre-mitigation recommended penalty.

2. For each prior ticket—10% increase over the pre-mitigation recommended penalty.

3. A baseline proposed penalty will not be increased more than 100% on the basis of prior violations.

4. A case or ticket of prior violations initiated in a calendar year more than six years before the calendar year in which the current case is initiated normally will not be considered in determining a proposed penalty for the current violation(s).

F. Penalty Increases for Use of Expired Special Permits

Adjustments to the base line figures for use of expired special permits can be made depending on how much material has been shipped during the period between the expiration date and the renewal date. If the company previously has been found to have operated under an expired special permit, the penalty is normally doubled. If the company has been previously cited for other violations, the penalty generally will be increased by about 25%.

[Amdt. 107–33, 60 FR 12141, Mar. 6, 1995, as amended by Amdt. 107–40, 62 FR 2972, 2977, Jan. 21, 1997; 62 FR 51556, Oct. 1, 1997; 65 FR 58618, Sept. 29, 2000; 66 FR 45180, Aug. 28, 2001; 68 FR 52848, 52855, Sept. 8, 2003; 69 FR 54044, Sept. 7, 2004; 70 FR 56090, Sept. 23, 2005; 70 FR 73162, Dec. 9, 2005; 71 FR 8488, Feb. 17, 2006]




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