Beginning
Sept. 30, the Research and Special Programs Administration will
increase the maximum civil penalty from $27,500 to $32,500 for a
knowing violation of federal hazmat laws and regulations.
The
minimum penalty has been increased from $250 to $275.
RSPA
says it will also go back six calendar years instead of five for
prior violations in determining the amount of a penalty.
The
agency published a list of revised assessments for frequently cited
violations. These include:
- Failure to
register for offering or carrying hazardous materials, $1,000 plus
$500 each additional registration fee;
- Failure to
provide initial training to hazmat employees, $250-$700 and up,
depending on the number of employees;
- Failure to
provide in-depth security training when a security plan is required,
$2,500;
- Failure to
create and maintain training records, $500-$800 and up;
- Failure to
develop a security plan, $6,000 and up;
- Failure to put security plan in writing, $2,000 and up;
- Offering a
hazardous material for transportation without shipping papers, markings,
labels or placards, $15,000 and up;
- Failure to
properly placard a freight container or vehicle containing hazardous
materials, $1,000-$9,000;
- Failure
to give immediate notification of a reportable hazardous materials
incident, $3,000;
- Failure to
file a written hazmat incident report within 30 days following an
unintentional release in transportation, $500-$2,500;
- Failure to retain shipping papers as required by regulation, $1,000;
- Transporting
hazmat packages that haven’t been secured against movement, $3,000;
and
- Failure
to properly segregate hazardous materials, $7,500 and up.