---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 196.205"
title: "49"
number: "196.205"
heading: "Can PHMSA assess administrative civil penalties for violations?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/196.205"
---

# §196.205. Can PHMSA assess administrative civil penalties for violations?


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](/usc/49/60101.md) 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)](/usc/49/60114.md?p=d) in a State with an excavation damage prevention law enforcement program PHMSA has deemed inadequate under [49 CFR part 198](/cfr/49/part198.md), [subpart D](/cfr/49/subpartD.md), PHMSA may conduct a proceeding to determine the nature and extent of the violation and to assess a civil penalty.


## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq.; and 49 CFR 1.97.

### Source

Source: 80 FR 43866, July 23, 2015, unless otherwise noted.