---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 15904"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "15904"
heading: "Rights and remedies of persons injured by pipeline carriers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/15904"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part C — Pipeline Carriers"
  - "Chapter 159 — Enforcement: Investigations, Rights, and Remedies"
---

# §15904. Rights and remedies of persons injured by pipeline carriers

- (a) **Enforcement of Orders.—** A [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) injured because a [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) or service subject to this part does not obey an order of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), except an order for the payment of money, may bring a civil action to enforce that order under this subsection.
- (b) **Liability of Carrier.—**
  - (1) **Excessive charges.—** A [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this part is liable to a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) for amounts charged that exceed the applicable [rate](/usc/49/10102.md?p=7) for the [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9).
  - (2) **Damages.—** A [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this part is liable for damages sustained by a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) as a result of an act or omission of that [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) in violation of this part.
- (c) **Complaints.—**
  - (1) **Filing.—** A [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) may file a complaint with the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under [section 15901(b)](/usc/49/15901.md?p=b) or bring a civil action under [subsection (b)](#b) to enforce liability against a [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this part.
  - (2) **Payment deadline.—** When the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) makes an award under [subsection (b)](#b), the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall order the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) to pay the amount awarded by a specific date. The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may order a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this part to pay damages only when the proceeding is on complaint. The [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) for whose benefit an order of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) requiring the payment of money is made may bring a civil action to enforce that order under this paragraph if the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) does not pay the amount awarded by the date payment was ordered to be made.
- (d) **Civil Actions.—**
  - (1) **Complaint.—** When a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) begins a civil action under [subsection (b)](#b) to enforce an order of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) requiring the payment of damages by a [pipeline carrier](/usc/49/15102.md?p=2) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to this part, the text of the order of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) must be included in the complaint. In addition to the district courts of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10), a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) court of general jurisdiction having jurisdiction of the parties has jurisdiction to enforce an order under this paragraph. The findings and order of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) are competent evidence of the facts stated in them. Trial in a civil action brought in a district court of the [United States](/usc/49/10102.md?p=10) under this paragraph is in the judicial district in which the plaintiff resides or in which the principal operating office of the [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) is located. In a civil action under this paragraph, the plaintiff is liable for only those costs that accrue on an appeal taken by the plaintiff.
  - (2) **Attorney’s fees.—** The district court shall award a reasonable attorney’s fee as a part of the damages for which a [carrier](/usc/49/13102.md?p=3) is found liable under this subsection. The district court shall tax and collect that fee as a part of the costs of the action.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 106(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 927; amended Pub. L. 105–102, § 2(15), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2205; Pub. L. 105–225, § 7(b)(2), Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1511.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

### Pub. L. 105–102

This amends 49:15904(c)(1) to correct an erroneous cross-reference.

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11705 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### Amendments

1998—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105–225 inserted “section” before “15901(b)”.

1997—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105–102 substituted “15901(b)” for “section 11501(b)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.