Toughening its enforcement of environmental infractions on large completed natural gas pipelines during construction, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said Dec. 16 it will propose $40 million in civil penalties against Energy Transfer Partners LP and its Rover Pipeline LLC unit for both intentional and inadvertent discharge of diesel fuel and other toxics during drilling of the Rover pipeline in Ohio.
FERC also said it is weighing a penalty against Midship pipeline in Oklahoma and a unit of owner Cheniere Energy Inc. for impacts from construction debris left behind on private land. Both line owners must demonstrate to FERC why they should not be fined.