The Minerals Management Service (MMS) regulates some pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico and other OCS waters. The MMS recently published a summary of the fines paid in the year 2000 for violations of their regulations. In total, 66 fines were paid, totalling $1,780,721, for an average fine of $26,980. Some of the pipeline fines include:

• The SDV on the bi-directional pipeline was bypassed – $22,000
• The PSHL protecting the departing oil pipeline was bypassed – $5,000
• Pipeline leak detection system was not operated and maintained properly – $48,000

The entire report is available on RCP’s website here.