# Can PHMSA assess administrative civil penalties for violations?

**Citation:** 49 CFR 196.205  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** 2026-08-18  
**Published:** Not stated

Yes. When the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety has reason to believe that a person has violated any provision of the 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq. or any regulation or order issued thereunder, including a violation of excavation damage prevention requirements under this part and 49 U.S.C. 60114

## Document text

Yes. When the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety has reason to believe that a person has violated any provision of the 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq. or any regulation or order issued thereunder, including a violation of excavation damage prevention requirements under this part and 49 U.S.C. 60114(d) in a State with an excavation damage prevention law enforcement program PHMSA has deemed inadequate under 49 CFR part 198, subpart D, PHMSA may conduct a proceeding to determine the nature and extent of the violation and to assess a civil penalty.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2026-08-18/title-49/section-196.205>
- Source ID: `ecfr`
- SHA-256: `5e150bfd3b757be27bbe5d8ec81c0e053f693fd843ba96e329873fa7aec03847`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T05:54:44.792Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T05:58:44.278Z
- Document slug: `49-cfr-196-205`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cfrTitle": 49,
  "part": "196",
  "section": "196.205",
  "subpart": "Subpart C—Administrative Enforcement Process",
  "corpusVersion": "2026-08-18",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```