Section 4457 Of Chapter 4.1. Enforcement Of Federal Pipeline Safety Standards For Propane Operators From California Public Utilities Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 4.1.
4457
. (a) Any operator who commits a violation enumerated in
subdivision (f) of Section 4453 or who fails to file the report
required by Section 4454 or fails to comply with a directive of the
commission pursuant to Section 4456 is subject to a civil penalty of
not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day that the
violation, or failure to file the report or respond to the directive
continues, but not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000)
for a single violation or related series of violations. The
commission shall enforce this subdivision.
(b) The commission may enforce subdivision (a) in the following
manner:
(1) By issuing a citation to the operator, as defined by Section
18603 of the Health and Safety Code. In the event of a violation that
constitutes a significant or immediate danger to the health and
safety of the customers, the citation shall be issued immediately and
served upon the responsible person or the holder of the permit to
operate the distribution system. The operator shall be responsible
for the correction of any violations for which a citation has been
given pursuant to this subdivision.
(2) Service of the citation shall be effected either personally or
by first-class mail. Each citation shall be in writing and shall
describe with particularity the nature of the violation, including a
reference to the statutory provisions or regulations alleged to have
been violated, as well as any penalty provided by law for failure to
make a timely correction. The citation shall fix the earliest
feasible time, as determined by the commission, for the elimination
of the condition constituting the alleged violation.
(3) A distribution system operator may request an informal
conference with the commission staff to challenge any citation
alleging a violation, or any directive to correct a violation. The
informal conference, any subsequent hearings, or appeals of a
decision of the commission shall be conducted in accordance with the
rules and procedures prescribed by the commission.
(c) The remedies provided by this chapter are cumulative and shall
not be construed to supersede other provisions of law providing
sanctions for violators of this chapter, including, but not limited
to, Sections 2112 and 2113.
(d) Nothing in this chapter affects the tort liability of the
operator of a distribution system.