Subdivision 1. Money penalty. Any person who violates any provision of sections 299F.56 to 299F.641, or any rule issued thereunder, is subject to a civil penalty to be imposed by the commissioner not to exceed $100,000 for each violation for each day that the violation persists, except that the maximum civil penalty must not exceed $1,000,000 for any related series of violations.

Subd. 2. Compromise settlement. The commissioner may negotiate a compromise settlement of a civil penalty. In determining the amount of such penalty, or the amount of the compromise settlement, the commissioner shall consider the appropriateness of such penalty to the size of the business of the person charged, the gravity of the violation, and the good faith of the person charged in attempting to achieve compliance, after notification of a violation. The contested case and judicial review provisions of chapter 14 shall apply to all orders of the commissioner imposing any penalty for violations of sections 299F.56 to 299F.641 or any rule promulgated thereunder. The amount of such penalty, when finally determined, may be deducted from any sums owing by the state of Minnesota to the person charged.

Subd. 3. Multiple liability for same violation. No person shall be subjected to civil penalties under both sections 299F.56 to 299F.641 and under the federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act or the federal Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act, for conduct which may give rise to a violation of both acts.

Subd. 4. Penalties paid into account. All penalties collected under sections 299F.56 to 299F.641 shall be paid over to the commissioner of management and budget for deposit in the state treasury to the credit of the pipeline safety account.

Subd. 5. Rules. The commissioner shall adopt rules establishing reasonable guidelines for imposing penalties. The rules must treat separately and distinguish between violations that relate to hazardous liquid pipelines, gas pipelines, and other pipelines; must provide for notice that a penalty is assessed; and may exempt activities from penalties unless the person has evidenced a course of action in disregard of this chapter.

History: 1969 c 399 s 1; 1969 c 988 s 5; 1975 c 31 s 2,3; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1987 c 353 s 17; 1989 c 244 s 12; 2003 c 112 art 2 s 50; 2008 c 287 art 1 s 91; 2009 c 101 art 2 s 109